Can I print to PDF with my iPad?

Question

The missing print to PDF feature on iPad (like that of Mac OS X) has been written about in a couple places on the web, but they all reference iPad apps that are no longer present in the App Store.

Is there a way to get PDF generation in the iPad print dialog?

Has Apple decided to pull such products from the App Store?

Answer 1

Those products didn't currently (and don't today) follow the accepted API that Apple provides for apps submitted to the App Store. Basically, Apple provides the print code and apps can't modify or extend the print function that iOS provides.

Until this changes, you will be bound to workarounds:

1. Jailbreak the device and look for something that enables this function.
2. Print to a device that will render the job as PDF. I know of Printopia that will do explicitly this. You can even control which folder on the mac gets the PDF and have it uploaded back to the phone or to a private cloud so you can get at the PDF again systematically from iOS.
3. Use apps that can save to PDF like Pages and many others, but this is an app feature, not built into the main print settings.

Answer 2

I'm using "Print n Share Pro" for document, web page and email conversion to PDF. It has its own full email and web browser so doesn't need AirPrint. It also supports "Open in" from other apps and cloud servers. Product page or iTunes It saved my bacon when I had to submit a load of emails in PDF format for a customer support presentation.