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Can I save / redirect a Web page printout to a secure PDF?I have a very specific question for you, Dave, so I hope that's not a problem? I did a bunch of shopping online and really wanted to keep keep copies of the receipts, but many Web sites have a "Print" button for printing receipts. What I want instead is a copy on my computer, ideally in PDF form, so I can avoid anyone else seeing what's on the printer (and blowing the surprise). Even better, can the PDF files be password protected and secure?? I have a big iMac if that makes a difference. No, that's not too specific. I mean, you didn't tell me what sites you visited or what you bought for people! Oh, and if you're still struggling for a perfect gift for me, I suggest you simply buy me a cuppa instead :-) You're right, though, that Web sites that have a handy "print" button on their receipts would do well to offer shoppers a different path too, a way to save the receipt as a Web page. Then again, many of them automatically email you a copy of the receipt anyway, so if the site you're on does that, you can theoretically just skip the print button entirely and be okay. I was recently filling out a financial document online and encountered a similar sort of "Print" button, so I experimented and solved exactly the - yes, highly detailed! - situation you presented. Here's what I did... First off, here's the page with the "Print" button on the top:  Click on the "Print" button to generate a printout of the information in question, but when you get to this point, don't just click "Print" again:  Instead, see the "PDF" button on the lower left? Click on it...  Choose "Save as PDF..." and it'll prompt you for a document name and some related information:  Fill all of these fields out as you desire, then click on "Security Options..." and you'll see the final step desired:, the information on how to secure the document with a password:  Enter your desired password, click "OK", then click "Save" on the previous window and the document will be saved. Encrypted! Here's how that shows up in the Finder on your Mac:  Try to preview it and you'll learn that there's no shortcut to getting into the content:  In fact, launch a PDF reader and you're still going to need the password to open the document:  Handy. I actually keep a fair amount of content secure on my computer using this sort of technique. Handy for tax returns and other confidential information too, needless to say. Now next time you have a very, very specific question, feel free to pop by and ask! :-) Also check out:
Categorized:
Computer and Internet Basics
(Article 9728,
Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: print to pdf, secure documents, secure pdf, security Previous: How do I add a Facebook "like" button to my blog? Next: How do I stop or disable Windows 7 autoupdate? Subscribe!
Comments (3) · Add Comment
when i try to print, send email and or delete from my desktop i get an alert to add user name and password. i never set one up. i have a mac that my daughter gave to me and they said they never set a user name or password, so they dont know. How can I remove this option so i can use my computer without getting this alert? Posted by: Del at December 29, 2010 2:57 PMDel, that's not a comment, it's a question. To ask Dave a question, use the large red "Ask Dave" button above and to the right. Posted by: YoPaulie at January 8, 2011 1:18 PMOn one hand I'm always surprised that people only read the BLUE buttons in Mac dialog boxes, and completely ignore the white ones. On the other hand... when I read the question I could not remember how to encrypt a PDF created this way... because I have never had the need to do that. SO I ALSO do not read all the white buttons all the time. However when I get a new app or device, I do make it a point to go through every possible setting in its control panel (if it has one), and every tab in its preference pane, so I know what kind of things I can and cannot customize. It just makes life easier later on. Posted by: Daryl at January 12, 2011 12:41 PM
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
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