Reinitializing the Print Spooler

The Spooler is automatically initialized at coldstart. It is also restarted when you use the to do a full file-restore. If for some reason the Spooler becomes inactive, you can manually restart it using the :STARTSPOOLER command.

Use :STARTSPOOLER only if the Spooler is inactive or in the Debugger. To determine whether the Spooler is in the Debugger, use the WHERE command to check the address. If the address of the Spooler process (the last process listed) has the following format, then the Spooler is in the Debugger:

1.xxx

Before Using the :STARTSPOOLER Command

Before you use :STARTSPOOLER, issue the SP-STATUS command, which should activate the Spooler. If it does not activate the Spooler, perform the following sequence of checklist items to determine why.

Is the printer switched on?
Is the cable properly attached to both the computer and to the printer?
Is the printer correctly configured within the mvBase Workstation?
If this is a COM port device, are the correct communication protocols set?
Use LISTLINES line # to determine if there is a connection between the Server and the Workstation.
Is the printer known to the system (use LISTPTR)?
Is a job listed in the form queue (use LISTPEQS)?
If 1 through 7 are satisfactory, create a hold file and try to spool it to the printer with SP-EDIT. If there are still printing problems, you should proceed to reinitialize the Spooler with the :STARTSPOOLER command.

NOTE	For additional information about troubleshooting printers, see Troubleshooting mvBase Printers.

Using the :STARTSPOOLER Command

The :STARTSPOOLER command is a powerful command and should be used with consideration given to the most appropriate option(s).

Format

:STARTSPOOLER [process] [C | I] [L]

Parameter(s)

process	Any process other than the last process on the system or the system console (process 0). Use this option when you want to explicitly assign the Spooler process to a specific process. If process is not specified, the Spooler is assigned by default to the last process on the system.
C	Initializes all Spooler control blocks except the permanent print file control block. This option initializes the Spooler in the same way as the coldstart procedure does.
I	Globally initializes all Spooler control blocks and all control data. This option initializes the Spooler in the same way as the file-restore procedure does. NOTE— All print files and hold files are deleted when the I option is used. If the I option is used with serial printers, although the print files and hold files will be deleted, the printer process will not be released. Therefore, use SP-KILL (BDn with serial printers to remove print files and release the printer process to logon.
L	Links up extended work space for all lines not currently logged on.

No Options

Use :STARTSPOOLER with no options to wake up the Spooler if it is asleep or if it is in the Debugger. With no options, :STARTSPOOLER initializes certain internal Spooler variables and restarts the Spooler. Any closed print jobs and hold files are left intact, and no SP-ASSIGNments and printer specifications are changed.

C Option

With the C option, :STARTSPOOLER converts all print jobs into hold files and saves all hold files. All form queues, however, are detached, all printers are deleted from the system, and all SP-ASSIGNments are reset to the S option, which prevents any output from being sent to the Spooler.

I Option

With the I option, :STARTSPOOLER not only detaches all form queues, deletes all printers and resets all SP-ASSIGNments, but also deletes all print jobs and hold files.

NOTE	Use :STARTSPOOLER with the I option only when nothing else works!

If the C or I option is used with :STARTSPOOLER, all printers will have to be restarted with STARTPTR, and all users will have to reset their SP-ASSIGNments.