Method for organizing files in a library in a network printing system

The present invention concerns a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing print files associated with a job ticket describing a plurality of print files included in a print job. The print files are stored in a library within a server. When space usage in the library has exceeded a predetermined limit, print files are migrated from the library to a backup unit. For each file migrated from the first storage device to the second storage device, a stub file is generated which includes information on the migrated file. A computer is used to select a print file to include in the print job described in the job ticket. If the print file selected is stored in the backup unit and a stub file is stored in the library, then the server will access the stub file upon selection of the print file. The stub file in the library is replaced with the print file in the backup unit when the stub file is accessed. When the print job including the selected print file is submitted for printing, the print file is transmitted from the library to the printer.