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- The Basics
- . Applications,
utilities and some system components have a memory
partition that defines the amount of memory they use.
The default memory size of an application is set with
average size files in mind. If you open a large file
in an application, it may freeze, bomb, refuse to save
or print - because the memory it has been given is too
small.
- . Updating the
Operating system can increase the memory required for
applications to run. Example &endash; System 7.5.5
Update required some programs to use an additional 23K
of memory. To fix the problem, increasing the
Preferred Memory size of the application by 23K was
the solution to memory error messages.
- . Some system
components are set to a memory partition that is too
small. Printmonitor and Desktop Printmonitor are
classic examples that often need more memory than the
default setting.
- . TIP: to
monitor the memory partitions of active programs
&endash; Choose About this Computer or About this
. Macintosh from under
the Apple Menu, move the window to the bottom of the
screen and check the percentage of the bar that is
used. If an application fills most or all of the bar,
it needs to have it's memory allocation increased in
it's Get Info window. There are shareware and freeware
utilities that will perform this same function
(monitoring memory) in a smaller window or floating
palette.
- . Turning on Balloon
Help will allow you to find out the exact amount of
memory available and used (the only use of Balloon
Help that IS useful).
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- The Rules
- . Everything in the
system and all applications have a set amount of
memory. If they step one byte out of this memory, you
will see a crash, bomb, freeze, stall or error
messages.
- . If an application
refuses to open a file, won't save, won't print, the
FIRST thing to try is assign it more memory Especially
if the problem file is much larger (bigger, more
pictures) than the files you normally work with.
- . Even programs that
have enough memory to function, may show much faster
response given more memory.
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- Symptoms
- Printing problems &endash; refusing to
print, with or without error messages, showing all the
steps of printing but producing no output, printing
only the first page (or a portion of the
printjob).
- Saving problems &endash; refusing to save a
file.
- Opening problems &endash; refusing to open
a file &endash; usually with an error message.
- Special option problems &endash; spell
checking failures, export to different file format
problems, acquiring scanners or video capture devices
&endash; usually with an error message.
- . NOTE: the above
problems are due to programs that do not load ALL
their features at open. Some options are loaded into
memory when they are requested, assuming there is
enough memory allocated to the application.
- . NOTE2: it is
possible for problems with an application to appear
when too many fonts are open, or additional system
resources are added (utilities that alter the finder
or the way the system operates).
- Random crashes with or without error
messages across many applications.
Solutions
- . Allocate more
memory to the problem application.
- 1] Highlight the application, when it
is not open or active
- 2] (Command + I) or File Menu:Get Info
command to open the Get Info Window
- 3] Increase the preferred size by 20 or
30%
- 4] Test the increased memory partition,
repeat if needed.
- . Allocate more
memory to your System, using Conflict Catcher or one
of the freeware/shareware system heap utilities.
- . Increase Print
Monitor's Memory to 256k &endash; the default memory
for print monitor can often cause problems. (Desktop
PrintMonitor if you are using Desktop Printing)
- Increase ATM's Memory to 50k per font &endash; use
the ATM (Adobe Type Manager) control panel for
this.
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- Notes
- . Leave the About
Macintosh window open at the bottom of the screen to
monitor or check your applications memory space. OR
download one of the memory utilities available
online.
- . If you change the
memory size of a program to an abnormally large
figure, remember to set it back for normal
operation.
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