Web page doesn't fit properly when printed?, Part 2

Recall --

Last newsletter, Infopackets Reader Frank C. asked if there was a way to make a web page 'fit' properly on a page when printed:

" I enjoy reading your newsletter very much. Whenever I find a particularly interesting topic, I like to make a hardcopy for later reference. Unfortunately, some of the information on the web page gets cut off when my printer goes to print the page (this also happens to me with other web sites). Is there a way I get around this problem? "

I suggested 2 methods using Internet Explorer (adjusting margins and printing in Portrait mode, or try printing the page in Landscape mode, sideways). I also asked Readers for alternative solutions. Infopackets Reader 'Peggy' writes:

" My solution doesn't require any new software. Simply highlight the desired text to print, and then select File -> Print, and choose 'Print Selected'. This doesn't print the entire page in most cases, but works great. "

Using a similar approach, Infopackets Reader 'Hermann' (and a number of others) suggested the 'copy and paste into a word processor' method. He writes:

" The way I overcame the problem of the printed page being cut off is to go to the Web Page in question, right click and drag over the area you wish to print to highlight it, then click 'Copy' either from the edit menu. Next, I opened 'Microsoft Word', and then pasted the copied web document into Word. The document would then fit perfectly on the screen, and I was able to edit out what I didn't need. I could also adjust the margins of the document in Microsoft word to my preference. This way of doing it may be the answer to everyone, but has certainly worked just fine for me over the past several years. "

Frank B. suggested two utilities -- although not freeware, they still function (with a few restrictions):

" I know of 2 utilities that will do the job: PDF995 and eDocPrinter. Both convert the web page to PDF format and you can scale it down as much as necessary. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free version available from Adobe website). Both create a 'virtual printer' which you use to save the document in My Documents or wherever. You can then print it out using your real printer. PDF is completely free but with advertisements, and eDocPrinter is shareware (but free if you can put up with a watermark on every page after the first 4. "

'Edward' and many other users recommended using Mozilla web browser as a very simple fix:

" Rather than using Internet Explorer, I use a different browser -- Mozilla (it's free). In print preview this gives you the option of 'Shrink to fit' which puts the web page, even if it is quite wide, neatly on to your A4 (or whatever) page. You sacrifice print size, but I have not found this to be a problem, since the shrinkage is rarely to smaller than 75%. It is only the width of the page that is shrunk, not its length. There may be a problem if the web page is using a header frame which is very wide, but I haven't met this very often. "

http://www.mozilla.org

Pat H. and a few others suggested changing the font size on the web page in order to make the page output correctly on the printer:

" Another solution that works on some web sites, but not all (I'm not sure why) is to adjust the Font Size on the page by clicking View -> Text Size -> Smallest under Internet Explorer. If you're just missing a couple of characters from the right side of the page with the normal font, changing the font size to the smallest setting should adjust enough to bring them onto the printed sheet. Note, however, that this method sometimes does not work on web pages that use tables for formatting. "

And finally, John J. suggested that some printers may have a scaling feature (but only if the printer driver supports this feature):

" From Internet Explorer, Select File -> Print Preview. If the page is cropped on the right, select Page Setup (gear icon next to the Print button). Select Printer -> Properties -> Advanced. Some printers will have a Scaling option which is set to 100% (by default) -- I usually set my printer to 90% when I need to reduce the page to fit. When you go back to the Print Preview screen, the preview will change to show the changes. "

Thanks to all who wrote in with their suggestions!