The spooled file library (QSPL or QSPLxxxx, where xxxx is the number of the basic user ASP or primary independent ASP) contains database files that are used to store data for inline data files and spooled files. Each file in library QSPL or QSPLxxxx can have several members. Each member contains all the data for an inline data file or spooled file.
When the spooled file is printed or deleted, its associated database member in the spooling library is cleared of records, but not removed, so that it can be used for another inline data file or spooled file. If no database members are available in library QSPL or QSPLxxxx, then a member is automatically created.
Having some empty spooled file members available for creating new spooled files increases system run-time performance. However, a large number of empty spooled files can use large amounts of storage and decrease system abnormal IPL performance. For example, each spooled file member might take 24 KB of storage.
It is best to keep the QSPL or QSPLxxxx library small by periodically deleting old spooled files with the DLTSPLF or CLROUTQ commands. This procedure allows database members to be used again, rather than having to increase the size of the spooling library to accommodate new database members.
See Reclaim spooled file storage for more information on how to remove spooled database members. This is the only allowable way to remove spooled database members from the QSPL or QSPLxxxx library. Any other way can cause severe problems.
Displaying the data in the QSPL or QSPLxxxx library might prevent the data from being cleared, wasting storage space. Any command or program used to look at a database file in the QSPL or QSPLxxxx library must allocate the database file and member; if a writer tries to remove an allocated member after printing is completed, it will not be able to clear the member. Because the member is not cleared, it cannot be used for another inline data file or spooled file, and it will not be removed by setting the Automatically clean up unused printer output storage (QRCLSPLSTG) system value or running the RCLSPLSTG command.
Saving a database file in the QSPL or QSPLxxxx library can cause more problems than displaying the data in one member of the file because all members will be allocated a much longer time when a database file is saved. Because restoring these files destroys present and future spooled file data, there is no reason to save one of these files.
The QSPL or QSPLxxxx library type and authority should not be changed. The authority to the files within QSPL or QSPLxxxx should also not be changed. The QSPL or QSPLxxxx library and the files in it are created in a particular way so that server spooling functions can access them. Changing the library or files could cause some server spooling functions to work incorrectly and destroys the integrity of the spooled file security scheme.