Printing and PDFs Across Several Pages

A large structure squeezed onto one A4 page can print too small to read. StructureGram can spread the diagram over several pages instead. Every page prints at the same scale, so you can trim the sheets and join them into one large, readable chart.

This works for both ownership diagrams and family trees, from Print / PDF and from Export as PDF.

Why Use It?

Readable labels. A big group structure stays legible instead of shrinking to fit one sheet.
Pages that join. Every page is printed at the same scale, with a shared strip for lining sheets up.
Your choice of size. Fit to one page, pick a grid of pages yourself, or let StructureGram choose.

Quick Steps

Open the diagram.
Click the export icon near the top right of the diagram.
Choose Print / PDF, or Export as PDF.
Under Pages, choose how to spread the diagram (see below).
Click Print / Export PDF or Export PDF.

The Pages Options

Option	What it does
Fit to one page	The whole diagram on a single page. This is the default.
Spread over several pages	You choose a grid, from 1 to 5 pages across and 1 to 5 down.
Auto (fewest readable pages)	StructureGram picks the fewest pages, up to 12, that print the diagram's main labels at the size you choose.

Spread over several pages

Choose how many pages across and how many down. The diagram is printed as large as that grid allows.

The grid is a maximum. If the diagram can't reach a whole row or column of pages, that row or column is left out rather than printed blank. Pages inside the grid that happen to be empty still print, so your sheets always make a complete rectangle.

Auto

Under Main labels print at, choose 8 px, 10 px, 12 px or 14 px (about 6, 7.5, 9 or 10.5 pt). The default is 10 px. StructureGram uses the fewest pages that print the diagram's main (H1) labels at that size or larger:

A smaller size means fewer pages.
A diagram that's already readable on one page stays on one page.
If even 12 pages can't reach your chosen size, it uses 12 pages and prints as large as it can.

Note: Auto works from the main label size set for the diagram. If Fit entity content within shapes is on, some labels are shrunk to fit their shapes, and those print smaller. See Entity Labels and Fitting.

Tip: Try A3 paper under Page Size before adding pages. One A3 sheet holds about as much as two A4 sheets, with no joins.

Joining the Pages

Same scale on every page. Every page prints at the same scale, so shapes and lines continue across the joins.
A 1 cm overlap. Neighbouring pages share a 1 cm strip that both of them print.
A dashed line on each page after the first in its row or column marks where that shared strip starts.

To join two sheets:

Trim the second sheet along its dashed line.
Lay it over the first sheet so the diagram lines up.
Tape or glue it in place.

Page labels: each page's footer shows where it goes, for example Page 2 of 4 (row 1, column 2). If you turn the footer off, a small label is still printed in the bottom-right corner of each page.

Header: the header (company logo and diagram title) prints on every page, so loose sheets stay identifiable.

The Family-Tree Legend

When a family tree includes its legend:

On one page: the legend goes below or beside the diagram, whichever leaves the diagram bigger.

Across several pages: the legend prints in the bottom-right corner of the last page, like the key on a map. It never:

gets a page of its own;
crosses a join;
covers part of the diagram.

Every page still shows part of the diagram. To make room for the legend, the diagram may print slightly smaller, or a grid may lose a row or column. The legend's text stays at 10 pt or larger, unless the whole legend is too big to fit on a page at that size with room left for the diagram. Then it's shrunk to fit.

On an ownership diagram, the legend is part of the diagram itself. It prints wherever you've placed it on the canvas.

Print Defaults and PDF Defaults

Print and Export PDF keep separate saved defaults. Each dialog has a checkbox next to its buttons:

Save as my print default in the print dialog
Save as my PDF default in the Export PDF dialog

Tick it before you print or export to keep those choices, including Pages, for next time. Until you save PDF defaults, Export PDF starts from your print defaults.

You can also set the print defaults under Settings → General → Print Settings.

Note: Defaults are saved for you in the organisation you're working in. If you belong to several organisations, each keeps its own.

Printing to a PDF File from the Browser

Print / PDF opens your browser's print window. To get a PDF instead of paper, choose Save as PDF as the destination. Every page of a multi-page print is included.

Export as PDF downloads a PDF file directly, without the browser's print window.

Troubleshooting

My print came out on one page. Check that Pages isn't set to Fit to one page. With Auto, a diagram that's already readable on one page stays on one page. Choose a larger label size, or pick a grid yourself.

I asked for more pages than I got. A grid is a maximum. Whole rows or columns the diagram can't reach are left out. On a family tree, making room for the legend can also cost a row or column.

The labels are smaller than the size I chose. Auto stops at 12 pages. A very large diagram may need more than that to reach your chosen size. Labels shrunk to fit their shapes also print smaller.

Export as PDF didn't use my usual settings. Export as PDF has its own defaults. Tick Save as my PDF default in the Export PDF dialog to keep your choices.

Help & Documentation