2.2.4 Printer Driver Interface

The Printer Driver Interface is identified by the default interface ID 0x00000000. The default interface does not require Query Interface Request (QI_REQ) or Query Interface Response (QI_RSP) messages to initialize the interface. The Printer Driver Interface negotiates parameters for rendering a print job on the client. This interface consists of three message types: initialization, capabilities, and user interface.

Certain fields in this interface are payload between the client printer driver and the printing subsystem. The content and the meaning of these fields depend on internal structures for these two systems, and are not interpreted in any way by the Printer Driver Interface. Special consideration has to be taken regarding the implementation on both sides when they are based on different operating systems. The implementation has to translate these operating system-specific differences between the client printer driver and the printing subsystem.