Put PDFs in Their Place with PDF Services
If you’re taking advantage of all that OS X has to offer, you’re already “printing” things to PDF. Just press Command-P and click on the PDF button in the Print dialog box. It’s a great way to store tidbits of information—from funny e-mail messages to online receipts—without killing a tree in the process. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could create a PDF and automatically file it in the right folder, without navigating through your entire file system to do so? Here’s how:
First, set up folders (Receipts, Funny E-mails, Recipes, and so on) where you’ll archive this stuff—within your Documents folder, perhaps. Next, navigate to your user folder/Library and create (if you don’t have one) a folder named PDF Services.
PICTURES
click to see larger image
Using OS X’s hidden but powerful (and easy-to-implement) PDF Services, you can make printing to PDF and filing to a destination folder a one-step process.
iTunes can store more than just music. If you have a large collection of PDFs, for instance, try using iTunes to organize it. You can even make smart playlists to further organize your PDFs.
By placing some identifying text on your login window’s background image, you just might luck out and get your laptop back if you misplace it.
Now make an alias of each of these storage folders and put the aliases in the new PDF Services folder. The quick way to do this is to select all your storage folders and then press and hold Command-option. The cursor will change into a small arrow inside a circle (the alias symbol). Drag and drop the aliases into the PDF Services folder.
That’s it; you’ve enabled the hidden PDF Services feature of OS X. Select File: Print in any open document, and when you click on the PDF button, you’ll see that the Save As PDF pop-up menu now includes your folder aliases. Select one of them, and your PDF will print and be saved directly to the chosen folder (See top screenshot).
This tip just scratches the surface of what PDF Services can do for you. Try putting an alias of Mail (or even Microsoft Entourage) in the PDF Services folder, for instance. Now when you pop up the Save As PDF menu and select Mail—voilà! You have an instant Mail message, complete with an embedded PDF of the page you were viewing. For more on PDF Services, see Apple’s Printing & Print Center page.
AWSOME GTD for omnioutliner
3x5 holder with 50 cards +pen
