Selecting the Layout and Settings of Your Directory PDF

Once you have all your information entered, deciding how to lay out your directory PDF is the first step toward printing! 

Selecting Pages of your Directory

We have two options for family photos layout:

Option 1: You will have 12 photos per page with just the names, then a separate page for the details.  For this layout, select Photo Directory Pages + Roster Pages.   

Photo Directory Pages are all photos with just the names for the families underneath them.   Roster Pages have all of the family details on them, including address, email addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Option 2: You will have 4 photos per page with the names and details listed on the right.  For this layout, choose the Photo Directory Pages (plus details) option.

Photo Directory Pages (plus details) has the family photo with all their contact information next to the photo, on the same page.  

The default is option 2, you can change this under Share PDF, then select the PDF Options button.

Here, you'll see under Page Selection and Order all the pages available to include in your directory.  On this page, you can choose how you would like to display your families in your directory, what pages you would like to include, as well as rearrange the order or upload any custom pages.

Place a checkmark by any pages you would like to include in the directory or remove the checkmark on any page you do not wish to include.

You can also select your Font Options (that applies ONLY to the Roster Pages) on this page.  However, you will not be able to adjust any of the margins of the directory.

Make sure to click on SAVE when done. 

Setting PDF Image Quality 

In Share PDF, click the PDF Options button to access image 2quality settings for your PDF. 

You can select between two image quality levels for your Church Directory PDF: Standard and High. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide: 

High Quality (300 DPI) 

Choosing this option inserts images at 300 DPI (dots per inch), which is ideal for professional printing. Many printers request 300 DPI to ensure high-quality output. If you choose High quality, please use Arial or Unicode fonts; these are embedded for professional printing, unlike the other three fonts provided. 

High-quality PDFs create larger file sizes, making them slower to generate and more challenging to email due to the longer send and receive times. 

Standard Quality (150 DPI) 

This option inserts images at 150 DPI, suitable for everyday printing, emailing, and downloading. For example, images in the Family tab will appear as 646 pixels wide by 570 pixels high. Standard quality is recommended for most users, as it balances file size with quality, making it ideal for sharing with church members. 

If you’re unsure which option to choose, we recommend Standard.  

IMPORTANT: Remember to click SAVE before leaving the page to ensure your settings are applied. 

Arranging the directory pages

In this same location, you can also arrange the pages in the order you want them to appear in your directory. 

1. Left-click on the bar for the page you want to move (HINT: Make sure you grab it where there are no words).  
2. Drag the page to the location you want it to be in your directory.  
3. Release. 
4. Make sure to click SAVE when you are done. See the animation below on how to drag your page selection list in the order you wish it to appear in your directory.

Watch this brief video on the various Page options you can have in your Directory PDF:

Uploading or Removing Custom Pages (Custom Pages only show on the Printed PDF - not the online version)

To upload or delete a custom page,  go to Share PDF and click the PDF Options button.

Below your page selection listing, click "Add a Custom Page"

Search your computer for the PDF document and upload it.  

At this time, you can only upload PDF documents that are less than 10 MB in size and have less than 20 pages. Any PDF you upload can not be password protected.

Custom documents are always loaded at the bottom of the list of pages but can be moved like other pages. To include your custom page, it must be checked and then click Save Changes.

To delete a custom page, click on the blue trash can next to the custom page or page(s) you would like to delete then click Save Changes.  If you just click on the trash can, it will not delete the page until you Save Changes, so don't forget that step!

Creating a Directory without Photos

If you would like to create and print a Roster Only (no photos) directory: 

1. Follow the directions in the Select Pages section above to navigate to the Page Selection page. 

2. Uncheck everything except "Roster Pages" 

3. Save changes.

4. Generate the directory again.  Click here for instructions on Generating the Directory.

Add a subdirectory to your Full Directory

If you would like to include your Group Subdirectories in your entire directory PDF, you can do this by using the Add Group Subdirectory button. Once you’re on the Page Selection page, you’ll be able to add sub-directories just like you would insert a custom page. Check as many groups as you'd like to include and hit Add. Once they are added, you’ll be able to move them around in your page order and the next time you generate your full directory PDF, your group sub-directories will be there in the full PDF waiting for you.