The Start All Background Tasks form is displayed when you click SYSTEM UTILITIES MAIN MENU > Start all backgrounds.
A software daemon, as used within the AUTOLINE system, is a background process that is responsible for keeping various data files updated with sales and purchase information. By using a process that operates in the background, whenever you perform an operation, the terminal concerned is immediately released for further use rather than being delayed waiting for the various file updates that the transaction has generated to take place.
Many types of daemon exist. For example, the stock daemon, when running, will update stock records with all transaction information, i.e. new stock quantity, date last moved, date last sold, demand history, date last purchased, etc. This daemon also updates the Purchase transaction file with order and receipt information that is constantly changing in line with the activities of the parts department. It also updates the stock system with information provided via stock checking module.
A spooler can be defined as Software or hardware to which data is spooled and which processes that data (e.g. prints it) in the background.
To spool is to send files to some device or program (a 'spooler' or daemon) that puts them in a queue for later processing of some kind. Without qualification, the spooler is the 'print spooler' controlling output of jobs to a printer, but the term has been used in connection with other peripherals (especially plotters and graphics devices) and occasionally even for input devices.
Note: The term 'SPOOL' has been attributed as an acronym for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line.
Buttons:
Exit: Returns you to the SYSTEM UTILITIES MAIN MENU.
Start-all-daemons: Start all software daemons.
Start-all-spoolers: Start all print spoolers.
