spool daze

when u click "print" on something, it goes into a queue somewhere, right? so if i do it now, with NO printer installed, won't they just stack up in there, at least until a reboot or something?

i read that the queue is under windows\system32\spool, but what am i looking for? no obvious file or app there, afaict. there's a subfolder "printprocs", which sounds promising, but just some dll files in there.

lotta "spool" and "winspool" files and apps in various other places as well (XP, btw), but what do they all add up to? isn't there some high-level app/process with a user-friendly CHART to look at? nothing in the control panel or the device manager or even programs/accessories catching my eye.

XP "help" has a nice entry on how to READ/INTERPRET the entries in the print queue, but doesn't have a peep about WHERE IT IS!!!!

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btw, is there a way to set up a virtual printer? i.e., have XP intercept the printjob and send to a FILE instead?

i thought that was avail under "print preview" but i'm not seeing it. and if the print involves java, etc. (i.e. direct from web), it doesn't give u the chance to go thru "preview" anyways.

 

You are correct, CatT.
If you have no printer attached, printjobs will queue up in C:\System32/Spool/Printers Folder (in XP anyhow).

When you print to the spooler, you create 2 files for each print job.

Check out
http://www.measureup/com/testobjects/MS_NT4W/5a8d03b.htm
headed Solving Print Spooler Problems for the full article that I have partially quoted from.

Hope this helps,

Bazza

 

See thumbnail for option to print to a File (check it)
There is also an option to save as a Microsoft XPS document.
Experiment whether you have to check the "Print to a File" option as the same time as clicking on the Microsoft option.

I have never checked these options out as I have not needed them. :-D

Bazza

 

as soon as i hover over that jpg to either click on it or right-click "open in new tab/window", the whole page gets shaded out and freezes me from doing so!! so i am at a loss how to see the original (large version). heck, i can't even get to it to save a copy of the SMALL version.....

this isn't the first time i've noticed this. just what IS it with images on this board?!

using IE8, btw. will give FF and Chrome a shot, but i seem to recall it being the same in all 3.

 

i stand corrected; FF let me see it just fine. but where are u GETTING that popup?

and the "print to file" option needs to be a DEFAULT somehow, since auto-print off the web won't give me the opportunity to interrupt with a popup like that anyhoo.

btw, measureup link bad (typo), tho it's obvious the page intended. but i must say, i'm not getting any such files in there whatsoever! .SPL? .SHD? bupkis!

does one need to "install" a printer and THEN disconnect it to trigger these stalled jobs? when i click "print" something -- or autoprint from web -- no such jobs appear. (no error msgs either, tho -- does this just mean "print" is flat-out being IGNORED?)

btw, i have no clue where this "Scheduling tab of the Printer Properties dialog box" is! does that magically appear somewhere AFTER plugging the hardware in?

 

My apologies for the typo. :-o
It should have been C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers

I will re-read your replies and hopefully come back with an answer, or suggestion, tomorrow.

Anyone else with more expertise than I, please step in.

Bazza