You will get more control and better results if you always default to the <printer option> at the bottom. This solves the problems of the phantom blank-page header at the start of the document which throws off the pagination of double-sided printing, of choosing double-sided or not, and a slew of other problems.

I tried two other ways of printing a PDF on a MAC without using Adobe: Opening the PDF with Chrome or with Safari; and then using their print interface. Both offered the same options as Acrobat, but with fewer keystrokes (Safari was the best).

What is sad is that when you click <printer> at the bottom of Acrobat's printer interface, you are given a warning that you are sacrificing the greater number of options and control that Acrobat gives you. But the exact opposite is the case. You get more control of the usual and more important functions with the native interface offered by all other apps on the Mac (at least the ones I tested, including the Mac version of MS Office).

M

mijcar

Participating Frequently

Dov was not saying that Adobe damages the files, but Preview and Chrome could do so. And Dov claims that your output with Chrome or Preview may be incorrect...

But ... same comment. If either Preview or Chrome are opening a PDF, modifying it, then saving the modified version without a customer acceptance, then that company is violating all digital protocol. You never save a document without a customer's current acceptance or (as in the case of MS Officer and similar products) saving backup's, but not overwriting the original. And, if an app modifies a file in order to make a working copy of it (to print, to display, to attach to an email) as is the digital industry standard, that company would find itself in deep trouble. I can't think of a product I have worked with that opens the original and modifies it in place, so that a single computer glitch would destroy the original file. When, copying, moving or editing a file, SOP is make a working copy, use it, while (usually) the original is locked, then save it as the user desires (in a new location, with a new name, or overwriting the original). Both Apple Preview and Chrome have been in the industry a long time; and I have a hard time believing either of them would violate standard safety protocols. This sounds like some of those fear-mongring news items that requires a Snopes investigation before one becomes overcome with anxiety.

What can happen, however, is if the printing is done by the product interface, then any special process to affect outcome (such as printing a line, then doubling back to print over it) would probably be lost; and the user would not get the effect they wanted. However, in this case, where the user accesses the printer interface to "throw switches" (double-space or not; header page or not), then returns to the Acrobat interface to do the actual printer, the product should be printed as expected.

But, even if you don't believe in the above scenario, I am sure you can agree with the point I and numerous others are making: include those switch-throwing options in the Adobe/Acrobat interface so we don't have to be filled with doubt or anxiety by leaving the product and then returning to it. That's what one would expect from a once established powerhouse such as Acrobat (or any other Adobe product). Yes?

Dave__M

Community Expert

In Acrobat Pro DC, if you look in the Print dialog box, you'll see a Properties button next to your selected printer. Click it, and look for an option for duplexing, or printing on both sides of the paper.

My best,

Dave

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