# Auto printing individual PDFs in various size and orientations

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Tags:** pdf, printing\
**Created:** [January 17, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445 "2017-01-17T11:32:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sheridan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/sheridan/32/602265_2.png) [@sheridan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/sheridan)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/1 "2017-01-17T11:32:39Z")

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A dream for publishing from Rhino would be to print individual PDFs from a multi page Rhino file. In the various sizes and orientations defined in each paper space.

It would also be great to number the files from the tabs relative to each page too!

Can we do this somehow??

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**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/2 "2017-01-17T17:13:34Z")

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Hi Jonathan - it’s the single multi-page pdf that is key, here, correct? You can print layouts to separate pdfs now-

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/3/6/3674ab38b75ea098c688ae4f42026793b1de29bb.png)

-Pascal

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**Author:** ![stevebaer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/stevebaer/32/473567_2.png) [@stevebaer](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/stevebaer)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/3 "2017-01-17T17:29:09Z")

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> [@sheridan](#):
>
> It would also be great to number the files from the tabs relative to each page too!

I’m not sure what this means. Can you elaborate?

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**Author:** ![sheridan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/sheridan/32/602265_2.png) [@sheridan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/sheridan)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/4 "2017-01-17T17:31:21Z")

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Print individual PDFs, i.e. auto separate a print into individual pages, and name those pages relative to the layout tabs.

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**Author:** ![sheridan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/sheridan/32/602265_2.png) [@sheridan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/sheridan)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/5 "2017-01-17T17:32:02Z")

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I cant seem to get landscape and portrait rotation working together though?

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**Author:** ![2DCube](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/2dcube/32/62428_2.png) [@2DCube](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/2DCube)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/6 "2017-01-17T18:20:58Z")

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Have a look here:

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/5/7/574ed1472a3dc22410bed524e43fa51377d880df.png)

You can print a succession of layouts in one orientation and then the others in a different orientation.

This is a good point though, @pascal @stevebaer - when printing a range it would be helpful if the spooler could work out what orientation the layout was or at least give the user an option to choose for each tab.

- 

Andy

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**Author:** ![stevebaer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/stevebaer/32/473567_2.png) [@stevebaer](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/stevebaer)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/7 "2017-01-17T18:45:54Z")

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Yep, this is on the list as something to implement.

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**Author:** ![2DCube](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/2dcube/32/62428_2.png) [@2DCube](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/2DCube)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/8 "2017-01-17T19:05:34Z")

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Suite! (of arbitrary rotated PDFs in one document:)

Thanks, Steve.

- 

Andy

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**Author:** ![sheridan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/sheridan/32/602265_2.png) [@sheridan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/sheridan)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 7:30am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/9 "2017-01-18T07:30:02Z")

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The other thing I think’d be very nice… Is to be able to print all as a ‘oner’… But have the printer seperate the pages into individual PDFs, Naming them via the tab on each layout.

Rhino is great I am a very big fan. However publishing, in this respect and other finer details, may help it compete with others at this end of the game.

Thanks

J

[www.e-DNA.co.uk](http://www.e-DNA.co.uk)

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**Author:** ![phillip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/phillip/32/664214_2.png) [@phillip](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/phillip)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 10:25am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/10 "2017-03-01T10:25:56Z")

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Hi, in your changelog it says

Rhino WIP 2017-Feb-21 is now available.  
This WIP includes:  
New Features:  
PDF: Option to make individual PDFs when printing Layouts

> [@New Rhino WIP Available](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/new-rhino-wip-available/38802/14):
>
> Rhino WIP 2017-Feb-21 is now available. This WIP includes: New Features: File IO: Add SVG File Export Annotation: Leader - Make “Above” dimstyle setting apply to leaders and radial dimensions ExtendSrf: Add option to split New command: CopyHole New command: OneView Rendering: New command: RenderArctic Annotations: in properties panel, wrap controls (except RichTextArea) in scrollable Bug Fixes Annotation: Dozens of improvements Area: Fails in V6; ok in v5 Blend: 3rd point of 2nd curve jum…

I can not get this to work though, neither I find the option to activate single PDFs.  
For me printing multiple Layouts does not even create any PDF file.

Cheers,  
phillip

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**Author:** ![John\_Brock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/john_brock/32/476283_2.png) [@John\_Brock](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/John_Brock)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/13 "2017-03-22T18:43:04Z")

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The new PDF printing tools technically has this ability now, but there is no User Interface for it yet. The developer says it can be accessed through scripting if that’s something you can do. If you’re like me, then I’ll wait until there is interface for the controls.

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**Author:** ![phillip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/phillip/32/664214_2.png) [@phillip](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/phillip)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 9:43am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/14 "2017-03-23T09:43:49Z")

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Hi John, thanks for your respond. Yes, I´d like to try via script. Could you show me how to access it. Thanks, Phillip

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Brock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/john_brock/32/476283_2.png) [@John\_Brock](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/John_Brock)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/15 "2017-03-23T14:21:35Z")

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Sorry, coding and scripting aren’t skills I have. I was passing along developer comments.

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**Author:** ![stevebaer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/stevebaer/32/473567_2.png) [@stevebaer](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/stevebaer)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/17 "2017-03-23T14:32:03Z")

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A sample python script for doing this can be found at

> [@Print Layouts to PDFs - One layout to one PDF?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/print-layouts-to-pdfs-one-layout-to-one-pdf/39744/):
>
> When Rhino prints layouts to PDF, all layouts are printed in a single PDF. i want to print layouts to PDF’s separately, one layout to one PDF in a defined folder. The PDF’s use layout names. it should be automatic, because i have 100 Layouts, and i change mein model very often. i mean, if i chang my model, i must overwrite the 100 pdfs one time. someone had idea? it will be very very helpful.

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**Author:** ![2DCube](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/2dcube/32/62428_2.png) [@2DCube](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/2DCube)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 9:09am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/18 "2017-03-29T09:09:41Z")

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Amazing, thanks for this. Now if only Illustrator (PC) could provide the same function for art boards…

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**Author:** ![devingrayart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/devingrayart/32/633290_2.png) [@devingrayart](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/devingrayart)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/19 "2020-02-02T23:14:40Z")

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Hi Pascal, I may be misunderstanding, but I cannot for the life of me find the option to print multiple layouts to **separate** PDFs. I select ‘Multiple Layouts’ and type in my range, but no where can I see an option to save as individual PDFs. It defaults to combining all layouts into one PDF and there’s no alternative. (Rhino6 btw)…

Hope you can clarify!

Cheers

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**Author:** ![wim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/wim/32/747482_2.png) [@wim](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/wim)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 7:01am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/20 "2020-02-03T07:01:33Z")

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> [@devingrayart](#):
>
> It defaults to combining all layouts into one PDF and there’s no alternative. (Rhino6 btw)…

Hi - that’s correct, the print dialog doesn’t offer an alternative.  
You can use the script that is posted here:

> [@Print Layouts to PDFs - One layout to one PDF?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/print-layouts-to-pdfs-one-layout-to-one-pdf/39744/4):
>
> @Ning_Zhang, here’s the script written by @JorinChi . Create C:\pdf\_output\ before using the script. Select Tools \> PythonScript \> Run and select the 1Layout1PDF.py to run. [1Layout1PDF.py](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/1/2/12eb921ce5b6ff2b20f34134ea0d3c31465baf71.py) (506 Bytes)

-wim

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**Author:** ![devingrayart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/devingrayart/32/633290_2.png) [@devingrayart](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/devingrayart)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/21 "2020-02-04T06:12:51Z")

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Ahh, okay. Thanks, Wim.

I’ll take that approach.

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**Author:** ![ivan.galik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/ivan.galik/32/731821_2.png) [@ivan.galik](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/ivan.galik)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/22 "2020-11-24T01:12:16Z")

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I find this pretty dissapointing such basic thing as publishing is very much underdeveloped in version 7. It is no science to be able to set your options per each layout such as size, dpi, raster/vector, driver and then just hit publish. I am playing around rhino 7 and i cannot comprehend why once “layouts” tab has been implemented other related simple features like described above are not part of it.

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**Author:** ![sheridan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/sheridan/32/602265_2.png) [@sheridan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/sheridan)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 7:22am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445/23 "2020-11-24T07:22:36Z")

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Have these scripts got the ability to rotate and scale different pages?

Also, and I think this is a biggy: Can the scripts name the PDF files with the viewport / page tab each has?

Yes indeed this needs to be implemented into the User interface. With controls. So that general drafting printing can be automated for large batches of prints. Regardless of their size or rotation. And as they are named too… we don’t have to worry about print order!? Please push this to get developed now? Batch printing is a basic for making, communicating and building things!

Help Rhino surpass competition technologies?

[Next page](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/auto-printing-individual-pdfs-in-various-size-and-orientations/40445.md?page=2)