How to Generate a Print Job to File for Troubleshooting Purposes
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There are several methods available to print to job to file in a Microsoft Windows operating system environment.
Method 1 - When Using Secure Printing
- Print a document to a printer with secure printing enabled to replicate the issue under review.
- Obtain a copy of the TMP file directly from the EQSpool directory. HINT: Use the EQ Print Queue Viewer to obtain the name of the TMP file.
Method 2 - Temporarily move the printer port to a file
- In the Printers and Faxes dialog box, right-click the printer icon and select Properties.
- Click the Ports tab.
- Scroll through the list to locate the current port assigned to the printer.
- Note the setting. WARNING: You will need this information to move the printer back to the correct port once you are finished printing to file.
- Scroll through the list to locate the "FILE: Print to File" option.
- Click to select the setting. NOTE: The current assigned port is automatically deselected.
- Click the Apply button.
- Follow the normal steps to print the job. A Print to File dialog box opens.
- Type a path and file name for the print output.
- Print a document to a printer to replicate the issue under review.NOTE: If no path is specified, the system uses the path \Documents and Settings\[Username].
- When you have finished printing to file, repeat the above steps to move the port from FILE back to the original port noted in step 4.
Method 3 - Pause the printer
- In Printers and Faxes, pause the printer.
- Generate a print job to replicate the issue under review.
- Copy the SPL file from the Windows Spool directory.
- Unpause the printer.
Method 4 - Use the Print to File option on the Print dialog box
Some applications (for example, Adobe Reader), there is a "Print to file" option in the Print dialog box.
- In the application, click the Print button to replicate the issue under review.
- On the Print dialog box, click to select the Print to file option.
- Click the OK button to begin the print job.
- When the Print to File dialog box opens, type a path and file name for the print output.
NOTE: When sending any printing file to Technical Support, please include the expected job attributes of the original job (for example, number of pages, color/bw, page size, etc.). This information is used for comparison during internal testing.