Systems and methods for providing a universal print assist in a printer environment. A print assist is provided as a separate component from a print processor and spooler to enable a selective intercept and performance of an action (e.g., to modify, split, merge, redirect, gather or register information or otherwise alter or make observation of a print data stream) on the print data stream as the data stream is despooled by the spooler or print processor to a print provider without customizing any pre-existing components. The print assist uses a method whereby the print assist is bound to the output interface between the spooler and/or print processor and the print provider. Accordingly, the despooled print data stream passes through the print assist as it is despooled from the spooler or the print processor to the print provider. And, since the print assist is a separate component, the print assist may be used with any customized print processor and/or spooler to provide a universal print assist solution.