print jobs are automatically and transparently spooled in a device - independent format , such as an enhanced metafile format . the enhanced metafile format provides a format into which documents are readily converted and which occupies a minimal amount of storage space . each spooled print job is asynchronously printed relative to a program that requested the print job . such spooled print jobs are de - spooled in a background processor mode . an operating system provides the resources for converting a print job into enhanced metafile format and spooling the print job in the enhanced metafile format .