Previously, we used Google Reader’s custom link feature to easily share articles across different social networks. By using this technique you can also directly download articles from Google Reader to your computer in PDF format. Here’s how you can do this.
1. Go to Google Reader “Settings” page.
2. At the bottom you’ll see “Create a custom link”. Click on it.
3. Fill the following information in the Name, URL and Icon URL field.
- Name: Save as PDF
- URL: http://savepageaspdf.pdfonline.com/pdfonline/pdfonline.asp?cURL-${url}
- Icon URL: http://www.adobe.com/lib/com.adobe/template/icon/pdf.gif
Save as PDF checkbox will appear above “create a custom link”.
Now go back and open any article. At the bottom of the article, you’ll see “Send to” button. Click on it. Select “Save as PDF” from the drop down.
A page will open in a new tab which is actually Web2PDF online service. The role of custom URL is to send the URL of that article to this service and it converts the webpage to PDF format. After conversion you will be asked to save or open the PDF (for Firefox or IE users).
Download the page and enjoy the article in any PDF reader. You could also create custom urls for any other online PDF conversion tool like Web2PDF.
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I use the Web2PDF Firefox add-on (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/14979/) which I find very useful, just click on a toolbar button and, in a new tab, you are given the options: “Download PDF File”, “View In Google Docs” or “Store And Share PDF Online”. The online option takes you to File Jumbo which will store the PDF free (no account necessary) and provide a link to the document. I tend to just download.
BTW Wordpress has decided my gmail address doesn’t exist despite that being where your email is sent.
Nice add-on Roger. Thanks!
my pleasure Abhijeet,
roger.
I wonder where is the send to link, see my screenshot of google reader there is no send to shortcut–>http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6863746/pics/googleReader.png
Rue, the send to link appears at the bottom of each article in the feed, when you expand it. You gotta first enable it in the settings, and then you’ll find it at the bottom when you click on an article on the right to expand it.
Hi Rue, after customizing all the settings as given in the tutorial, switch to expanded view. You’ll find the link at the bottom as shown in the 4th screenshot.