I use CUPS-PDF to print all documents as PDF files. Mac OS X allows user to save documents as PDF without additional software, but I prefer to use CUPS-PDF instead.
Reasons for choosing CUPS-PDF:
- I’m too lazy to choose ‘Save as PDF’ from print dialog
- You can also share this CUPS-PDF with virtual machines so that documents printed under Windows or Linux VMs will print to the same folder.
- My main (and only) computer is a MacBook Pro so I do not always have access to a printer. CUPS-PDF goes wherever my MacBook Pro is.
I used MacPorts to install CUPS-PDF. With MacPorts, it’s as simple as:
sudo port install cups-pdf
And a few more additional instructions:
sudo /opt/local/libexec/cups-pdf_link.sh
Optionally, edit the /opt/local/etc/cups/cups-pdf.conf.
And finally:
sudo killall -1 cupsd
Once this is done, add a new printer from System Preferences.
All your printed documents will be stored at /opt/local/var/spool/cups-pdf/${USER}, where ${USER} is your username.
The path is little troublesome to access if you print very often. So, create a symbolic link at your desktop.
ln -s /opt/local/var/spool/cups-pdf/${USER} ~/Desktop/CUPS-PDF
This creates a shortcut (CUPS-PDF) to your printouts at your Desktop. Now, this shortcut looks like a normal folder and I want this folder to look like a printer so I can tell all my printouts are there.
I looked around for a nice printer icon at Iconfactory (and a few other places) but I could not find any that I liked.
Actually, nice looking printer icons are already installed. Go to /Library/Printers. Installed printer drivers are kept at this folder. Look around and find the printer icon you like.
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