I frequently receive questions from newsletter readers asking, "How do I print an article in the newsletter?" I thought I would write a quick "how to" and will add it to the newsletter's FAQs (frequently-asked questions). These instructions work on this newsletter's web site and probably on about 99% of all other web sites.
The exact instructions for printing anything will depend on the software you use in your Windows or Macintosh system. If you read the newsletters online at http://www.eogn.com, you need to find the instructions for the web browser you use (Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, or whatever you use on the Internet). If you read the newsletters in email, you need to use the print command built into your email program. Those instructions will vary from one program to another.
In most web browsers and most email programs, you use the commands at the top of the program's window or at the top of the screen, select FILE and then select PRINT, and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
NOTE: In the Macintosh operating system, those commands appear at the very top of the screen. In Windows and most Linux systems, those commands appear at the top of the window being used.
What appears on your printer, however, may not be what you want. Sometimes the formatting will be incorrect and, if the site uses Java, Javascript, or Flash, not everything is printed in the manner you want. If the web site has advertising along the side, this method may print things you don't care to save.
A Better Way
I prefer a different method that is simpler and works on all programs on Windows and Macintosh and Linux systems, and it also saves paper. It requires several extra steps but the results are worth it. I use this on almost ALL web sites, not just this newsletter.
You can copy-and-paste the articles. First find the article to print and display it on your computer's screen. Then use the mouse to copy JUST THE PART YOU WANT. Move the mouse cursor to the beginning of what needs to be printed, click the mouse button and HOLD IT DOWN. Drag the mouse down the screen until it reaches the end of the part to be printed. The desired text is now highlighted. Now release the mouse button you held down. Go to the menus at the top of the screen, and click on EDIT and then select COPY. This copies the text to be printed to the Windows or Macintosh clipboard although you will not see it.
Next, launch your favorite word processor or text editor in a new window, and create a new, blank document. You can use most any word processor or NotePad for Windows or TextEdit on a Macintosh. My favorite is TextWrangler, a free text editor for Macintosh that you can download at http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/
In the word processor or text editor, go to the commands at the top of the screen or window, and click on EDIT and then on PASTE. The text you highlighted a moment earlier will be pasted into the word processor.
NOTE: You can also use keyboard shortcuts in place of clicking the mouse on EDIT, COPY, and PASTE. In Windows, use Control-C to copy, Control-V to paste. On Macintosh systems, use Command-C and Command-V respectively. Using keyboard commands is faster and easier, although it does require memorization of the commands.
You can then delete any pieces of the article you don't want, add your own notes as you wish, make the font bigger or smaller to improve readability, and do anything else you wish. When done, click on PRINT, and just the info you want will be printed.
You can also use the word processor's commands to save the article to your own hard drive or not, as you wish.
The entire process takes only a few seconds. It takes longer to read these instructions than it does to perform the copy-and-paste. The result is that you get everything you want and only what you want. It can also save paper.
Suggestion: try this right now. Print this article.
