Overview

The following steps provide a high-level view of the i5/OS® printing process:

1. The printing process starts when an application program runs. The application program creates output data. The output data is based on the application program and information contained in the printer file. For more information about printer files, see Printer file.
   
2. If print spooling is selected, the output data is placed in a spooled file (see Spooled file) and the spooled file is placed in an output queue (see Output queue). If direct printing is selected, the output data is sent directly to the printer.

   The destination of the output data (see Controlling printing to output queue or printer) is based on values stored in several printing elements:

   • Job description
   • User profile
   • Workstation description
   • Printer file
   • System values

   Output queues are used to manage spooled files. Spooled files in output queues can be:

   • Printed
   • Kept as records
   • Used as input to other applications
   • Transferred to other output queues
   • Sent as e-mail
   • Used to create PDF files

   Spooled files can also be received from other i5/OS and non-i5/OS systems.

   
3. The printer writer program (see Printer writer program) interacts between the output queue and the printer and can be used to convert the printer data stream. The printer writer program included in i5/OS supports a variety of printer data streams. Print Services Facility™ for i5/OS provides additional function that provides support for the Advanced Function Presentation™ (AFP™) Intelligent Printer Data Stream™ (IPDS™). For more information about printer data streams, see Printer data streams.

   Each printer must have a printer device description (see Printer device description). The printer device description contains a configuration description of the printer. Printers can be attached by a variety of attachment methods.

   A remote writer allows you to route spooled files from an output queue on your system to another system. For more information about remote writers and remote system printing, see Remote system printing .