How to record a “macro” that saves web pages as PDF in OSX

Question

I frequently save pages as PDF from Chrome on OSX. The page is apple-P then click the PDF button and the "Save as PDF.." menu item. I always use the pre-filled filename and save in the default directory.

Is it possible to save this as an automator script? If that is possible I woulld sure like to add this as a button on Chrome somewhere so I can just "save this for reading later"

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Use the Service template in Automator. Service receives no input in Google Chrome.app, workflow is Utilities > Watch Me Do, then perform your print action so it can be captured by Automator. (Chrome doesn't provide any Automator actions, but Watch Me Do only requires Universal Access.)

Alternately, you can use AppleScript, but working out exactly how to reference things can be "interesting" and I notice its dictionary doesn't reference the standard print settings type so you may not be able to control the Print dialog.

Answer 2

If you assign ⌘P as the shortcut for Save as PDF..., you can open the dialog just by pressing ⌘PP. Here's an AppleScript that partially relies on that method:

tell application "System Events"
    keystroke "ppd" using {command down}
    tell (process 1 where frontmost is true)
        perform action "AXPress" of button "Save" of window 1
    end tell
end tell

I haven't bothered trying anything more complex myself, but you could take a look at MacScripter / Save as PDF – An attempt at a general-purpose GUI method.