Deprecate printable version mode
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	TheDJ
	Jun 15 2017, 11:40 AM

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	F32198125: image.png
	Aug 28 2020, 3:17 AM

	F32198131: Aug-27-2020 20-09-37.mp4.gif
	Aug 28 2020, 3:17 AM

	F32198133: en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Dido_Sotiriou(iPad).png
	Aug 28 2020, 3:17 AM

	F32198128: Aug-27-2020 20-07-32.mp4.gif
	Aug 28 2020, 3:17 AM

	F31947934: bs_win7_IE_9.0.jpg
	Jul 25 2020, 4:42 PM

	F31947938: Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.39.18 AM.png
	Jul 25 2020, 4:42 PM

	F31947936: Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.37.26 AM.png
	Jul 25 2020, 4:42 PM

	F31947928: Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.15.29 AM.png
	Jul 25 2020, 4:42 PM

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Description

Printable version had one main purpose: Support browsers that didn't support media queries yet.
That purpose is no longer relevant, as the last browser (IE 5.5/6.0) that required it, is no longer supported.

A secondary purpose has been identified, which was that people didn't really know how to print a web page (ctrl-p or file->print). To slightly accommodate that use case, while not relying on printable version, this link was recently adapted to trigger the print dialog using Javascript.

A 3rd use has been to check how a page will look in print. Many browser's web inspectors have a mode to do this, and for the general public, most operating systems provide a "print preview" feature.

As the printable version feature is not well maintained, has a few quirks and adds complexity that is avoidable, I suggest we start fully removing support for printable version.

Acceptance criteria

Deprecate printableversion (per 1.35)

QA Results - Beta

AC	Status	Details
1	✅	T167956#6408063
2	✅	T167956#6335415
3	✅	T167956#6335415
4	✅	T167956#6335415

QA Results - Prod

AC	Status	Details
1	✅	T167956#6418320
2	✅	T167956#6418320
3	✅	T167956#6418320
4	✅	T167956#6418320

Sign off

Removal continues in T259141: Remove printableversion mode

Details

Related Changes in Gerrit:

Subject	Author	Repo	Branch	Lines +/-
OutputPage: Allow CDN caching for printable=yes variant	Krinkle	mediawiki/core	master	+0 -2
Deprecate printableversion=yes	Jdlrobson	mediawiki/core	REL1_35	+72 -59
Deprecate printableversion=yes	Jdlrobson	mediawiki/core	master	+72 -59

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Related Objects
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Status	Assigned	Task
Resolved	Fomafix	T93746 Style for print is not applied at printable version
Declined	None	T51722 ResourceLoader does not process media queries for printable view with JS-added CSS
Declined	None	T134248 printableversion link in toolbox does not take viewed revision into account
Resolved	ovasileva	T167956 Deprecate printable version mode
Resolved	None	T167237 Determine number of "Printable version" clicks per day
Resolved	TheDJ	T24256 Change printable link to JavaScript `print()`

Event Timeline

There are a very large number of changes, so older changes are hidden. Show Older Changes

Krinkle moved this task from Limbo to Perf recommendation on the Performance-Team (Radar) board.Jun 23 2020, 6:21 PM

What are the blockers for deprecating this in 1.35?
This is causing some real problems in the desktop improvements project - the new Vector breaks in this mode (see T253842) and we currently don't have plans to fix that.

Change 610323 had a related patch set uploaded (by Jdlrobson; owner: Jdlrobson):
[mediawiki/core@master] Deprecate printableversion=yes

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/610323

gerritbot added a project: Patch-For-Review.Jul 8 2020, 4:57 PM

I propose adding a banner like so:

Screen Shot 2020-07-08 at 9.58.03 AM.png (1,822×1,006 px, 122 KB)

and changing the sidebar link as part of the 1.35 release.

As we update Vector we have no interest in fixing the following:

Screen Shot 2020-07-08 at 9.58.45 AM.png (1,614×1,198 px, 202 KB)

Given this is a performance recommendation, I think now is the time to deprecate this.

Jdlrobson renamed this task from Remove printable version mode to Deprecate and remove printable version mode.Jul 8 2020, 9:33 PM

Jdlrobson updated the task description. (Show Details)

@ovasileva super sorry for the late sprint entry but given my recent analysis of the print mode in T253842, I think it's essential we set the intention that this is not supported and aim for a deprecation in for 1.35 (which is cut on 14 July 2020 at 02:00 UTC.)

Jdlrobson moved this task from Needs Analysis to Upcoming on the Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-2019-20-Q4) board.Jul 8 2020, 9:38 PM

Iniquity added a project: Tech Ambassadors & Translators.Jul 8 2020, 9:38 PM

Iniquity moved this task from Backlog to Mostly FYI (take action if you want) on the Tech Ambassadors & Translators board.

In T167956#6291623, @Jdlrobson wrote:

@ovasileva super sorry for the late sprint entry but given my recent analysis of the print mode in T253842, I think it's essential we set the intention that this is not supported and aim for a deprecation in for 1.35 (which is cut on 14 July 2020 at 02:00 UTC.)

That sounds good, but let me discuss it with Szymon as well - will get back to you later today

• Aklapper moved this task from Blocker to To deprecate or remove on the MW-1.35-release board.Jul 9 2020, 12:33 PM

@Jdlrobson - does this mean that the link would still exist but it would just trigger the browser print (i.e. all we're removing is the page like https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1937_Fox_vault_fire&printable=yes)

MBinder_WMF edited projects, added: Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-FY-2020-21); removed: Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-2019-20-Q4).Jul 9 2020, 5:14 PM

MBinder_WMF moved this task from Needs Analysis to Upcoming on the Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-FY-2020-21) board.Jul 9 2020, 5:14 PM

In T167956#6293378, @ovasileva wrote:

@Jdlrobson - does this mean that the link would still exist but it would just trigger the browser print (i.e. all we're removing is the page like https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1937_Fox_vault_fire&printable=yes)

The link would exist yes and point to browser print. If there is no JavaScript it will be hidden. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.

In T167956#6293378, @ovasileva wrote:

@Jdlrobson - does this mean that the link would still exist but it would just trigger the browser print (i.e. all we're removing is the page like https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1937_Fox_vault_fire&printable=yes)

Note that the "Printable version" link already triggers the browser print in production today.

The printable=yet URL comes in when e.g. we're in Grade C mode, or when one chooses to share the link or open it in a new tab. Those capabilities would no longer be supported.

ovasileva added a project: User-notice.Jul 13 2020, 1:44 PM

Branch cut is tomorrow so reflecting reality here.

Jdlrobson moved this task from Upcoming to Code Review on the Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-FY-2020-21) board.Jul 13 2020, 11:34 PM

Amorymeltzer mentioned this in T257914: Vector now shows printfooter on all page views.Jul 14 2020, 12:25 PM

Blocked on review from @Krinkle. I will backport when that's done.

ovasileva set the point value for this task to 3.Jul 15 2020, 4:26 PM

Jdlrobson claimed this task.Jul 15 2020, 5:11 PM

Johan moved this task from To Triage to In current Tech/News draft on the User-notice board.Jul 16 2020, 11:10 AM

Change 613171 had a related patch set uploaded (by Jdlrobson; owner: Jdlrobson):
[mediawiki/core@REL1_35] Deprecate printableversion=yes

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/613171

Jdlrobson reassigned this task from Jdlrobson to Edtadros.Jul 16 2020, 3:50 PM

Jdlrobson moved this task from Blocked on Others to QA on the Web-Team-Backlog-Archived (Kanbanana-FY-2020-21) board.

Change 610323 merged by jenkins-bot:
[mediawiki/core@master] Deprecate printableversion=yes

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/610323

Krinkle unsubscribed.Jul 16 2020, 5:00 PM

ReleaseTaggerBot added a project: MW-1.36-notes (1.36.0-wmf.1; 2020-07-21).Jul 16 2020, 5:00 PM

Change 613171 merged by jenkins-bot:
[mediawiki/core@REL1_35] Deprecate printableversion=yes

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/613171

Maintenance_bot removed a project: Patch-For-Review.Jul 20 2020, 9:10 AM

ReleaseTaggerBot added a project: MW-1.35-notes.Jul 20 2020, 10:00 AM

TheDJ updated the task description. (Show Details)Jul 21 2020, 10:40 AM

Trizek-WMF moved this task from In current Tech/News draft to Already announced/Archive on the User-notice board.Jul 24 2020, 2:12 PM

ovasileva moved this task from Incoming to Q1 2020-2021 on the Vector 2022 board.Jul 24 2020, 3:38 PM

Test Result - Beta

Status: ❓ Need More Info
Environment: beta
OS: macOS Catalina
Browser: Chrome
Device: MBP
Emulated Device: NA
Test Artifact(s):

QA steps

❓ AC1: The printable=yes URL comes in when e.g. we're in Grade C mode. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.
@Jdlrobson, I tried a few Grade C browsers. I could not get the "Printable version" link to appear even with Javascript enabled. Is this as expected? Here is IE 9

bs_win7_IE_9.0.jpg (1,168×1,000 px, 85 KB)

✅ AC2: or when one chooses to share the link or open it in a new tab. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.

Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.15.29 AM.png (1,518×1,000 px, 169 KB)

✅ AC3: The link would exist yes and point to browser print.

Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.37.26 AM.png (1,518×1,000 px, 215 KB)

✅ AC4: If there is no JavaScript it will be hidden.

Screen Shot 2020-07-25 at 9.39.18 AM.png (1,518×1,000 px, 156 KB)

Edtadros updated the task description. (Show Details)Jul 25 2020, 4:43 PM

@Jdlrobson, I tried a few Grade C browsers. I could not get the "Printable version" link to appear even with Javascript enabled. Is this as expected? Here is IE 9

Yep expected! If there's no link showing that's good

Krinkle moved this task from To deprecate or remove to Done on the MW-1.35-release board.Jul 29 2020, 12:22 AM

The bits of this that need to be done by 1.35 are now done (and merged into REL1_35), right? In that case, maybe let's drop the tag saying this is a blocker for 1.35 for the rest of the work?

Made a new task for the actual removal since we're doing some QA right now. T259141

Thanks!

Jdlrobson mentioned this in T136786: Unhelpful "WMF Cookie statement" and "Developers" footer links shown in print version in Monobook.Aug 4 2020, 10:12 PM

Jdlrobson mentioned this in T250232: "Jump links" aren't hidden on print version with Monobook skin.

Jdlrobson mentioned this in T64413: Flow: show less chrome for Print version of a Flow board.Aug 4 2020, 10:15 PM

Jdlrobson mentioned this in T19297: Add margins to printable css style.

Jdlrobson mentioned this in T214413: Drop superfluous skin elements on print version.

AntiCompositeNumber updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 7 2020, 4:36 PM

Jdlrobson reassigned this task from Jdlrobson to Edtadros.Aug 18 2020, 5:16 PM

Test Result - Beta

Status: ✅ PASS
Environment: beta
OS: macOS Catalina
Browser: Chrome
Device: MBP
Emulated Device: NA
Test Artifact(s):

QA steps

✅ AC1: The printable=yes URL comes in when e.g. we're in Grade C mode. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.
Here is IE 9

Per T167956#6337927 the missing "Printable Version" link is expected behavior.

Edtadros updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 25 2020, 1:48 AM

Test Result - Prod

Status: ✅ PASS
Environment: enwiki
OS: macOS Catalina
Browser: Chrome
Device: MBP
Emulated Device: NA
Test Artifact(s):

QA steps

✅ AC1: The printable=yes URL comes in when e.g. we're in Grade C mode. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.
On IE9 The link is not present as expected. When adding the URL parameter above, it displays the banner.

✅ AC2: or when one chooses to share the link or open it in a new tab. The page would also exist but have a banner saying it is no longer supported.

Aug-27-2020 20-07-32.mp4.gif (1,812×1,148 px, 3 MB)

✅ AC3: The link would exist yes and point to browser print.

Aug-27-2020 20-09-37.mp4.gif (1,322×906 px, 866 KB)

✅ AC4: If there is no JavaScript it will be hidden.

en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Dido_Sotiriou(iPad).png (1,536×2,048 px, 873 KB)

Edtadros updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 28 2020, 3:18 AM

Looks good, thanks @Edtadros!

AVRS awarded a token.Sep 1 2020, 12:56 PM

AVRS subscribed.

Edtadros added a project: RW-Feature-DI-Collapsible-Sidebar.Nov 5 2020, 2:01 AM

Edtadros moved this task from Backlog to Passed QA on the RW-Feature-DI-Collapsible-Sidebar board.Nov 5 2020, 2:13 AM

Edtadros edited projects, added: RW-Feature-DI-Collapsible-Sidebar (Passed QA); removed: RW-Feature-DI-Collapsible-Sidebar.

• Aklapper mentioned this in T277413: "Printable Version" automatically starts print dialog (but should not).Mar 18 2021, 7:51 AM

Mainframe98 mentioned this in T12206: Print version displays URL-encoded link.Jun 8 2021, 5:08 PM

Reedy mentioned this in T306320: When should we remove deprecated "Printable version" on MediaWiki pages.Apr 18 2022, 1:13 AM

Ladsgroup edited projects, added: User-notice-archive; removed: User-notice.Aug 13 2022, 1:53 PM

I linked mw:Help:Printing to this ticket. It was already mentioned that this feature was deprecated but there was an info like "It appears a warning box".

Restricted Application added a project: MediaWiki-Core-Platform-Team. · View Herald TranscriptMar 17 2025, 7:47 PM

Change #1276100 had a related patch set uploaded (by Krinkle; author: Krinkle):

[mediawiki/core@master] OutputPage: Allow CDN caching for printable=yes variant

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1276100

gerritbot added a project: Patch-For-Review.Apr 22 2026, 1:43 AM

Change #1276100 merged by jenkins-bot:

[mediawiki/core@master] OutputPage: Allow CDN caching for printable=yes variant

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1276100

Maintenance_bot removed a project: Patch-For-Review.Apr 23 2026, 4:31 PM