Printing to PDF HOWTO

From openSUSE

Download the cups-pdf Package

Go to the software search page, and search for the cups-pdf package for your version of openSUSE.

Next to the first result, click "1-Click Install" and follow the steps to install the cups-pdf package.

Set cups-pdf File Permission

Since version 1.2, cups don't support option "RunAsOption" anymore but cups-pdf needs root privileges in order to modify file ownerships.

1. Execute sudo chmod +s /usr/lib/cups/backend/cups-pdf

Install the Printer

1. Open the CUPS Administration page using a web browser like Firefox (visit http://localhost:631/admin, note: the CUPS service must be running, see System Services (runlevel).)
2. Select the Administration tab and click Find New Printers
3. You should see Virtual PDF Printer (CUPS-PDF), click Add This Printer
4. Click Continue
5. In the next screen MAKE/MANUFACTURER FOR CUPS-PDF, select Generic (or SUSE) and click Continue. Now select Generic CUPS-PDF Printer (en) from the list and then click Add Printer.
6. Use the "root" username and password (or any username with CUPS admin rights) when prompted finish adding the new printer.
7. (Optional) Change the default page size to match the locality (i.e. US Letter or A3) under the PDF:General, Page Size setting.

Configuration Options

PDF Output Location

The default location for the PDF files is

/var/spool/cups-pdf/yourusername/

To change this, edit the /etc/cups/cups-pdf.conf file. In this case, to the Desktop of the user.

Out ${HOME}/Desktop

Printing to PDF under KDE

Using any KDE application (Konqueror, Kword, Kwrite etc.), the print dialog will offer the option to print to PDF. Hit Ctrl+P and in the printer combo box select Print to PDF

After you've printed, you'll find your PDF file located in /var/spool/cups-pdf/yourusername/filename.pdf

Links

1. http://www.cups-pdf.de/