How to Automate Print to PDF with Windows Powershell

Question

I have a folder with n number of word, excel, and powerpoint files with extension ".Doc, .Docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, etc". The content of these files should be converted to PDF without altering its format using Microsoft Print to PDF option and the output files should be saved to a folder with .pdf extension automatically.

I have already tried using below script and it prints only blank pages in PDF.

Please help.

function ConvertTo-PDF {
    param(
        $TextDocumentPath
    )
    
    Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
    $doc = New-Object System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument
    $doc.DocumentName = $TextDocumentPath
    $doc.PrinterSettings = new-Object System.Drawing.Printing.PrinterSettings
    $doc.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = 'Microsoft Print to PDF'
    $doc.PrinterSettings.PrintToFile = $true
    $file=[io.fileinfo]$TextDocumentPath
    $pdf= [io.path]::Combine($file.DirectoryName, $file.BaseName) + '.pdf'
    $doc.PrinterSettings.PrintFileName = $pdf
    $doc.Print()
    $doc.Dispose()
}

Thank you.

upe · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-12 12:31:53Z

4

See: Control output location when using Powershell Out-Printer to a File

Using native Powershell cmdlet, you have to work around the only thing that there is no -output parameter - but it is handled there.

Function Printto-PDF ($filepath) {
       $VerbosePreference = "Continue"
       add-type -AssemblyName microsoft.VisualBasic
       add-type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
       $focus = 2000
       $FilePath = Get-Item $Filepath
       $newfile = $Filepath.basename + '.pdf'
       Start-Process $Filepath.fullname -verb Print | out-printer -name "Microsoft print to PDF"  
       start-sleep -Milliseconds $focus
       [System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{ENTER}")
       start-sleep -Milliseconds 250
       [System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait($newfile)
       start-sleep -Milliseconds 250
       [System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{ENTER}")
       start-sleep -Milliseconds 1500
}

edited May 12, 2021 at 12:31

upe

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answered Jan 17, 2021 at 15:43

Sebastian Wiszowaty

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4 Comments

moutonjr Over a year ago

Great answer that works. Didn't know about [System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys] Note that $focus might be tuned if computer is slow...

Tilo Over a year ago

on tif (win 10) I get a pop up "how do you want to print your pictures" So the above process depends on what Windows show in the right click print dialog.

bla Over a year ago

A clarification, because it was not clear to me immetiately. If you put in the $newFIle the whole path, you can choose where it is saved. :)

Andrew Richesson Over a year ago

I think this requires that you set adobe acrobat as your default reader

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