Export or print an entire thread?

AndyB

Western Thunderer
A couple of questions for the forum techies -
1) is there an easy way to print a multi-page thread all at once?
2) likewise, is there an easy way to copy/paste an entire multi-page thread into an editable format (Word, LO Writer, etc) - to enable easy removal of the less useful parts before printing?

I'm building a kit that has featured in a thread, and want a printed set of reminders of what others have done to use alongside the kit's instructions.

Thanks,
Andy
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Be very handy if there was Andy, I could have used that feature numerous times.

My method has been to 'select all' and copy and paste into Word, then delete links and irrelevant content. if the final document needed shrinking, I tended to convert to pdf. However, that all needs to be done one page at a time so its a bit tedious. I hope somebody else has a better method :)

Steve
 

adrian

Flying Squad
At the moment there isn't really an easy way - it's just Steve's copy and paste method.

However I was going to apply a few security updates to the software next week and I have found a couple of other useful extras which I was going to apply. I had a quick look at the extras and there is one which would allow you to print a thread, it creates it all on one web page for printing. In Safari I can print to pdf, or you might be able to print to Word or edit the pdf as required.

It doesn't seem to display the quoted text very well but it is quite readable. I'll have a look at the formatting to see if it can be improved. I have a development area where I test these things first so as an example the following thread
New O gauge wheel sets | Western Thunder

Has been converted as in the attached pdf.
 

Attachments

  • New O gauge wheel sets.pdf
    1,023.7 KB · Views: 27

Stoke5D

Western Thunderer
Adrian

I've seen this feature on another forum I'm on and although, as you say, it's not perfect, it's a great boon for multi-page projects. I print to pdf and then save the pdf for later printing as required.

Andrew
 

BrushType4

Western Thunderer
At the moment there isn't really an easy way - it's just Steve's copy and paste method.

However I was going to apply a few security updates to the software next week and I have found a couple of other useful extras which I was going to apply. I had a quick look at the extras and there is one which would allow you to print a thread, it creates it all on one web page for printing. In Safari I can print to pdf, or you might be able to print to Word or edit the pdf as required.

It doesn't seem to display the quoted text very well but it is quite readable. I'll have a look at the formatting to see if it can be improved. I have a development area where I test these things first so as an example the following thread
New O gauge wheel sets | Western Thunder

Has been converted as in the attached pdf.
Brilliant.
 

Dave Bowden

Western Thunderer
Hi Adrian
Just to let you know, I've saved the PDF into iBooks and it is perfectly readable in both portrait and landscape mode.
Dave
 
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adrian

Flying Squad
Hi,

My apologies for any small disruption in service tonight - it was quiet so I decided to apply the software updates. The forum updates were all security related patches to keep us up to date so there isn't any visible change for the end user.

However the update was successful so I have been able to add in the update for printing a thread. Please note this feature is only available for registered members if you are logged in.

So now at the top of any thread you should see in the top right hand corner a "print" button.

Screen Shot 2017-01-07 at 01.34.33.png

or if you go to the thread tools drop down there is a "print" option.

Screen Shot 2017-01-07 at 01.36.54.png

This will generate a new page with all the posts (up to a limit of 200 posts) so that it can be printed in one go. I use an Apple Mac and the print dialog allows me the option to print to a pdf or iBook, I hope that windows users will be able to do similar export file options.

The formatting isn't brilliant as it doesn't seem to include avatar images and it seems to lose the quoting format. I'll have a look to see if I can improve it but for the moment I decided to roll it out as it is so that the option is available. Any problems then please let me know.

Hopefully I'll be able to roll out a couple of other useful features over the weekend - in the meantime any feedback or suggestions for improvements would be appreciated.
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Hi Adrian.

I've just made use of the Print feature to print out three sheets of my thread on signal building and the helpful comments so that I have them to hand in the work shop (when I eventually get to spend some time out there - but that's another story).

It's a very useful feature IMHO, and thanks for taking the time and trouble to make this feature available for us.

Brian
 

SteveB

Western Thunderer
Hi Adrian

I've just used the print feature as well. I'm using a Microsoft based PC and that also gave me the option of saving to pdf file. I just had to alter the printer destination. Incidentally I 'printed' Mickoo's thread on the Finney7 BB in readiness for when I start building it. It went to 158 pages! Which I guess is the limit of the 200 posts.

A very useful feature. Thanks.

Regards

Steve
 

AndyB

Western Thunderer
Even though I was the original requestor, I've only just got round to trying out this new feature.
Most impressed - pictures all full width and easy to see the details.
So big belated thanks, Adrian, for setting it up.

Andy
 

adrian

Flying Squad
Thanks for the feedback - I'm glad it's proved useful.

I'm cognizant that the way I access the forum may differ from others so if you have any other suggestions for improvement then I'm happy to investigate them for you. I can't guarantee that there is a solution that will work with the the current hosting arrangements but I will see what we can do!
 

farnetti

Western Thunderer
Hi Adrian,

I apologise if this has been covered elsewhere. I sometimes see a post which is not within my normal sphere of things, but is potentially interesting. 2 days, weeks or months later cannot remember where it was or cannot then find any keywords to recall it.

I could bookmark it in a folder in Google but can't rename it to identify the subject matter. Is there any way to bookmark a post, name it and save it?

Ken
 

farnetti

Western Thunderer
Thanks Adrian, to be honest I had never noticed it before. It will certainly cut down time spent searching.

Rename on your wishlist?

Ken
 
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