Print to PDF

I'm having the same problem. Even if I tell FME to use our plotter, the preview only gives me pages up to A2 size, not A1 or A0. I'd like to just export the whole workspace 1:1 to a PDF.

I also use this one. Very useful for a lot of programs!

I tried CutePDF but I'm also running into problems printing PDF for anything other than A4 size page. When I choose CustomPage it print to A4. When I chose A0, it prints to A0 size, but the image captured are still the A4 size (hence image sits in the top left corner of A0 size canvas). It will be very helpful if FME can develope some form of output, either to PDF or to image file which allows a complete capture of workbench.

If anyone else found a workaround, apart from screen dumps, will appreciate advice.

I've used http://www.pdf995.com/ for years and it's always served me well. It includes an array of paper sizes to choose from.

It seems we have an enhancement request already for A0 and A-E sized pages for plotters. I've added this information and increased the priority. fyi the reference number is PR#63008

Has FME made an update for this yet? I am currently trying to print our massive FME workspace on the plotter but am running into the issue of it not changing the size of the actual workspace but instead just changes the paper size and prints an 8.5 x 11 in the middle.

Hi @sjolster31, Which version of FME are you using? It seems like 2017 and above does allow users to select paper size, under the "Page Setup" button (usually second one from the right). Does this solve your problem? Please let us know.

@XiaomengAtSafe, yeah we ended up using that and some plotter setting workarounds but it would still be extremely convenient and seemingly simple to add an export to pdf/jpg function much like the model builder in Arc has. Either way thank you for the response!

Hi @sjolster31, just wondering if using the "Fit to Page" button would've helped too? (It's immediately to the right of the zoom in/out sliding bar.

Just noting here that at 2024.1.1.1, the print preview does work, but it only offers paper sizes from the default printer, not any other.  Make sure you have the plotter (or my case PDF printer) set as default first before choosing Print.

"Microsoft Print to PDF" is limited to A3 maximum and suitable only for small workspaces on one page, or tile printing.

I did manage to make it print to PDF single-page acceptably, but was also hampered by ‘Fit to page’ continually resetting page size to ‘US Letter’ regardless of the (custom) paper size selected in the printer settings.

Workaround:

1. Set plotter/PDF default to large page size or custom size (beyond A0)
2. Open workspace
3. File - Print
4. Check paper settings
5. Press ‘Fit to Page’, will now be printed at something like 5-15% (letter)
6. Print - Printer Preferences
7. Choose paper size, press Apply and close dialog (do not press Print)
8. Note that workspace is now rendered in miniature in middle of page
9. Press ‘Fit to Page’ again, note zoom scale will far more reasonable, like 45%
10. Do not touch anything else except Print - Print.  These will persist until FME is closed
11. I had varying results on whether the custom page settings would ‘stick’ for future printing depending on what was touched in the preview dialog.  The above workflow is replicable.

Note that ‘before’ is almost acceptable but required a lot of work.  The continually-defaulting Letter quality looked like this and was unusable: