Best Command Line Tool to Extract Document Title and Properties from SPL Files

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Best Command Line Tool to Extract Document Title and Properties from SPL Files

Meta Description:

Extract titles and metadata from SPL, PS, and PCL files using a simple command line tool. Fast, accurate, and built for developers.

Ever try to debug print jobs without knowing what's inside?

I've been there.

Best Command Line Tool to Extract Document Title and Properties from SPL Files

One time, I had to sift through a huge stack of SPL print spool files from an enterprise client's Windows server. They were running into issues with duplicate print jobs and incorrect titles showing up in their billing reports. The worst part? No built-in tool on Windows could help me see what was actually in those SPL files. Not even Notepad++ could make sense of it.

I tried renaming .spl files to .txt and opening them, just like old-school log parsing. Didn't work.

I needed a tool that didn't just look inside the file but could actually extract useful metadata like document titles, job names, page settingssomething with developer-level control. That's how I found VeryPDF SPLParser Command Line.

And honestly? It saved the entire project.

The Tool That Turned Hours of Work into Seconds

So let's cut to the chase.

The tool is called VeryPDF SPLParser Command Line, and it does exactly what it promises:
Extract document titles, print properties, and convert pages from SPL, PS, PCL, and PDF files using nothing but the command line.

No bulky interface.

No weird Java dependencies.

Just clean, raw power for devs, sysadmins, and anyone handling batch print jobs.

Here's the kind of stuff it reads:

  • Document Title: Visio-infraskope topoloji.vsdx

  • Copies: 1

  • Duplex Mode: 1

  • Collate: 1

You get this with a single command:

splparser.exe -info D:\in.pcl

Boom. Info dumped right to your terminal.

Who's This Really For?

If you're just printing invoices in a small officethis might be overkill.

But if you:

  • Work in IT operations at a company that manages hundreds of printers

  • Build custom print solutions for large organisations

  • Are a developer handling print spool files on Windows

  • Support enterprise document workflows with security or audit needs

Then VeryPDF SPLParser Command Line is built for you.

I've used it across banking systems, telecoms, and even in a university environment where everything from lab results to class handouts gets printed through Windows spoolers.

What It Actually Does (With Examples)

Let's break down a few real-use scenarios I've handled.

1. Extracting Metadata from SPL Files

This one's huge. Sometimes, the SPL files generated by Windows Print Spooler don't tell you much by file name.

Here's how I get all the juicy details inside them:

splparser.exe -info D:\printjobs\job_7483.pcl

You'll see:

  • The actual job name

  • Number of pages

  • Whether it's duplex or simplex

  • Number of copies

If you're building a print monitoring dashboard, you'll love this.

2. First Page Image Preview for Quick Checks

Sometimes, you don't need to process the whole documentjust want to see if it's the right file.

That's where this command comes in:

splparser.exe -firstpage 1 -lastpage 1 -dpi 300 D:\doc.pcl D:\preview.png

It grabs just the first page and converts it to PNG.

No full conversion.

No bloat.

Just instant previews for debugging or thumbnail generation.

3. Page-by-Page Colour Analysis

In a publishing job, I had to detect whether certain pages were in colour or not. The client wanted to charge differently for black & white vs. colour pages.

Here's the output I got:

[PaperSize] page=112 width=1190.55 height=841.89

[ImageSize] page=112 width=600 height=424

[ColorInfo] Page 112 is [Color]

That's insane.
You're not getting this from any free tool.

And definitely not from a standard Windows setup.

4. Updating Print Settings Without Reprinting

Had a print job accidentally sent out with simplex instead of duplex?

No need to open the source file, re-export, re-queue.

You just run:

splparser.exe -update -jobname "VeryPDF SPLParser" -duplex 1 -copies 999 -resolution 1200 D:\input.ps D:\output.ps

It updates the actual print properties inside the spool file.

You don't even need to open the document.

It's like editing a print driver output mid-flight.

Why I Ditched Other Tools

Before VeryPDF SPLParser, I tried:

  • GhostPCL (ok but super limited for metadata)

  • Adobe PDF SDK (expensive and heavy)

  • Writing my own parser (bad idea... trust me)

Nothing gave me the control and speed that SPLParser did. It's lightweight, no-nonsense, and insanely fast.

And it doesn't phone home or require internet access.

Perfect for secure environments.

What Problems This Tool Solves

  • You can't see what's in an SPL file before printing now you can.

  • Wrong print settings in production now fixable instantly.

  • Need a fast preview for a print job get it in seconds.

  • Batch document processing across environments automate with scripting.

  • Developing custom print workflows royalty-free SDK included.

No frills. Just results.

I'd Recommend It To...

If you're in the trenches with large document workflows,

If you manage servers that churn out thousands of print jobs a day,

If you need to diagnose, debug, or customise spool files in Windows...

I'd recommend VeryPDF SPLParser without hesitation.

It's the kind of tool you don't realise you needuntil you're in a mess.

Click here to try it out: https://www.verypdf.com/

You can even build it into your own solutionroyalty free.

Custom Development Services by VeryPDF

Need more than just SPL parsing?

VeryPDF offers custom PDF and document processing developmenttailored for your tech stack.

That includes:

  • Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS support

  • Code-level work in C++, Python, C#, PHP, .NET, JavaScript, and more

  • Creating Virtual Printer Drivers for EMF, PDF, TIFF output

  • Hooking into Windows API to intercept print jobs and file access

  • Barcode scanning, OCR table extraction, and document layout analysis

  • Secure document printing, DRM protection, and cloud-based viewing/signing

Basically, if it touches a documentVeryPDF can probably build it.

Want to chat with a real developer?
Contact them here: https://support.verypdf.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can VeryPDF SPLParser extract metadata from non-Windows SPL files?

A: It's mainly built for Windows-generated PCL, PS, and PDF files, including those from universal printer drivers.

Q2: Can I integrate SPLParser into my own software?

A: Absolutely. It comes with an SDK and offers a royalty-free developer licence.

Q3: Does it require an internet connection to run?

A: No. It's fully offline. Great for secure environments.

Q4: How large of a file can it handle?

A: I've processed 500+ page PS files without issue. Performance is solid even with large jobs.

Q5: Does it support batch processing?

A: Yep. Script it in PowerShell, CMD, or any automation tool.

Tags / Keywords

splparser tool, extract spl metadata, pcl command line tool, update print properties, spool file analysis, convert pcl to png, verypdf sdk

First line and last line both with keyword:

The best command line tool to extract document title and properties from SPL files saved me hours on a client project.

Try VeryPDF SPLParser todayyou'll never go back to blindly guessing what's in your spool files.

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