When I print a large job (300MB is the current example), a file named FP00000.SPL of that size is immediately created in windows/system32/spool/PRINTERS/. Then another file, spl##.tmp is created and slowly grows to match the size of the .SPL file. Once it has reached the same size as the .SPL file, the print job is sent to the print server and starts printing immediately.The printer is a network printer which is shared as both a standard IP port printer, and as an SMB share. The job does not show up in the server queue until the spl##.tmp file has reached full size.The network is gigabit ethernet.The problem is that the .SPL file being copied to the spl##.tmp file takes a VERY long time, like 1/2 hour for 300MB. I have stopped the spooler, deleted the contents of windows/system32/spool/PRINTERS, restarted the spooler, removed the printer driver and reinstalled, and the problem persists.I have set the printer to "print directly to the printer", and to "spool print documents / start printing immediately" with no difference in speed. With the former setting, the application that I printed from is not released until the spl##.tmp file reaches full size. With the latter setting, it is released when the FP00000.SPL file reaches full size (very quick).1 person needs an answerI do too

I'm not an expert for sure..but it seems to me that a 300mb print file is HUGE...especially if there is a LOT of color involved. JMHO :)

300MB isn't surprising for an 8.5x11 photograph printed at 600dpi with the raw image data being sent to the printer. It certainly wouldn't take half an hour to make a copy of the file on the hard drive, or to send it over the LAN. In the past, printing has started instantly for similar print jobs. I'm just wondering why it's taking so long to "spool" the job when it's already in the queue, and why it doesn't start printing when it starts spooling.

Example: 6 page job of 8.5x11 full page photos is 200MB on the queue. It was placed on the queue within about 10 seconds, then took 1 hour 15 minutes to spool and start printing!

Update printer drivers, perhaps?

Printer drivers are the latest for this printer (Canon iP6600D).I would like to know what exactly is going on in the "spooling" stage. It seems like the job is already written to the queue, in the .SPL file, and the .tmp file is being generated during the "spooling" step. Is that just a direct copy of the data, or is the .SPL file in a non-native format that has to be translated into the printer language before getting sent to the printer?