How to Print Multiple Pages on 1 Sheet of Paper

[Dien Rice]

I recently just got one of those combined printer/scanner/photocopier doohickeys (man it was cheap too, and it's fantastic)!

Anyway, I had been without a printer for a little while, so it's good to have a printer again... (It wasn't so critical since I was doing everything online, but I'm soon planning to do some offline stuff too, which could require making printouts!)

I'd also like to print out some articles and reports I've got. It's good to be able to print out multiple sheets to a page! Many word processor programs let you do that - but I discovered that Adobe Acrobat Reader won't let you!

I used to use FinePrint (which worked well) - but I don't have it installed on my new computer... (By the way, here's an old thread about FinePrint - http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=12032 )

But... I found a new (and free) solution!

I read about it here... http://www.neilturner.me.uk/2004/May...per_sheet.html

Here's how it works.

You get a program called CutePDF Writer - you can download it for free from here - http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/Writer.asp

Make sure to also download and install the "Free Converter", which is also on that page. (CutePDF Writer needs it.)

CutePDF Writer appears as a "printer" on your computer... So when you print, you can select it as a "printer" to print to. Then, it will let you "print" to multiple sheets. It will actually create a PDF file - with the "multiple pages" on one sheet.

You can then print that new PDF file (which was created by CutePDF writer) to your regular printer - and it works!

Amazingly, you can even "convert" existing PDF files to multiple-page PDF files for printing... (Once you've printed the new PDF file, you can delete it.)

Anyway, I hope this helps you if you print out a lot, and like to save paper...

Cheers,

Dien

P.S. As a bonus, of course you can use it to create PDF files with too (which is it's "real" intended purpose)...!

Dein you are making life complex ... unless the printer drivers are out of date or may be that's why that machine was soo cheep.

You are printing multi pages to a pdf file so you can then print those multi pages on one sheet?

Why not just hit the print link then when the window pops up for your printer you click properties > layout > then select "2" on the "pages per sheet" option.

Saves heaps of hassles.

I use Foxit .. gave up on Acrobat Reader yonks ago .. bloatware

This will let your printer do whatever it wants ... even 4 pages a sheet if you want.

Thanks, Yerg! Didn't even know XP would do that until I tried your suggestion. You saved me almost fifty dollars for Fine Print (which I used years ago on a different system and liked).

Dien, thanks, but I'm prejudiced against Cute anything after the hassles with malware/spyware in their Cute FTP years ago. Don't know if they've cleaned up their act or not but not going to trust them anyway. FYI.

Sandi Bowman

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by yerg

Dein you are making life complex ... unless the printer drivers are out of date or may be that's why that machine was soo cheep.

You are printing multi pages to a pdf file so you can then print those multi pages on one sheet?

Why not just hit the print link then when the window pops up for your printer you click properties > layout > then select "2" on the "pages per sheet" option.

Saves heaps of hassles.

I use Foxit .. gave up on Acrobat Reader yonks ago .. bloatware

This will let your printer do whatever it wants ... even 4 pages a sheet if you want.

Thanks Yerg!

You were right... I could print to multiple pages directly. To quote that wise sage Homer Simpson... "D'oh!"

Even my printer driver will do it... I didn't realize it, because they call it "Page Layout Printing" (with pages laid out in a row) and "Poster Printing" (with pages laid out in rows and columns) - and I didn't know what those meant!

Oh, and thanks for the link to Foxit too... I downloaded it and tried it out, and it seems pretty cool.

Cheers,

Dien

P.S. In case anyone is wondering, the printer/scanner/photocopier I got is a Canon Pixma MP210... It seems to work pretty well!

Dien,

Just a quick word to the wise from my brother who makes a pretty good living fixing Computers and peripherals.

When you buy combinations like printer/scanner/photocopier, you are buying more things that can go WRONG!

Issues of incompatibility and baffling little conflicts seem to be designed into these devices.

So more often then not, it is better to go with single-purpose units.

Incidently, I have an inexpensive little Canon Scanner (CanonScan LiDE 70) that works great.

Cheers,

Rod