How Do I Print or Export Content From My Website?

TL;DR

• To print a page: open it in your browser and press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on a Mac.
• To save a page as a PDF: open the same print window and choose Save as PDF as the destination.
• To get the text into a document: copy it from the page and paste it into your word processor.
• To export WordPress content: Tools, then Export makes a file for moving content to another WordPress site. Need form entries? On our Webmaster Retainer, we can send a spreadsheet.
• To share a page, you often don’t need to print it at all. Send the link.

How Do I Print a Page From My Website?

1. Open the page in your web browser.
2. Press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on a Mac. You can also choose Print from your browser’s menu (in Chrome, the three dots at the top right).
3. Check the preview. Web pages are built for screens, so menus and wide sections may print oddly.
4. Pick your printer and settings, then click Print.

See Google’s steps for printing from Chrome. Other browsers have a similar print window, though the PDF option may have a slightly different name.

How Do I Save a Page as a PDF?

1. Open the print window with Ctrl+P or Command+P.
2. Change the destination (the printer choice) to Save as PDF.
3. Click Save and choose where the file goes.

Want the PDF on your website for others to download? See How Do I Add or Replace a PDF on My Website?

How Do I Get My Page Text Into a Document?

1. Select the text on the page by clicking and dragging over it.
2. Copy it with Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on a Mac.
3. Paste it into your document with Ctrl+V or Command+V.
4. Clean up the formatting. Text copied from a web page brings some of its styling along.

How Do I Take a Screenshot of My Website?

• On a Mac: press Shift+Command+4, then drag over the part you want. The image saves to your desktop. See the Mac screenshot guide.
• On Windows: press the Windows key+Shift+S, then drag over the part you want. See the Windows screenshot guide.

Screenshots are fine for a quick look or an email. They’re usually too low in detail for printed marketing, like a postcard.

How Do I Export Content From WordPress?

WordPress has an Export tool under Tools, then Export. It makes a file of your posts, pages, and other content. That file is for moving content into another WordPress site. It isn’t a readable document, and it isn’t a full backup. See WordPress’s guide to the Export screen.

Need your form submissions? On our Webmaster Retainer, we can export them as a spreadsheet. As Beth told one client, “I can do a spreadsheet of all the completed forms. Let me know the date range that you want.”

Do I Need to Print It at All?

Often not. If you want someone to see a page, send them its link. When one client asked for a page’s text in a document, Beth pointed them to the page’s link instead. See How Do I Find the Link to a Page on My Website?

Rather Have Us Do It?

Tell us what you need it for: a handout, a press kit, or a form export. We’ll get you the right file on your Webmaster Retainer.

What Webmaster For Hire Recommends

• Send a link when you can. It’s always the current version.
• Check the print preview before printing a web page.
• Use real image files for print, not screenshots.

:: Common Questions ::

Can I Print a Web Page and Use It as a Flyer?

For a quick handout, yes. Check the print preview first, since web layouts don’t always fit a page. If you have a flyer file, you can also post it as a PDF on your site.

Need Something From Your Site?

See our Webmaster Retainer, or request a consultation.