> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://www.glideapps.com/docs/automation/actions/print-screen-to-pdf/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://www.glideapps.com/_mcp/server. # Print Screen to PDF > Capture the current app screen as a PDF. > **Don't see Print Screen to PDF?** > > Print Screen to PDF is available on Business and Enterprise plans. [Browse our plans to find the right fit for you. ](https://www.glideapps.com/pricing) The **Print Screen to PDF** action captures the current screen of a Glide app and generates a PDF file from it. This is useful for creating printable records, reports, or snapshots of app screens on demand. ![Print Screen to PDF - Image 1](/docs/_fern-img/1f23b15519f959dad85287c2af307d78ceb876af4458b3d71c8a00b7e5c348b2.webp) When the action runs, Glide captures the current screen and renders it as an A4-format PDF. The PDF generates asynchronously—the URL is available in the designated column immediately, and the PDF renders in the background. The action stores a temporary URL to the generated PDF in a designated column. ## Adding and Setting up Print Screen to PDF The **Print Screen to PDF** action creates a temporary URL available for 1 hour. This URL is a link to the PDF that can be saved, printed, or shared. To configure the [Action](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-actions), you’ll need a column in the [Data Editor](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-the-data-editor) to store this URL. > **Note** > > Each time the action runs, it uses **1 update**. The generated URL is **temporary** and expires after **1 hour**. To save it beyond 1 hour, create an [Upload File](/docs/automation/integrations/files-integration#upload-file) action to store the URL. #### Data Editor Create a column to store the temporary PDF URL before configuring the action. #### Print Screen to PDF: In the Data Editor Open the [Data Editor ](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-the-data-editor)and select a table to store the URL. Add a new URL column. This holds the temporary link to the PDF file. #### Layout Editor #### Print Screen to PDF: In the Layout Editor Select or add a [Component](/docs/essentials/components) that supports [Actions](/docs/automation/actions), such as a [Button](/docs/essentials/components/button). Open the **Action** configuration menu. Click **+ Add action** and select **Print Screen to PDF** from the **Communication** category. Name the action. Choose an icon. Configure the **Temporary file URL** field by selecting the column created in the [Data Editor](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-the-data-editor). Glide writes the generated PDF URL to this column each time the action runs. Select **Portrait **or **Lanscape **orientation. Add a zoom percentage, if needed. Click away to exit the configuration. #### Workflow Editor > **Note** > > **Print Screen to PDF** can only be triggered by an [App Interaction](/docs/automation/workflows/user-interaction) workflow. It will not be available for any other workflow trigger type. #### Print Screen to PDF: In the Workflow Editor If you have not already, create a [URL Column](/docs/essentials/basic-columns/url) in the [Data Editor](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-the-data-editor) to store the temporary link. Open the [Workflow Editor](/docs/getting-started/introduction-to-workflows#the-workflow-editor) and create a new workflow. Select [App interaction](/docs/automation/workflows/user-interaction) as the trigger. Choose the table for the screen to capture. Click the **+** button to add a new step or update the default action. Select **Print Screen to PDF** from the **Communication** category. Configure the **Temporary file URL** field by selecting the column created in the **Data Editor**. This is where Glide writes the generated PDF URL when the workflow runs. Add any additional conditions or steps as needed. For example, add an [Upload File](/docs/automation/integrations/files-integration#upload-file) step after **Print Screen to PDF** to save the file permanently before the URL expires. Name the workflow. Click away to exit the configuration. ## Controlling component visibility in the PDF [Components](/docs/essentials/components) on the screen include a **Visible in PDF** setting in the **Options** tab. This controls whether the component appears in the generated PDF. ![Print Screen to PDF Image 2](/docs/_fern-img/b4575c0bf9062bba0274484eac9755971a4a30aa4610bae027c3b6ef98fafea4.webp) The **Visible in PDF** dropdown has two options: * **Always** — The component appears in the PDF. This is the default for most components. * **Never** — The component is hidden from the PDF. Some components are always hidden from the generated PDF regardless of this setting: [Location](/docs/essentials/components/location), [Audio](/docs/essentials/components/audio), [Audio Recorder](/docs/automation/actions/record-and-transcribe-voice), [Barcode Scanner](/docs/automation/actions/scan-barcode-qr-code), and [Spinner.](/docs/essentials/components/spinner) Interactive elements are automatically cleaned up in the PDF. Buttons, input placeholders, and other interactive UI elements are removed or simplified to produce a clean, print-ready document. ## Frequently Asked Questions #### Which plans include Print Screen to PDF? Print Screen to PDF is available on Business and Enterprise plans. [Review our plans and pricing here.](https://www.glideapps.com/pricing) #### How long is the generated PDF URL valid? The temporary URL expires after 1 hour. To save the PDF permanently, use the [Upload File](/docs/automation/integrations/files-integration#upload-file) action to store it before the URL expires. #### Does the PDF include all components on the screen? Most components are included by default. Each component has a Visible in PDF setting in its Options tab to control whether it appears. Some components—[Location](/docs/essentials/components/location), [Audio](/docs/essentials/components/audio), [Audio Recorder](/docs/automation/actions/record-and-transcribe-voice), [Barcode Scanner](/docs/automation/actions/scan-barcode-qr-code), and [Spinner](/docs/essentials/components/spinner)—are always excluded. Interactive elements like buttons and input placeholders are automatically cleaned up. #### How many updates does this action use? Each time the **Print Screen to PDF** action runs, it uses 1 [Update.](/docs/reference/account/updates) > Capture the current app screen as a PDF.