PDF Text not Selectible in Chrome

[mel2000]

The resulting PDF created from a Google Chrome HTML page does not allow me to select the text. There is no security on the document and there are no fonts listed in the properties. Creating the same page in MSIE 11 allows the text to be selected. Printer settings are the same for both browsers. Any insights into this unexpected behavior appreciated. Thanks.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello mel2000,

How are you creating those files? Are you "printing" the web page to a virtual printing drivers (e.g. ours)?
Also in Chrome try clicking the "Print using system dialogue" link instead of the default Chrome one - and see if that will help.

Regards,
Stefan

[mel2000]

Thanks for your prompt reply. I initially tried creating the PDF in two ways. From Chrome I used the Print function to access the BullZip PDF virtual printer, and later used the Microsoft Print to PDF virtual printer. Same unsuccessful result for selecting text.

I am using PDF-XChange Viewer only as a viewer, not a printer. The "Print using system dialogue" did not change the print results.

Having said that, I found a suitable workaround. From Chrome I instead use the "Save as PDF" virtual printing option from the print preview window. The resulting PDF text is selectable.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hi mel2000,

Most likely Chrome is sending not text but curved lines to the printing device, and that is why the result looks OK, and is easy to read by yourself, but is not selectable as actual text in the document.
I presume Chrome is doing this to ensure the file looks printed the same way it does on screen.

Glad that you found a workaround!

Regards,
Stefan

[mel2000]

I thought I was in the clear, but when I selected and copied text to the clipboard using the "Save as PDF" option, all I got returned was a bunch of gobbledygook characters.

I tried changing Chrome's text encoding to UTF-8 but that made no difference. Looks like I'll have to use a compliant printing browser or use PDF-XChange's OCR function.

[Patrick-Tracker Supp]

Hello mel2000,

Sorry to read that you are still having these issue, though I am afraid that they may not pertain to the Viewing application - rather the way Chrome communicates with the virtual printer used to create the PDF.

As a test, could you please install PDF-XChange Standard printer 2012 from the link below:

https://www.pdf-xchange.com/PDFX5SA.zip

Once installed, and your PC has been restarted, could you please try converting to PDF from Chrome using our driver?

I hope this helps!

[mel2000]

Thank you for your test software. Installed and rebooted as suggested. Unfortunately I encountered the same results as before. Worked as expected in MSIE 11 with selected text copying to the clipboard without issue. Text was not selectable with Chrome.

As you stated, this appears to be a Chrome design issue. Your viewer software works flawlessly.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hi Mel,

Yes indeed this is Chrome related. Hope you can use the workaround Chrome offers (or use a different browser ).

Let us know if there is anything else in our products you need help with and we will gladly assist!

Regards,
Stefan