Understanding the Print Spooler

The Spooler is a special process that manages access to printers by multiple users. For most users, the function of the Spooler is transparent. They generate a job for a printer and go to the printer to pick up the output.   The Spooler permits users to continue working without waiting for a print job to finish printing. This section introduces how the Spooler works and the commands used to modify its operation. The main focus is on the Spooler-related tasks that can be performed from user accounts, such as changing the default printer assignment, cancelling a job, and capturing output in Spooler hold files. The Spooler has two roles: It spools print jobs by directing the output from a user's process to a print file. It creates an entry in the print queue for the job. It despools print jobs by emptying the print queue, one job at a time per printer, as the assigned printer becomes available. Operational Spooler parameters include the following: Up to 600 print files can be mai...