Automatically Print PDF Reports from Online Sources via HTTPS and FTP Using CLI Printer
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Tired of manually printing PDF reports from online systems? Here’s how I automated the whole process using a simple command-line tool.
It started with this one annoying task…
Every week, I had to download a bunch of PDF reports from a secure server. Some were emailed, others were dumped into an FTP folder from our supplier’s system. I’d save them, open each one, hit print, wait for it to spool, then repeat. If I missed one, someone from the finance team would ping me. Again.
The worst part? These weren’t just one or two files. I’m talking 4050 PDFs, scattered across multiple sources. And all I wanted was for them to get printed automatically, without me babysitting the process.
So I started digging. And I found VeryPDF PDFPrint Command Line.
The tool that finally saved my mornings
I came across VeryPDF PDFPrint Command Line while hunting for a way to automate printing without needing to open PDFs manually or install bloated PDF viewers.
It’s a no-nonsense, command-line based tool. No UI. No frills. Just solid automation.
Perfect if you:
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Work in IT, ops, logistics, or accounting.
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Regularly deal with PDF reports, invoices, packing slips, contracts.
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Need to print files from HTTPS or FTP links without downloading them manually.
What really sold me on it?
Let me break it down.
Print directly from HTTPS and FTP sources
This was the killer feature for me.
No more:
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Logging into portals.
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Copying files into local folders.
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Checking filenames every time.
You just plug the HTTPS or FTP link into the command, and boom it prints.
I set up a daily script that connects to our SFTP report feed, grabs the latest batch of PDFs, and prints them to our warehouse printer. No manual steps. Zero.
Fully scriptable, no GUI needed
You don’t need Adobe. Or any PDF viewer.
Just drop the command into your script, schedule it with Windows Task Scheduler or whatever scheduler you use, and forget about it.
For example:
Or with HTTPS:
I’ve embedded this into our PowerShell automation that runs every hour. Now our reports are always fresh and on paper when we need them.
Control every detail of printing
I didn’t expect to care about this at first, but once I saw how much control I had, I was hooked.
With a few flags, you can:
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Pick trays or bins on the printer (
-papersource) -
Choose colour or monochrome (
-color) -
Set double-sided printing (
-duplex) -
Scale the print to fit the paper (
-scalex/-scaley) -
Add watermarks (super handy for ‘DRAFT’ labels)
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Even fix broken PDFs before printing (
-preproc)
This kind of fine-grained control isn’t just nice to have it’s essential if you’re printing hundreds of pages across multiple departments or clients.
What it replaced (and why it’s better)
Before VeryPDF, I tried scripting Adobe Acrobat, messing around with Python libraries, even looked into GUI automation tools (like simulating mouse clicks). Everything felt fragile and flaky.
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Adobe: Too heavy. Too GUI-dependent.
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GhostScript: Not ideal for HTTPS or FTP.
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Python tools: Often needed complex setups, couldn’t always access protected links.
VeryPDF just works. It prints from online links, handles errors gracefully, and plays nice with batch jobs.
Real wins from using this daily
I’ve been running this setup for over 6 months now.
Here’s what changed:
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Saved 6+ hours a week just from avoiding manual downloads and printing.
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No missed reports everything’s printed the moment it’s available.
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Zero complaints from our ops team since setting it up.
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We even added watermarks to internal reports with
-watermarktext "CONFIDENTIAL"game changer for compliance.
It’s the kind of tool you don’t think you need until it quietly saves your sanity.
My bottom line?
If you’re stuck manually printing PDFs from online sources stop.