[Feature Request] Excel to PDF: Native searchable text export & configurable margins/fit-to-page settings

[MahmoudhassanGX]

Current Behavior

1. Rasterized Export: Similar to DOCX files, converting Excel files (.xlsx / .xls) to PDF renders the sheets as static rasterized images. The generated PDF lacks a selectable text layer, preventing users from copying numbers, cell data, or searching within the document.
2. Excessive Margins & Padding: The conversion applies very large fixed default page margins, creating unnecessary white space around spreadsheets. Since many spreadsheets are intended for digital viewing/archiving rather than standard book printing, these rigid margins often waste page space or cause tables to break awkwardly across pages.

Proposed Improvement

1. Native Text Layer:

   • Export spreadsheets with vector text and structured cell borders rather than converting rendered pages into raster images.
   • Ensure cell values, headers, and text remain fully searchable and copyable in the output PDF.

2. Margins & Layout Controls:

   • Compact / Zero Margins by default: Minimize default page margins for spreadsheets so data utilizes the full width and height of each page.
   • Advanced Export Options:
     • Margin Presets: Add options like Normal, Narrow, or None (Custom margins).
     • Fit Options: Provide standard sheet scaling controls (e.g., Fit Sheet on One Page, Fit All Columns on One Page, or Actual Size).
     • Gridlines & Orientation: Checkboxes to include/exclude gridlines and choose Landscape/Portrait orientation per sheet.

Benefit

• Produces professional, clean PDFs where financial, tabular, and numerical data can be extracted and searched.
• Prevents fragmented, poorly spaced sheets by optimizing table layout for screen reading and tight presentation.

[KnifeLemon]

Thanks! Two things here:

1. Text: the PDF has real, selectable text (see [Feature Request] Convert DOCX to native searchable/selectable PDF instead of rasterized images #670 here in Ideas for how I checked).
2. Margins and fit: "PDF + Edit" on the back of the spreadsheets donut opens the Spreadsheet Print Studio: print area, paper, orientation, margins, fit to N pages wide / tall or an exact scale, page order, hidden rows and manual page breaks, with a preview that matches the export. Settings → Engines → "Use LibreOffice for spreadsheets → PDF" prints like Excel with the workbook's own page setup.

Gridlines aren't an option yet.

[KnifeLemon]

Closing as answered: the PDF has real, selectable text, and the Spreadsheet Print Studio ("PDF + Edit" on the back of the spreadsheets donut) sets margins, fit to pages, orientation and more. Gridlines aren't an option yet; if you need them, an issue for that one point is welcome.