I’ve been printing lots recently, however solely to PDF, as I exploit this format kind to feed info to ChatGPT. I defined the opposite day that that is a trick I exploit to offer ChatGPT entry to web sites which may block AI chatbots. There are alternative ways to share that content material, which I’ve addressed, however PDF is my favourite.
Whereas writing that tutorial, I noticed I used to be doing all my Print-to-PDF stuff from my MacBook, which is my weapon of alternative for all issues associated to work and productiveness. I exploit ChatGPT most frequently on my Mac, in order that’s the place I find yourself sending the PDFs.
Within the course of, I discovered {that a} sensible iPhone (and iPad) characteristic is constructed into Apple’s working system that allows you to print something to PDF with unimaginable ease. Nevertheless it’s hidden from view, and I can’t work out why. I say this as a longtime iPhone consumer who hasn’t beforehand used the Print-to-PDF characteristic on the cellphone or on an iPad.
It’s constructed into the Share characteristic, obtainable anyplace in iOS and iPadOS that you just would possibly wish to share recordsdata, but it surely’s not instantly apparent. In contrast to the common Print possibility within the Share menu, there’s no direct Print to PDF possibility.
To show this characteristic, I’ll print the ChatGPT article I wrote the opposite day to PDF. I loaded the web page in Safari, tapped the Share button, after which the magic started. There are a number of methods to print to PDF from right here.
I don’t bear in mind ever clicking on the Choices button when sharing a hyperlink from the iPhone or iPad. I’d as an alternative scroll to the sharing choices beneath that button, which may be folks or apps.
Faucet Choices, and also you’ll discover which you could decide PDF from the record.
If you happen to try this, you possibly can share the file together with your pc, iPad, or different units.
Nonetheless, this Share possibility doesn’t work if you wish to share your PDF with different apps, together with the default Recordsdata app or ChatGPT. There’s no means to do this from right here.
Let’s use the Print characteristic
I exploit the Print characteristic on the Mac to save lots of net pages as PDF recordsdata after which share the ensuing file with ChatGPT.
If you happen to do the identical factor on the iPhone and iPad, you gained’t discover a Print to PDF possibility like on the Mac, which is an actual drawback. As an alternative, you get the menu above that allows you to use a daily printer.
Faucet Print, and also you get the print menu beneath.
Enjoyable reality: I’ve been utilizing the iPhone solely to print paperwork on paper for the previous few years, because the Mac-to-printer connection simply doesn’t work.
Again to printing recordsdata and net pages to PDF on iPhone, the button is hiding in plain sight. Simply faucet that Share button on the prime, which I’ve ignored to this point on this menu, and also you’ll rapidly uncover that the iPhone or iPad has already created the PDF file you want (see picture above). From there, you possibly can share the online web page as a PDF with different folks or reserve it to the Recordsdata app.
Now, you should utilize the ensuing PDF in ChatGPT and different locations.
The extra satisfying route
How do I do know the system already creates a PDF earlier than you print it? That is the place I introduce you to the extra satisfying path to creating PDF recordsdata on iPhone and iPad.
Let’s return to the Print choices I confirmed you earlier than (above). See the print preview on the backside of the web page? Pinch-to-zoom it to see a full-screen model. Guess what occurs? You get the PDF file. iOS and iPadOS have already remodeled the online web page right into a PDF earlier than you select the way to print the file.
As you possibly can see beneath, the file takes the online web page title, and you may scroll by it. Faucet the identical Share button (decrease left nook this time) to put it aside within the Recordsdata app.
It is a barely longer technique of printing to PDF on the iPhone than the tactic above. You preview the doc earlier than saving it, which is an additional step.
Alternatively, that is my now-favorite strategy to print stuff to PDF on the iPhone and iPad. Faucet that file identify I discussed earlier than, and also you get a button to Save the doc to the Recordsdata app straight with out going by the Share sheet.
I do not know why Apple makes all this course of so tedious, however a minimum of it really works.
