Forum Post downloads to user

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Is there a way of down loading a complete Forum Post with its replies ?

Bob

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

I’ve just tried selecting a load of replies and an original post and copying them to a Word document. It includes all the pretty pictures and you can then edit it to remove bits you don’t need.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Thanks Nigel, but with a 3 page Forum reply, it becomes quite a long job.  Seems a simple website request.  I suppose one could make a file of the web addresses with the topic as a title for each.  I find the search facility rarely gives a GOOD result.

Bob

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

What Nigel said.  For anyone unfamiliar with cut and paste method, here’s a full description.

Cut (actually Copy). You can’t simply select all (ctrl-a) because that captures everything, like buttons, banners, and the unwanted right panel listing “Latest Replies”.  Instead use the mouse to select what’s wanted.

Go to the bottom of each page, and position the cursor by left clicking the mouse on the far right end of the last post.  With the left button held down, drag the cursor all way up to the far left of the first post and release.   The selection will highlight as you go, confirming the mouse picked what you want.  The page will scroll as necessary.

At the top hold the right button down, and select copy from the pop-up menu.

Paste.  Start Word, or other word-processor, and open a new document.   Position the cursor at the top and select Paste with the right-mouse button.   All being well, posts copied from the forum will appear in Word, and can be word processed in the usual way.

Repeat for each page of replies.

Same method allows single posts, or parts of posts to be copied.

Gotchas!  The computer may not let the user Cut and Paste with a mouse from a website.  Done to block a type of hacking attack.   If so, Copy and Paste are done with the keyboard:  Copy is Ctrl-C and Paste is Ctrl-V.    Selecting is still done with the mouse.

Dave

 

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

This works for me in Windows with the PC

 

Open the topic, right click somewhere in the text of the first post, select print from the drop down box. You can then print to paper or PDF. this is a preview of what you get which should be good enough for a record of a topic than can be easily read and no need for edditing. It does the whole page of replies, joint the pages together if you feel the need.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Yes, its works, but ….. there can be a lot of cut and mucking about – a “Download Topic” button would be nice.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There are a lot of things that would be nice but I doubt we will get any better than what we have now unless the new mag format can generate a considerably higher gross profit as the money is just not there to spend on add-ons or someone to implement them.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Using the iPad [but it probably works on other devices too]

I’ve just tried saving this brief Topic to my Dropbox account

… it produces a .PDF file, a copy of which I am putting in my ‘Gallery’ for your delectation and delight.

It may or may not play nicely with the bigger topics

MichaelG.

.

Handy Link :

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/mediapress/members/79913/678121/Forum-Post-downloads-to-user-Model-Engineer-Model-Engineers-Workshop.pdf

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Commercial ads again

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Thanks, dealt with.

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

Using the iPad [but it probably works on other devices too] […]

Mmm …It’s all gone rather quiet on this topic

… Does no-one else use Dropbox ?

MichaelG.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Dropbox – never. Drummed into us at work that it is too risky. Once you lose your reputation ……

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

For What it’s Worth …

A simple adjustment of my preferences allows me to save the content as Web Archive, which can then be saved in ‘Files’ and remains interactive.

No need to save anything to Dropbox

MichaelG.

.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I suppose the only downside of saving things that remain “interactive” is that they may be lost if the website becomes inactive? A PDF of copied text will remain even if a website closes.

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

It seems to remain looking just like the original that was captured, but with useable links.

Only time will tell what happens if/when the content of the linked items is modified.

MichaelG.

[Author]

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