West Middlesex Family History Society

Printing to file

When we go to Family History Fairs we sometimes go with a printer, but often not. The Data Search facility is designed to enable a log to be captured of entries that a visitor to the fair may be interested in, but how to capture the log as a file that can then be emailed to the visitor?

The log is created as a web page, designed so that printing the log is as simple as printing a web page, but what can you do if you don't have a printer attached? Your internet browser offers a 'Print to File' option, but that will produce a .prn file. Although the .prn file can easily be attached to an email these files are old technology and are not intended to be printed on a printer attached to your PC by USB cable.

Much the better option during the printing of the web page is to use the drop down list of your printers, and from there select 'Microsoft print to PDF' or similar option. Similar to the 'Print to file' option this then enables you to name the PDF file to receive the printed output. The PDF file can then easily be attached to an email and sent to whoever needs it, and it will easily be printed on a USB printer.