AddPrintProcessor function (Winspool.h) - Win32 apps
By drewbatgit
Archived: 2026-04-05 22:25:05 UTC
The AddPrintProcessor function installs a print processor on the specified server and adds the print-processor
name to the list of supported print processors.
BOOL AddPrintProcessor(
 _In_ LPTSTR pName,
 _In_ LPTSTR pEnvironment,
 _In_ LPTSTR pPathName,
 _In_ LPTSTR pPrintProcessorName
);
pName [in]
A pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the name of the server on which the print processor
should be installed. If this parameter is NULL, the print processor is installed locally.
pEnvironment [in]
A pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the environment (for example, Windows x86, Windows
IA64, or Windows x64). If this parameter is NULL, the current environment of the caller/client (not of the
destination/server) is used.
pPathName [in]
A pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the name of the file that contains the print processor.
This file must be in the system print-processor directory.
pPrintProcessorName [in]
A pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the name of the print processor.
If the function succeeds, the return value is a nonzero value.
If the function fails, the return value is zero.
Note
This is a blocking or synchronous function and might not return immediately. How quickly this function returns
depends on run-time factors such as network status, print server configuration, and printer driver implementation
factors that are difficult to predict when writing an application. Calling this function from a thread that manages
interaction with the user interface could make the application appear to be unresponsive.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/printdocs/addprintprocessor
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The caller must have the SeLoadDriverPrivilege.
Before calling the AddPrintProcessor function, an application should verify that the file containing the print
processor is stored in the system print-processor directory. An application can retrieve the name of the system
print-processor directory by calling the GetPrintProcessorDirectory function.
An application can determine the name of existing print processors by calling the EnumPrintProcessors
function.
Requirement Value
Minimum supported client Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Header Winspool.h (include Windows.h)
Library Winspool.lib
DLL Winspool.drv
Unicode and ANSI names AddPrintProcessorW (Unicode) and AddPrintProcessorA (ANSI)
Printing
Print Spooler API Functions
EnumPrintProcessors
GetPrintProcessorDirectory
Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/printdocs/addprintprocessor
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/printdocs/addprintprocessor
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