How to send data to the printer

First, you might want to use a print style sheet. This will allow you to hide certain things from your layout when users print your pages, such as navigation, search box, footer, etc.

• List: Articles: CSS Design: Moving to Print
• Printing styles - css-discuss

Second, you can use jQuery to subtly insert a "Print this page" javascript link that will be activated by the browser's "Print" dialog on the user's screen upon activation.

• JavaScript Unobtrusive Print Link (with jQuery) | Trevor Davis
• Progressive extension with jQuery "MakeMineATriple

Since this is a client-side thing, there is no real CakePHP solution for this problem. The only thing you can do is disable or change the layout used in the controller like this:

• $this->layout = false;
  
  
• $this->layout = 'print';