"Printable Version" automatically starts print dialog (but should not)
Closed, DeclinedPublic
Actions

Assigned To

None

Authored By

	MalEbenSo
	Mar 14 2021, 4:37 PM

Description

When I open "printable version" on any page, Wikipedia will automatically open the print dialog.

I have confirmed this behaviour with Firefox, Brave and Safari (all on Mac), in the English and the German edition.

This is not the expected behaviour and not how it has been previously. (Although I cannot tell, when the regression occurred.)

It used to be and should be, that "printable version" or "Druckversion" opens a, well, printable version. Nothing more.
It is then up to the user to actually print. But maybe the user wants to copy text or it is the user's preferred reading layout.

Please amend "printable version" and restore the previous behaviour. Thank you.

Related Objects

Mentioned Here: T167956: Deprecate printable version mode
T259141: Remove printableversion mode
T24256: Change printable link to JavaScript `print()`

Event Timeline

MalEbenSo created this task.Mar 14 2021, 4:37 PM

Restricted Application added a subscriber: Aklapper. · View Herald TranscriptMar 14 2021, 4:37 PM

Reedy added a project: MediaWiki-General.Mar 14 2021, 4:39 PM

This was an intentional change from T24256 (2017).

This task lacks a rationale and the change was intentional.

Please re-open.

I find the rationale obvious: A menu item called "printable version" should open a printable version.

There are two routes to fix the discrepancy:
a) "printable version" opens a printable version (my preference)
b) "printable version" is renamed to "print article".

In my original post I have noted why I find a) preferable.

Having a preview of a printable version – to print or for other purposes – was an intentional change. As river noted in T3577:

to make printable version more obvious would be nice: this is a very FAQ

I find the rationale obvious: A menu item called "printable version" should open a printable version.

@MalEbenSo: You have a point... :) What you'd expect to get is called "Download as PDF" instead (if I interpret "printable version" as "format can also be PDF instead of stripped HTML).

As per T167956 and T259141 the item will be entirely removed, so trying to fix that now is not a good use of anyone's time. Keeping this task declined.

"Printable Version" automatically starts print dialog (but should not)Closed, DeclinedPublicActions

Description

Related Objects

Event Timeline

"Printable Version" automatically starts print dialog (but should not)
Closed, DeclinedPublic
Actions