Export Catalogues to PDF
- Carol Gordon
- Vivian Luu
CataList allows you to create, download, and print PDF versions of entire catalogues or specific titles at the touch of a button. You can export to one of three preset layouts, or users in signed-in trade accounts can set up and save custom PDF export formats. Watch our recorded webinar, or see the step-by-step instructions below!
(Video length: 39 min)
Click on any image to view at full size.
Export a catalogue to PDF format
Everyone has access to three default PDF options:
Single – Export a version that gives each title a full page
List – Export a list with titles in rows
Tile – Export a more compact version with titles in columns and rows
To export a default PDF template, click the icon of the version you'd like to export. Your PDF is created by the site and downloads automatically when complete.
Create a custom PDF template
Signed-in users to verified trade-type accounts can create their own custom PDF templates using the Create Template button. Users can customize the page content in the PDF export, and save the template for future catalogue exports.
To create a custom template
In a catalogue’s PDF options, click Create Template. The system displays a template creation prompt.
Enter a name for your new template, and choose one of the default versions as a base to start from. (See more details in the next three items about the options available in each version: Single, List or Tile.)
Click Create to begin setting up your template.
On the PDF preview page, click Customize to select the data elements you want to include in your custom set-up.
Click Save to save your template.
Once saved, your template is ready for use.
Review the following information for a detailed explanation of each of the base templates.
Single version
When you choose the Single version, each title in your catalogue will be allotted an entire page.
As you make your selections, you may want to get an idea of how much space your data will take up on the exported page, and whether you are at risk of losing any content. Note that the one-page space allotment in this version has a hard limit – content will not carry over to additional pages.
Click Customize to choose what data you’d like to include in your template.
Click Preview to see an approximation of how your selected data will flow into your chosen layout.
Click Save if you are satisfied with your selections.
Once saved, you are directed to the Manage Templates page. You can return to the catalogue to export it in your new PDF format or go back to your template listings to view or act on your full list of available templates.
List version
If you choose the List version of the export, you have the ability to select the number of title rows on each page.
The List template has five rows by default, but you can increase or decrease the row selection based on the amount of content you intend to include.
Click Customize to customize the number of rows and what data you’d like to include in your template.
Click Preview to see an approximation of how your selected data will flow into your chosen layout.
Click Save if you are satisfied with your selections.
Once saved, you are directed to the Manage Templates page. You can return to the catalogue to export it in your new PDF format or go back to your template listings to view or act on your full list of available templates.
Tile version
If you choose the Tile version of the export, you have the ability to select both the number of title rows and columns on each page.
The default Tile template displays the titles in a 3-column by 5-row grid, but you can increase or decrease the row selection based on the amount of content you intend to include.
Click Customize to customize the number of titles per page and what data you’d like to include in your template.
Click Preview to see an approximation of how your selected data will flow into your chosen layout.
Click Save if you are satisfied with your selections.
Once saved, you are directed to the Manage Templates page. You can return to the catalogue to export it in your new PDF format or go back to your template listings to view or act on your full list of available templates.
Manage your PDF custom templates
Once you or your Account Manager(s) have created at least one template, you have the ability to manage them going forward from a number of areas of the site:
From the PDF export options on catalogue views or title detail pages, click Manage templates.
On My Page, expand the PDF Templates section and click Manage templates.
On the Manage Templates page, you can see all the templates you have access to, view the set-up details of any template, and edit any of your own templates. Old templates that you no longer need can be deleted.
Sharing PDF templates
If you are an Account Manager or Catalogue Editor, you can share any template with everyone in your account by selecting the checkbox in the Shared column.
While you can't edit shared templates that you did not create, you can generate a copy in your list using the Copy button, which can then be renamed and further edited for content as needed.