Printing - "Save as PDF" settings

arcturus · 11-26-2008, 10:21 AM

When printing and saving as PDF, the Title and Author are filled in automatically by default. The window title is the Title, and the current user is the Author.

I would prefer the Title and Author to be be blank. I have tried to search everywhere to find where these settings can changed, but no luck.

How to change the default settings for Title and Author when "Save as PDF"?

jl095 · 11-28-2008, 01:35 AM

Where are you printing and saving as PDF from? A program? Are you doing this from a specific printer? Provide more details if you can. Also, you can use Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe; google it to find and install) to adjust the PDF properties such as Title, Author, etc.

macosnoob · 11-28-2008, 09:06 AM

I don't know how to stop the addition of title and author when using the Save as PDF ... dialog. However, after the fact, you could remove title and author with a simple Automator workflow:

Get Specified Finder Items
Set PDF Metadata (check Title and Author, then leave those field blank)

Save the workflow as an application. (Alternatively, save as a plug-in if you're fond of contextual menu items.)

Drop one or more PDFs on the application icon to remove the title and author stored in PDF metadata.

arcturus · 12-05-2008, 12:46 PM

yes, stopping the metadata (Title, Author) from auto-filling is what I want to happen.

It's information that should not be saved with the file, and it is very annoying to delete the information everytime when saving PDF.

cwtnospam · 12-05-2008, 12:57 PM

It depends on the program you're printing from, but it's usually in the Application selection after you've selected print. See attached screenshot from Safari.

arcturus · 12-05-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwtnospam


	It depends on the program you're printing from, but it's usually in the Application selection after you've selected print. See attached screenshot from Safari.

Sorry, I don't understand what you are talking about.

cwtnospam · 12-05-2008, 01:06 PM

File -> Print -> print window pops up: different windows for different applications.

arcturus · 12-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwtnospam


	File -> Print -> print window pops up: different windows for different applications.

Sorry, I don't understand how that might be remotely relevant to the topic of this thread.

cwtnospam · 12-05-2008, 01:27 PM

You're kidding, right?

If I print this page to pdf, I can choose whether I want headers or not.

cwtnospam · 12-05-2008, 01:28 PM

With headers.

fracai · 12-05-2008, 03:03 PM

arcturus is talking about the Title and Author fields that are presented when choosing "Save as PDF". Not headers, authorship information.

cwtnospam · 12-05-2008, 03:21 PM

That must be a Leopard thing, because I don't see it in Tiger.

macosnoob · 12-05-2008, 07:43 PM

This process should work but doesn't:

Set up a custom print-to-PDF Automator workflow that creates and overwrites the metadata in a single step. There's only one action:

Set PDF Metadata (check Title and Author, then leave those fields blank)

Save the workflow as a Print Workflow plug-in. The new workflow shows up in the print-to-PDF menu items.

Then, when it comes time to print a document to PDF, rather than choose "Save as PDF ..." choose the new custom workflow.

As I say, it should work. It almost does, but no PDF ever appears on the Desktop. However, the PDF, with blank Title and Author fields, briefly appears in /private/tmp/printing.**** and then disappears after a minute or so. And that's where I'm stuck.

cwtnospam--Yeah, it's a Leopard thing and apparently still a little buggy.

ElectricSheep · 03-08-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macosnoob


	This process should work but doesn't: Set up a custom print-to-PDF Automator workflow that creates and overwrites the metadata in a single step. There's only one action: Set PDF Metadata (check Title and Author, then leave those fields blank) Save the workflow as a Print Workflow plug-in. The new workflow shows up in the print-to-PDF menu items. Then, when it comes time to print a document to PDF, rather than choose "Save as PDF ..." choose the new custom workflow. As I say, it should work. It almost does, but no PDF ever appears on the Desktop. However, the PDF, with blank Title and Author fields, briefly appears in /private/tmp/printing.**** and then disappears after a minute or so. And that's where I'm stuck. cwtnospam--Yeah, it's a Leopard thing and apparently still a little buggy.

Try adding a Finder Action to the workflow to move the file to the Desktop.

brainysmurf · 03-07-2009, 09:10 PM

You can get this feature by working around the bug and installing CUPS-PDF

http://www.codepoetry.net/projects/cups-pdf-for-mosx

And then use the Print Finder Items in the Automator workflow, save as Print Workflow plug-in.

Note you have to put the Print Finder Items first on the list in the workflow in Automator, then put any additional file mods after it, the PDF Metadata thing works.

Also, be sure to put the location you want the files to go to in location field of the Options & Supplies tab of the Print & Fax preferences pane, for example /Users/user-name/Desktop

macosnoob · 03-08-2009, 04:24 PM

Interesting workaround! Now if only Apple could make Automator work as it's supposed to, we wouldn't need such fixes.

Colonel Panik · 04-07-2009, 09:51 AM

Hey, I agree that it's annoying. I often 'save as pdf' interesting articles I find on the web, and I'm always listed as the Author, which is flattering, but completely untrue.

The only suggestion that I can offer is to send feedback to Apple:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

I've just done it, and if enough people do it, hopefully it'll be considered.

I chose the categories Efficiency/Workflow and Printing, the subject: "Save as PDF metatags autofill" and wrote the following text:
I often 'save as pdf' from Safari and the metadata for Title and Author are autofilled. The problem here is that I'm never the author of these articles. It would be great if there was a way of leaving this blank.

11-26-2008, 10:21 AM	#1
arcturus Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 169	Printing - "Save as PDF" settings When printing and saving as PDF, the Title and Author are filled in automatically by default. The window title is the Title, and the current user is the Author. I would prefer the Title and Author to be be blank. I have tried to search everywhere to find where these settings can changed, but no luck. How to change the default settings for Title and Author when "Save as PDF"?

12-05-2008, 12:57 PM	#5
cwtnospam League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,475	It depends on the program you're printing from, but it's usually in the Application selection after you've selected print. See attached screenshot from Safari. Attached Thumbnails

12-05-2008, 03:03 PM	#11
fracai MVP Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,012	arcturus is talking about the Title and Author fields that are presented when choosing "Save as PDF". Not headers, authorship information.
$fracai is offline$

04-07-2009, 09:51 AM	#17
Colonel Panik Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	Send feedback to Apple Hey, I agree that it's annoying. I often 'save as pdf' interesting articles I find on the web, and I'm always listed as the Author, which is flattering, but completely untrue. The only suggestion that I can offer is to send feedback to Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html I've just done it, and if enough people do it, hopefully it'll be considered. I chose the categories Efficiency/Workflow and Printing, the subject: "Save as PDF metatags autofill" and wrote the following text: I often 'save as pdf' from Safari and the metadata for Title and Author are autofilled. The problem here is that I'm never the author of these articles. It would be great if there was a way of leaving this blank.

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11-28-2008, 01:35 AM	#2
jl095 Prospect Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 20	Where are you printing and saving as PDF from? A program? Are you doing this from a specific printer? Provide more details if you can. Also, you can use Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe; google it to find and install) to adjust the PDF properties such as Title, Author, etc.

11-28-2008, 09:06 AM	#3
macosnoob MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,751	I don't know how to stop the addition of title and author when using the Save as PDF ... dialog. However, after the fact, you could remove title and author with a simple Automator workflow: Get Specified Finder Items Set PDF Metadata (check Title and Author, then leave those field blank) Save the workflow as an application. (Alternatively, save as a plug-in if you're fond of contextual menu items.) Drop one or more PDFs on the application icon to remove the title and author stored in PDF metadata.

12-05-2008, 12:46 PM	#4
arcturus Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 169	yes, stopping the metadata (Title, Author) from auto-filling is what I want to happen. It's information that should not be saved with the file, and it is very annoying to delete the information everytime when saving PDF.

12-05-2008, 01:06 PM	#7
cwtnospam League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,475	File -> Print -> print window pops up: different windows for different applications.

12-05-2008, 03:21 PM	#12
cwtnospam League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,475	That must be a Leopard thing, because I don't see it in Tiger.

12-05-2008, 07:43 PM	#13
macosnoob MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,751	This process should work but doesn't: Set up a custom print-to-PDF Automator workflow that creates and overwrites the metadata in a single step. There's only one action: Set PDF Metadata (check Title and Author, then leave those fields blank) Save the workflow as a Print Workflow plug-in. The new workflow shows up in the print-to-PDF menu items. Then, when it comes time to print a document to PDF, rather than choose "Save as PDF ..." choose the new custom workflow. As I say, it should work. It almost does, but no PDF ever appears on the Desktop. However, the PDF, with blank Title and Author fields, briefly appears in /private/tmp/printing.**** and then disappears after a minute or so. And that's where I'm stuck. cwtnospam--Yeah, it's a Leopard thing and apparently still a little buggy.

03-07-2009, 09:10 PM	#15
brainysmurf Prospect Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	You can get this feature by working around the bug and installing CUPS-PDF http://www.codepoetry.net/projects/cups-pdf-for-mosx And then use the Print Finder Items in the Automator workflow, save as Print Workflow plug-in. Note you have to put the Print Finder Items first on the list in the workflow in Automator, then put any additional file mods after it, the PDF Metadata thing works. Also, be sure to put the location you want the files to go to in location field of the Options & Supplies tab of the Print & Fax preferences pane, for example /Users/user-name/Desktop

03-08-2009, 04:24 PM	#16
macosnoob MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,751	Interesting workaround! Now if only Apple could make Automator work as it's supposed to, we wouldn't need such fixes.