Printing Models

Print queue processing means that ecprint is installed as a filter in the print queue, so that the input file is sent to the print queue, and the output file in the appropriate printer format is generated in the print queue.

The advantage of direct processing is, that the print queue need not be an EasyCopy print queue; it can be established by other procedures, and it can be used by other applications. Use direct processing if it is essential to manage the print queue by another tool than EasyCopy.

The disadvantages compared to print queue processing are the following:

• Direct processing normally requires more disk space for spooling than print queue processing.
• Direct processing must be performed on the local host; print queue processing may offload the work to a remote server.
• Direct processing requires resources immediately, whereas print queue processing may run as a background task with lower priority.
• Any file in one of the supported formats, for example a TIFF file, may be sent to print queue processing by using the lp or lpr command. In the case of direct processing each file must be sent individually from the Graphical User Interface or by explicit use of the command line interface for ecprint.