How To Convert Txt File To Pdf On Mac Terminal?

I've been using Mac for years, and converting text files to PDF via Terminal is something I do often. The simplest way is to use the built-in 'cupsfilter' command. Just open Terminal, type 'cupsfilter input.txt > output.pdf', and hit enter. This command leverages macOS's printing system to convert the text file directly into a PDF. It's fast and doesn't require any additional software. If you need more control over formatting, you can use 'textutil' to convert the file to RTF first, then open it in TextEdit and export as PDF. This method ensures the text retains basic formatting like fonts and spacing.

For those who prefer scripting, you can create a small shell script to automate the process. Save the script in your bin directory, and you can convert files with a single command anytime.

Converting a TXT file to PDF on a Mac using Terminal is straightforward, but there are several methods depending on your needs. The most basic approach is using the 'pbcopy' and 'pbpaste' commands combined with 'cupsfilter'. First, copy the content of your text file with 'pbcopy < input.txt', then pipe it to cupsfilter with 'pbpaste | cupsfilter > output.pdf'. This works well for plain text but lacks formatting.

If you need more advanced formatting, consider using 'enscript' to convert the text to PostScript first, then 'ps2pdf' to convert it to PDF. Install 'enscript' via Homebrew if you don’t have it. The command looks like 'enscript -p output.ps input.txt && ps2pdf output.ps output.pdf'. This method gives you control over fonts, margins, and even adds page numbers.

For those who work with code or structured text, 'pandoc' is a powerful tool. Install it with 'brew install pandoc', then run 'pandoc input.txt -o output.pdf'. Pandoc supports Markdown and other markup languages, making it ideal for documentation. Each method has its strengths, so choose based on your requirements.

I love how versatile the Mac Terminal is for tasks like converting text files to PDF. My go-to method is using 'textutil' because it preserves formatting. Open Terminal and type 'textutil -convert rtf input.txt -output output.rtf', then open the RTF file in TextEdit and export as PDF. It’s a two-step process, but the results are clean and professional.

Another neat trick is leveraging 'pr' to format the text before conversion. Combine it with 'cupsfilter' like this: 'pr input.txt | cupsfilter > output.pdf'. This adds headers and page numbers, which is great for longer documents. If you’re dealing with code, 'highlight' can syntax-color the text before conversion. Install it with Homebrew, then run 'highlight -O pdf input.txt > output.pdf'. The output looks like an IDE, perfect for sharing snippets.

For batch processing, a simple 'for' loop can convert multiple files at once: 'for file in *.txt; do cupsfilter "$file" > "${file%.txt}.pdf"; done'. This saves time when working with many files.