Make Web Content Printer Friendly With Simple Print

In my courses, I often use texts originally published on the Internet as material for in-class discussion, and for my classes, I need printed copies. However, not all online texts are formatted in such a way that, when they are printed, they are optimally readable. Because I can be something of a control freak, I have spent more time than I’d care to admit downloading and reformatting texts to make them look the way I’d like them to look.

This is not a good use of my time.

Fortunately, I’ve recently found a tool provided by FiveFilters.org that does this work for me: using “Simple Print,” all you have to do is copy the URL of the text you want reformatted, paste it into the text entry field, and then click the button labeled “Create PDF.” There are, of course, more advanced methods for this sort of thing, but if what you’re looking for is a no-frills solution then Simple Print is worth a look.

• Advantage: Fast and easy.
• Disadvantage: Few custom options beyond page size.

The tool’s developers have also created browser add-ons for Firefox and Chrome.

How about you? What fast and easy tools do you use to convert texts into the formats you need?

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