Google Sheets is a very versatile browser-based app to manage and analyze your spreadsheets. Sometimes, you would be faced by the need to export your sheets into a format that can be easily shared and read by others. One such format is the universal Adobe PDF or portable document file.
For example, if you’re looking to share your information with clients in a professional and inclusive format, exporting your tabs as PDF makes a lot of sense.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you can turn your spreadsheet tabs into a PDF in Google Sheets.
Exporting, Saving, or Downloading Multiple Google Sheets Tabs as PDF on Your Computer
Step 1. Open the Google Sheets document you’d like to save.
Step 2. Once your file is open, go to File > Download > PDF Document.
This leads us to the Print settings. Don’t worry about paper and ink though! The results should be purely digital despite the name.
Step 3. On the side bar, you will be greeted by options on how you want to format your PDF. Under Export, you will be able to select the area you wish to download. By default, this is set to save just the Current sheet.
To save multiple tabs into one PDF, change this to Workbook.
This unlocks the Selection option where you can pick which tabs you want to save in one PDF file. If there are parts you don’t want to include, uncheck the box next to the tab’s name.
Step 4. Once you’re all set, click on Export found on the top right corner. You will then be asked where to save your new PDF file on your computer’s storage.
And that’s it! You now have converted your Google Sheets tabs into nifty PDF files for your reports, proposals, and presentations.
Step 5. Review your new PDF file.
As always, you should review your new PDF file and check that everything is in perfect order before sending it to others. You don’t want to send a PDF that is barely readable due to poor formatting. You also wouldn’t want to include tabs that your clients are not supposed to see.
There’s more you can do to make your Google Sheets look more professional by tinkering with the Print settings. The document preview is your best friend!
In the next section, we’ll show you some of the options you have to be aware of, especially if you’re new to the world of saving Sheets files as PDF.
Selecting The Right Document Size in The Print Settings
Organizations usually standardize what document or paper size their PDF’s come in. When printing this on actual paper, you will want to select a size your printer supports so it comes out as intended.
To select the right document size for your spreadsheet tabs, click on the dropdown under Paper size.
Save Your Google Sheets Tabs in The Proper Orientation, Scale, and Margin for a More Professional-Looking PDF
How your Google Sheets tabs PDF looks will depend on how you set the basic options within Print settings. It is important to test these settings whenever you export a spreadsheet.
1. Portrait vs Landscape. For longer spreadsheets, you may want to select Portrait so it looks and feels more natural on a PDF document reader. However, you may have sheets that look horrible in portrait because of a wide array of columns. For those cases, try switching the Page orientation to Landscape.
2. Scale. This is one of the settings that can make or break your PDF’s looks and flow.
The default Normal (100%) may not always be the best option for your exports. Play a little with the Fit to width, Fit to height, or Fit to page options to see which one looks the cleanest. Legibility should always be one of your biggest considerations when creating a PDF. Always scroll through the document preview to make sure your tabs will look great on your PDF before saving.
3. Margins. This is where you customize how wide or narrow the spaces are on the sides, top, and bottom of the PDF.
Temper your margins as you see fit. It’s always good to have a healthy amount of margin and using the Normal margin is usually enough to have a professional look. But if you’re trying to stuff as much information into a page without dwarfing the text elements too much, you can cut down on the margins by selecting Narrow or choosing a Custom number.
Conclusion on How to Select Multiple Tabs to Convert to PDF in Google Sheets
Saving multiple tabs from your Google Sheets file into one PDF is one of the greatest features a professional can use for their work and business.
Now that you know the basics of exporting as PDF, you’ll surely be able to maximize this feature and save a lot of time creating a presentable and legible PDF version of your spreadsheets. No more clunky workarounds jumping between different apps to format your PDFs!
Looking to save more time? FileDrop is a powerful Google Sheets and Docs add-on that allows you to drag and drop files into spreadsheet cells with automatic linking and adds them to your Google Drive. Install FileDrop for free using this link.
Learn more by visiting FileDrop
