printing an interface

Hi Beth! Depending on your requirements, we can use an Interface, Extension, or third-party tool.
 

Some clarifying questions:

-Do you need to print one record at a time on demand, or generate many PDFs in bulk?

-How strict are your layout needs? Are these PDFs for internal use only, or will they be shared with clients/partners where formatting matters more?

-Do you want manual printing or workflow-triggered? 

-Do you need to include linked record or line-item details, or only fields from a single table?

Blank layouts aren’t supported by Airtable for printing I’m afraid, and so you’re reliant on the browser’s printing functionality.  This sometimes doesn’t work as well as one would want though, so maybe you could look into a browser extension that helps with this?

As an alternative, you could try creating a List + Record Detail layout.  You’d be able to select the record you want and the Record Detail is fairly customizable while still being printable: 

Thank you,

• I need to print on record at a time on demand
• These PDF’s will be shared on a minimal level, but I still need to be able to control the layout very customized.
• This report - PDF is not only for printing it’s for viewing just as much, and then I want the manual printing option - but I should have the option of printing more than one at a time.
• It also needs to include linked records. Thank You!!

You’ll need to turn to 3rd-party apps for this. See my official list below.

However, before I get to the official list, I should mention that some people try to use Airtable’s Page Designer extension for this sort of thing, but Page Designer has SIGNIFICANT problems that make it unusable for the vast majority of people.

Here is a partial list of limitations with Page Designer:

• Page Designer doesn’t work in interfaces.
• Page Designer can’t be automated in any way.
• Page Designer can’t create PDF files on its own — you need to use your computer’s print or PDF functions for that.
• Page Designer can’t insert documents into attachment fields. You have to do this manually.
• Page Designer can’t effectively create documents that are more than 1 page in length.
• Page Designer layouts can’t be copied to other tables or bases.

So your #1 best bet would be to turn to 3rd-party apps. Here are a few popular 3rd-party apps for automatically generating PDF documents from Airtable:

1. DocuMint — the original document creation app for Airtable. Creates PDF files.
    
2. DocsAutomator — creates Google Docs documents or PDF files.
    
3. Make’s integrations — which can be integrated with any document-creation app of your choosing, even something as simple as custom Microsoft Word documents.
   
   If you’ve never used Make before, I’ve assembled a bunch of Make training resources in this thread. For example, here is one way that you can instantly trigger a Make automation from Airtable.
    
4. Fillout’s advanced forms for Airtable — Fillout lets you automatically generate custom PDF files from a form submission.
   
   I show off this feature on this Airtable podcast episode:Using Fillout to create an eSignature approval process with PDF file creation.
    
5. Typeflow or DocuPotion — I haven’t personally used these apps yet, but I will be checking them out in the future.

Hope this helps! If you’d like to hire the best Airtable consultant to help you with this or anything Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld

Here’s your options...

Thank you, If I want to use the fillout option, how do I go about it, - will the PDF be coming in my airtable - table as an attachment?

Yes, the PDF from Fillout will come into your Airtable base as an attachment.

You can learn more about the feature here:

• Automatically generate custom PDF files from a form submission.

And I give a live demonstration of this feature on this Airtable podcast episode:

• Using Fillout to create an eSignature approval process with PDF file creation.

Hope this helps! If you’d like to hire the best Airtable consultant to help you with anything Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld

The thing is I want to be able to add comments in airtable - and also see it as part of my report - So I would rather stay within airtable even if I can’t do the layout exactly as I like - as long as the printing is easy. What is my best option?

Another question - my records are now being created through a fillout form, is there an option in airtable to import info from a PDF form - and it should auto fill the correct fields as a new record?

This help article should guide you through the process of connecting Fillout to Airtable.

I’m after that already! I have a great fillout form which is linked to airtable. I just have 2 issues now.

1. I need a clear report - PDF , custom design, easy access & print, and it should include all added comments - from airtable.
2. a way to import info from a PDF, to create a new record.