![still — export area over event content](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/event-plans/09-export-area.png)

![still — event export progress](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/event-plans/11-export-progress.png)

Download an event plan as a PDF. Event export is its own flow. It does not create traffic-plan export maps, materials lists, or post orders.

## When you need this

Use **Export** when someone needs a file: a municipality inbox, a printer, or an attachment.

You do not need a PDF if a browser view is enough. From **Plans** → **Event plans**, use **Copy link** for a read-only URL.

Road-sign PDFs, XL maps, and materials lists come from a **Traffic Plan**. See [Export and print traffic plans](/hc/test/articles/export-and-print).

You must be logged in. **Export** is a header button. It is not a sidebar tab.

## Open **Event export sidebar**

1. Open the event plan.
2. Wait until the map is ready.
3. Click **Export** in the header. The panel that opens is **Event export sidebar**. The heading inside is **Export**.

![Event export sidebar](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/event-plans/08-export-sidebar.png)

4. Close it later with **Close export sidebar** (the X). That returns you to the editor.

While this sidebar is open, the editor header hides and **Export** on the header stays disabled. Work in the sidebar.

## Every control in the sidebar

Until you draw a rectangle, the panel says **Draw an export area, then choose the paper size for the PDF page.** **Export PDF** stays disabled until at least one area has a paper size.

| Control | What it does |
|---------|----------------|
| **Export** | Sidebar heading. Same word as the header button. |
| **Close export sidebar** | Leaves export mode. |
| Empty copy | **Draw an export area, then choose the paper size for the PDF page.** |
| **Export 1**, **Export 2**, … | One row per rectangle. A **PDF** badge sits next to the name. The line under the name is paper size and orientation, for example **A4 - landscape**. |
| Paper-size list | Choose the page size for the selected rectangle. |
| **Change orientation** | Switches portrait and landscape. |
| **Remove export area** | Deletes that rectangle. |
| **Export status** | Appears while a file is building. The line under the heading is the current stage. |
| **Add area** | Starts another rectangle on the map. |
| **Export PDF** | Builds and downloads the file. Disabled until an area has a paper size, and while a run is in progress. |

## Export a PDF

1. Click **Add area**, or draw the first rectangle on the map.
2. Select the area in the list (**Export 1**, **Export 2**, and so on).
3. Choose a paper size. Use **Change orientation** if the page should be the other way. Use **Remove export area** if that page is wrong.
4. Frame the rectangle around the objects and routes that must appear on paper. Zoom so labels stay readable at that page size.
5. Click **Export PDF**.
6. Stay on the page. **Export status** walks through the stages below.
7. Wait for the download. A success toast says **PDF exported successfully**. **Export status** ends on **PDF downloaded**.

If something fails, the toast is **Export failed**. See [Export fails or is blank](/hc/test/articles/export-fails).

**Export PDF** can save the plan first when you are allowed to edit. Do not close the tab mid-run.

## **Export status** stages

The status line uses these English labels, in the order the app usually shows them:

| Stage | When you see it |
|-------|-----------------|
| **Preparing export** | **Export PDF** has started. |
| **Creating PDF page** | The PDF document is opening (also the fallback if a stage has no other label). |
| **Preparing PDF page** | Capture of that page has started. |
| **Creating export map** | A hidden export map is created. |
| **Copying selected basemap** | The basemap you were viewing is copied. |
| **Copying map layers** | Other map layers are copied. |
| **Opening export map** | The export view is opening. |
| **Positioning export map** | The view jumps to the rectangle. |
| **Loading selected map** | Tiles and the basemap settle. |
| **Drawing event plan** | Event objects, areas, lines, and text are drawn. |
| **Loading event plan layers** | Those layers finish loading. |
| **Finalizing map render** | The view waits until drawing is idle. |
| **Capturing map image** | A screenshot of the rectangle is taken. |
| **Map image captured** | The screenshot is ready. |
| **Drawing PDF header** | The page header is written. |
| **Adding map to PDF** | The screenshot is placed on the page. |
| **Drawing PDF footer** | Footer lines are written. |
| **Saving PDF** | The file is written. |
| **PDF downloaded** | The browser has the file. |

You will not always notice every line. They can pass quickly on a small plan. On a slow network they linger. Keep the window open until **PDF downloaded** and the success toast.

## Several pages

Each export area is one PDF page.

Click **Add area** for another page: a detail of the entrance, then a wider site overview. The list only shows **Export 1**, **Export 2**, plus paper size and orientation. Name them in your head by what you framed.

Remove a page you no longer need with **Remove export area**.

## What the PDF contains

![Example event plan PDF page](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/event-plans/13-pdf-page-1.png)

The file title is **Event Plan Export**.

Each page is a snapshot of the map inside that rectangle, at the paper size you chose.

The footer includes:

- **Author:** the plan owner’s name
- **Format:** the paper size, for example **A4**
- **Made with:** the Traffic Chart site
- **VIEW ONLINE** — opens the live plan in a browser

It does not add a materials list or post orders. Those exist only on traffic-plan export.

Open the PDF before you send it. Check that labels are not clipped and that emergency routes are still visible.

## Share link vs PDF

| You need | Do this |
|----------|---------|
| Someone to view the live map | **Copy link** from **Plans**, or copy the plan URL |
| A file for email, print, or an upload form | **Export** → **Export PDF** |
| Official road signs on public roads | Export from a **Traffic Plan** |

A share link is read-only. It is not a municipal review session. If your municipality reviews inside Traffic Chart, see [Review for organisers](/hc/test/articles/review-for-organisers).

## What good looks like

- Every page has a drawn export area and a paper size.
- The rectangle covers the content you care about, with a little margin.
- You stayed on the tab until **PDF downloaded** and **PDF exported successfully**.
- You opened the PDF and can read labels at the size you picked.
- **VIEW ONLINE** in the footer still opens the plan.

## If something blocks you

| Situation | What to try |
|-----------|-------------|
| Empty sidebar, **Export PDF** greyed out | Draw an export area first. The empty line is **Draw an export area, then choose the paper size for the PDF page.** |
| Download never starts | Stay on the tab; allow downloads; retry |
| PDF is blank or clipped | Enlarge the export area; hide dense optional layers; export again |
| Browser warning or failed toast (**Export failed**) | [Export fails or is blank](/hc/test/articles/export-fails) |
| You wanted signs / materials | You are in an event plan — use [Export and print traffic plans](/hc/test/articles/export-and-print) |

Prefer a current desktop Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. A phone is a poor export device.

## Related articles

- [Event plans handbook](/hc/test/articles/event-plans-handbook)
- [Event objects, areas, and routes](/hc/test/articles/event-objects-areas-and-routes)
- [Event map layers](/hc/test/articles/event-map-layers)
- [Export fails or is blank](/hc/test/articles/export-fails)
- [Export and print traffic plans](/hc/test/articles/export-and-print)
- [Review for organisers](/hc/test/articles/review-for-organisers)