Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to share a Google Sheets file with someone who doesn’t have access to Google Sheets? Perhaps they can’t use the application on their web browser or mobile phone. Well, worry not! There is a simple process to convert your Google Sheets file into a PDF that you can easily email or share in other ways.
Converting a Google Sheets File to PDF
Follow these easy steps to convert a Google Sheets file into a PDF:
- Open your Google Sheets file.
- Select the File tab.
- Choose Download.
- Click on the PDF option.
- Adjust the settings and click Export.
These steps are just the beginning. Keep reading for more information on converting Google Sheets to PDF, including images of each step.
Why Convert a Google Sheets File to PDF?
Sharing a spreadsheet file, such as those created in Google Sheets, allows anyone with access to the file to make adjustments, as long as no cell or file protection has been enabled. However, if your file is finalized or you prefer that others cannot make changes to it, you might consider sending the file in PDF format.
Fortunately, Google Sheets includes this feature by default, allowing you to create a PDF from your existing file in just a few simple steps. You even have the option to adjust certain settings of the output file to control its appearance and printability.
Curious about other functionalities of Google Sheets? Visit Crawlan.com to learn more.
Downloading a Google Sheets File as PDF (Guide with Images)
These steps were performed in Google Chrome, but they will also work in other web browsers on a computer. Following these steps will create a copy of your spreadsheet in PDF format, while the original Google Sheets file will remain in Google Drive.
Now that you know how to convert a Google Sheets file to PDF, you can easily transform any other spreadsheet into a PDF file that you can share with others. Want to learn how to create a different useful file type? Check out our article on creating a CSV file in Google Sheets.
More Information on Saving Google Sheets as PDF
As you can see in the final screen, before clicking the “Export” button, you have several settings that you can adjust for the PDF copy of your spreadsheet. These export options include:
- Export: Choose to export only the current sheet or the entire workbook. If you have multiple tabs in your spreadsheet, selecting the workbook option is a great way to avoid creating multiple documents.
- Paper Size: Choose a different page size for the PDF copy of the spreadsheet.
- Page Orientation: Choose between portrait or landscape.
- Scale: Choose how you want the sheet to fit on the page.
- Margins: Select from several page margin options.
- Custom Page Breaks: Manually select where you want page breaks to occur.
- Formatting: Set options such as displaying gridlines, notes, page order, alignment.
- Headers and Footers: Choose to add information such as frozen rows, page numbers, sheet name, date, time, etc.
Please note that you have the option to export either the current sheet or the entire workbook as a PDF file, as per your preferences. You can also adjust formatting settings such as document orientation, document size, and other options that may affect the output PDF file.
When you convert Google Sheets to a PDF document, it can be challenging for the recipient to edit the file if they don’t have an application capable of editing PDF files. Some people consider this an advantage, as the difficulty in editing PDF files is one of their strengths. However, it is something to consider when choosing the PDF output format.
When you decide to convert your data into a different file type using the “Download” option located in the top left of the window, you have several file type options available:
- Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)
- Open Document (.odf)
- PDF (.pdf)
- Web Page (.html)
- Comma-Separated Values (.csv)
- Tab-Separated Values (.tsv)
Are you collaborating on a spreadsheet with a team and want to receive notifications when the file is edited? Learn how to set up change notifications in Google Sheets and stay updated on your file’s status.
Frequently Asked Questions about Converting a Google Sheets File to PDF
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ section below.
