How To Add Print Functionality To Blogger And Wordpress Blogs

Introduction

For bloggers and content creators, offering print-friendly options for readers can enhance user experience and make content more accessible. The provided source materials detail methods for adding print functionality to Blogger and WordPress blogs, enabling readers to easily print blog posts without extraneous elements like sidebars and headers. This article explores various approaches to implementing print features on blogs, from widget-based solutions to custom code implementations.

Adding Print Functionality to Blogger Blogs

Using PrintFriendly Widget

PrintFriendly offers a straightforward widget solution for Blogger blogs that allows readers to generate clean, printable versions of blog posts. The process involves:

1. Obtaining the PrintFriendly button by visiting their button page and selecting the Blogger/Blogspot option
2. Choosing a preferred button style
3. Clicking the "Install Blogger Widget" button
4. Selecting the target blog in Blogger
5. Leaving the title blank
6. Clicking the "Add Widget" button

The PrintFriendly & PDF button will then appear at the bottom of blog posts. It's worth noting that PrintFriendly currently works on Classic Blogger/Blogspot templates, as the service is still in development for the new Dynamic View template.

Custom Print Link Implementation

Blogger users can also implement custom print links directly into their blog templates. This approach provides more control over how the print option appears and functions. The process involves:

1. Navigating to the "Edit HTML" page in Blogger
2. Ensuring the "expand widget templates" box is ticked
3. Searching for the line <p><data:post.body/></p>
4. Adding one of three code options immediately after this line:
   • A simple text link
   • A button link
   • A styled link with a printer icon

This method creates print links that only appear on post pages, allowing visitors to print the full post and any comments beneath it. The implementation uses a combination of CSS and JavaScript to ensure only the relevant content is printed, avoiding waste of paper and ink.

Adding Print Functionality to WordPress Blogs

Using the Print My Blog Plugin

WordPress users can implement print functionality through the "Print My Blog" plugin, which offers several features:

• Quick Print: Allows users to print blog posts directly from their browser by selecting a format and clicking "Prepare Print Page"
• Print Buttons: Can be added to posts and/or pages through the plugin settings
• Pro Print: Offers more advanced printing capabilities
• Print Form: Enables the creation of a dedicated page where visitors can access print functionality

To implement these features: 1. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' screen in WordPress 2. For Quick Print, navigate to "Print My Blog" > "Quick Print" and follow the instructions 3. For print buttons, go to "Print My Blog" > "Settings" and select where to show the buttons 4. For Pro Print, access it through the "Print My Blog" menu 5. For a print form, create a new page using the block editor and add the "Print My Blog" block

The plugin's free version allows users to create projects and print or make PDFs using their web browser, though some advanced features may not be fully supported by all browsers.

Offering Free Printables on WordPress

WordPress bloggers can offer free printables to readers by following these steps:

1. Create the printable content using software like Photoshop, Word, or Google Docs, saving it as a PDF
2. Write the blog post and upload relevant photos
3. Upload the PDF to the blog's media library using the 'Add media' icon
4. Copy the URL to the file from the media library
5. Add the printable link within the post content

This method allows bloggers to provide valuable resources to readers while potentially increasing traffic and engagement. Free printables can include party decor, holiday tags, invitations, wall art, games, coloring pages, and other digital content.

Alternative Print Solutions

PrintFriendly Service

The PrintFriendly online service can be used to make any web page print-friendly by:

1. Copying the URL address of the page to be printed
2. Pasting it into the PrintFriendly website
3. Using the service to generate a clean, printable version

This method is particularly useful for Blogger.com users or those who cannot install plugins on their sites. It's a free service that removes unnecessary elements from web pages before printing, though users should be cautious about advertisements on the site.

Other WordPress Print Plugins

Several alternative WordPress plugins offer print functionality:

• Print, PDF, Email by PrintFriendly: Allows visitors to print, create PDFs, or email content. The free version is not GDPR-compliant and includes advertisements.
• WP Print Friendly: Automatically adds print links to posts, pages, and custom post types.
• WP-Print: Offers customizable print outputs but requires editing theme files.
• Print-o-Matic: Adds print buttons via shortcode and can work with theme and plugin styles.
• PDF Generator for WordPress: Creates and customizes PDFs for posts, pages, and WooCommerce products.

For users interested in converting their blogs to other formats, additional options include:

• Anthologize: Useful for WordPress.com users, allowing content export to e-book format.
• MPL – Publisher: A free eBook creator/PDF converter plugin.
• Blog To HTML: Exports blog content to HTML for eBook creation.
• Blogbooker: Creates books or PDFs from blogs using pre-made styles (paid service).
• Blog2print: Creates books or PDFs by requesting username and password (paid service).

Implementation Considerations

When adding print functionality to blogs, several factors should be considered:

1. Template Compatibility: Some solutions may not work with all blog templates. For example, PrintFriendly currently works only with Classic Blogger templates, not the Dynamic View template.

2. Style Consistency: Many print solutions don't use the blog's theme styles, which may affect the visual consistency between the online and printed versions.

3. Privacy and Compliance: Some free plugins may not be GDPR-compliant or may include advertisements in their free versions.

4. User Experience: Clear indicators of print functionality should be provided to readers, such as visible buttons or links.

5. Content Optimization: Ensure that blog content is structured in a way that translates well to print format, avoiding elements that don't print effectively.

Conclusion

Adding print functionality to blogs enhances user experience by allowing readers to save and reference content offline. Blogger users can implement this through PrintFriendly widgets or custom code, while WordPress offers plugin solutions like Print My Blog and various alternatives. For bloggers offering free printables, specific methods for uploading and linking PDF files are available. Each solution has its advantages and limitations, and the best choice depends on the blogger's technical skills, template compatibility, and specific needs.

The provided source material focuses on technical implementation rather than content strategy, so additional research may be needed to determine the optimal approach for specific blogging goals. For bloggers in niches like beauty, baby care, pet products, health, food, or household goods, offering print-friendly content could be particularly valuable to readers seeking practical information or resources.

Sources

1. PrintFriendly Blogger Widget Installation Guide
2. Print My Blog WordPress Plugin Documentation
3. How to Offer Free Printables on WordPress
4. Custom Print Link Implementation for Blogger
5. PrintFriendly Service Usage Guide