I'm interested in some information inside a shadow file (.shd) located inside the windows print spooling directory "C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS". Every time a print job is started, a spool file (.spl) and a shadow file (.shd) are created in that directory. So far I have been successful in detecting when a print job has started, and have been able to pause that print job. If you don't pause the job, the files eventually make their way to the printer and then are deleted by windows.
My problem is. I cannot open the .SHD files because they are locked in such a way that you can not read them while they are open by the sprint spooler. I've even tried going to the file in windows explorer and simply copying the file to another file, and that didn't work either. The .SPL spool files I can open though. I simply wait, and fairly quickly the spooler release that file. For the shadow file though, it permanently holds on to this file. Unfortunately, its the one I need.
The line of code I'm using specifically to open the file is as follows:
m_spoolJobStream = new FileStream(spoolFilePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite);
The IOException I get is:
The process cannot access the file 'C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS\FP00083.SHD' because it is being used by another process.
So yes, it is being used by another process. Its being used by the window's print spooler service. But I don't think there is anything I can do about that. All I want to do is read the file. I don't want to make any changes to it. Is there anything I can do here or am I just screwed?
Best Answer
Check the option: "Keep printed documents" (if you have HP printer) and then see your spool file folder, both shadow and spool files would be there.