Print Queue Processing vs. Direct Processing

What is the difference between Print Queue Processing and Direct Processing ?

When you install a new printer in EasyCopy you are faced with a number of decisions you have to make. One is the choice between Print Queue Processing and Direct Processing; another is the choice between using an existing print queue and creating a new print queue.

System administrators often prefer to use an existing print queue that can be used by EasyCopy together with previous applications. Administrators also often prefer Print Queue Processing because it provides a more effective spooling. The trouble is that these two preferences make a bad combination!

To resolve this conflict we suggest that you estimate the advantages of Print Queue Processing higher than the disadvantage of creating new print queues.

Print Queue Processing vs. Direct Processing

Print Queue Processing means, that you install ecprint as a filter in the print queue; in this case EasyCopy sends the original image file (together with a header containing options) to the print queue, and the printer specific output file is created only when this print queue filter is started by the UNIX system.

Direct Processing means that EasyCopy itself starts ecprint to create the printer specific output file that is sent to the print queue and transparently transmitted to the printer.

This is done as a user task and may thus give an immediate delay.

The advantage of Direct Processing is that the print queue need not be an EasyCopy print queue; it can be an existing print queue established by other procedures.

The disadvantages compared to Print Queue Processing are:

It requires more disk space for spooling

It must be performed on the local host (Print Queue Processing may offload the work to a remote server).

It requires resources immediately (Print Queue Processing can run as a background task with lower priority).

Print Queue Processing offers the further advantage that print queue processing allows that a file in any of the supported formats, including PostScript, text (if ASCII-to-PostScript filter is available), and images, can be handled with the lp or lpr command. Most applications are configured to use lp/lpr for printing. With Direct Processing each file must be sent individually from the Graphical User Interface or by explicit use of the command line interface for ecprint.