Error due to spools files prefixed by FP*

November 2020

Context

Following a Watchdoc malfunction, the logs analysis highlights the presence of FP*.SPL type files into the logs (for example : "INFO 11-02 14:21:20.717 [JobWorker#2] EMF|EmfManager "EMF analysis: 134.6K in 4.5 ms [29.48 MBps] [i/o: 3; seek: 89] for Job[76] in C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS\FP00551.SPL")

Cause

FP stands for "File Polling". The FP mode is generated by MS Windows® directly. In general, Watchdoc deactivates it, but it may occur that it fails. In that case, FP*.SPL files are generated and causes errors in Watchdoc. They should therefore be deleted.

Resolution

To solve this issue, follow this procedure:

  1. stop Watchdoc

  2. stop the spooler

  3. in the spool folder (C:\Windows\System32\spool\, by defautl), check each folder to find files prefixed by "FP*.SPL" and delete them.

  4. restart the spooler

  5. restart Watchdoc

  6. check the printing.