Print job


In computing, a print job is a file or set of files that has been submitted to be printed.
Jobs are typically identified by a unique number, and are assigned to a particular destination, usually a printer. Jobs can also have options associated with them such as media size, number of copies and priority.
A Print Job is a single queueable print system object that represents a document that needs to be rendered and transferred to a printer. Printer jobs are created on specific print queues and can not be transferred between print queues.

Components

Job Id: Uniquely identifies the print job for the given print queue.
Spool file: It is responsible for the on-disk representation of data.
Shadow File: It is responsible for the on-disk representation of the job configuration.
Status: We can this in three parts :
Data Type: It Identifies the format of the data in the spool file like EMF, RAW.
Other configuration: Name, set of named properties, etc

Route

In larger environments, print jobs may go through a centralized print server, before reaching the printing destination. Some printers have local storage to process and queue the jobs before printing.

Security

When getting rid of old printers with local storage, one should keep in mind that confidential print jobs are potentially still locally unencrypted on the hard disk drive and can be undeleted.