WD6X: Optimizing Your Macintosh System Configuration

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0

SUMMARY

This article contains the text of "MW1127: Optimizing Your Macintosh System Configuration for Word 6.0 for the Macintosh," a Microsoft Application Note that summarizes the steps you can use to optimize your Macintosh System configuration for Word 6.0.

The MW1127 file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ MW1127.hqx (size: 47930 bytes) 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119335
   TITLE     : MacWord 6.0 FastTip: Setup & Performance Optimization

THE TEXT OF MW1127

  Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
  MW1127: OPTIMIZING YOUR MACINTOSH SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR WORD 6.0
                           FOR THE MACINTOSH

                                                  Revision Date: 11/94
                                                               No Disk

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Overview

Word 6.0 is the most powerful word processing software ever developed for the Macintosh platform. To get the best possible performance from Word, you may need to optimize your Macintosh system. This Application Note contains instructions you can use to optimize your Macintosh. To optimize your Macintosh, you may need to make adjustments to your system software (extensions, and fonts) or hardware configuration (processor type, speed, amount of memory, and available hard disk space).

For additional information about optimizing the performance of Word for the Macintosh, including specific instructions for a Macintosh with 4 to 6 MB of RAM or a Macintosh with at least 6 MB of RAM, order the "MW1052: Setup and Performance Optimization" Application Note.

Memory Allocation

When you install Word, the amount of memory Setup allocates to Word is based on the amount of memory installed in your Macintosh. On some systems, Word may run faster if you increase the amount of memory allocated to the application (with additional memory, Word performs less-frequent disk swapping). If you usually use Word to work on long documents, you can probably enhance Word's performance by increasing its Macintosh system memory allocation. To give more memory to Word, do the following:

1. Quit Word if it is running. (From the File menu, choose Quit.)

2. In the Finder, select the Microsoft Word application icon.

3. From the File menu in the Finder, choose Get Info.

4. Increase the value in the Preferred Size box (in System 7.1) or the Current Size box (in System 7.0). As a reference, if you have 8 MB of memory on your Macintosh, change the Preferred Size setting to at least 3000K (with 8 MB of RAM, you can go as high as 6000K).

5. Close the Microsoft Word Info window, and then restart your Macintosh.

6. If you have a Power Macintosh(TM), turn on the Virtual Memory option in the Memory Control Panel window. In the Size box, set the minimum Virtual Memory size. (NOTE: If you are using RAM Doubler 1.5.1, Virtual Memory is unnecessary.)

Fonts--especially Type 1 PostScript(R) fonts--consume system resources on your Macintosh. Survey the fonts installed on your computer and remove any you don't need. (To remove a font, drag it out of the System file in your System Folder to the Desktop or another folder.)

System Conflicts

Extensions and Control Panel devices are memory-resident programs that add functionality to the Macintosh system. These programs, which are generically referred to as INITs or extensions, are located in the Extensions and Control Panels folders in the System folder. Sometimes these files conflict with one another or with a program such as Word, thereby affecting performance. Use the following procedure, in which you restart your computer with all extensions turned off (also called a "clean boot"), to determine whether an extension conflict is affecting your system's performance:

1. Switch to the Finder.

2. Hold down the SHIFT key and choose Restart from the Special menu.

3. Continue holding down the SHIFT key until the "Welcome to Macintosh. Extensions Off" message appears.

4. Start Word and do some work. If Word performs better, you can conclude that one or more extensions is affecting the performance of your Macintosh. Use the procedure below to isolate the extension that is causing a problem.

       NOTE: To reactivate extensions, restart your Macintosh by choosing
       Restart from the Special menu. Do not hold down the SHIFT key.
   

To Isolate the Problem Extension

1. Move the Control Panel folder from the System folder to the Macintosh Desktop.

2. Restart your computer (from the Special menu, choose Restart). If the problem no longer occurs, one of the Control Panel devices is the culprit. On the other hand, if the problem still occurs, one of the files in your Extensions folder is probably causing the conflict. Now that you've identified the "problem folder," you're ready to isolate the conflicting extension in that folder.

3. Move the Control Panel folder back to the System folder.

4. Open the problem folder (either the Control Panel or Extensions folder), and move half the items from that folder to an empty folder on the Desktop.

5. Restart your computer. If the problem still occurs, then the file causing the conflict is one of the items that remains in the problem folder in the System folder. In this case, continue with step 6.

   On the other hand, if the problem no longer occurs, then the file that is causing the conflict is one of the items you moved to the empty folder on the Desktop. In this case, skip to step 7.

6. If the INIT or extension causing the conflict remains in the problem folder:

   a. Move one of the files from the problem folder to the folder on

         the Desktop.
   

   b. Restart your computer.

   c. As long as the problem continues to occur, repeat steps 6a and

         6b. Once the problem stops occurring, you can conclude that the
         last item you removed from the problem folder is the one that
         conflicts with your system. Skip to step 8.
   

7. If the INIT or extension causing the conflict is in the folder on the Desktop:

   a. Move one of the files from the Desktop folder back to its

         original folder in the System folder.
   

   b. Restart your computer.

   c. Repeat steps 7a and 7b until the problem recurs. When this

         happens, you can conclude that the last item you moved is the
         one that conflicts with your system.
   

8. Once you identify the extension or Control Panel device that conflicts with your system, call the manufacturer of the extension to see if they know about the problem or have a solution for it (such as reinstalling the extension or changing its settings). The manufacturer may have an updated version of the extension that solves the problem. If you still need help after you contact the extension manufacturer, you can phone Microsoft Technical Support at

   extensions that conflict with Word. For more assistance
   troubleshooting extension conflicts on the Macintosh, call Apple
   Technical Support at (800) SOS-APPL (767-2775).

    NOTE: The majority of Control Panel devices and extensions do not
    cause system conflicts. In general, printer drivers, network
    drivers, and fonts in the Extensions folder do not conflict with
    most Macintosh systems. Similarly, the "standard" Control Panel
    devices that Apple ships in the Control Panels folder rarely cause
    any problems. Below is a list of the standard Control Panel files
    that Apple supplies with most Macintosh computers:

       Cache Switch (68040         Memory
         processors only)          Monitors
       Color                       Mouse
       Date & Time                 Network
       Easy Access                 Numbers
       File Sharing Monitor        Sharing Setup
       General Controls            Sound
       Keyboard                    Startup Disk
       Labels                      Users & Groups
       Map                         Views

System Maintenance

You should rebuild your Desktop file on a regular basis, as frequently as once per month, to maintain overall system performance. Your Desktop is a hidden database file that contains information about the files, folders, and other resources on your hard disk. To rebuild your Desktop, do the following:

1. Hold down the COMMAND and OPTION keys and start your computer.

2. Hold down COMMAND+OPTION until the "Would you like to rebuild the Desktop" message appears.

3. Release COMMAND+OPTION and then choose OK.

Other Suggestions

• If you don't need the millions of colors your Macintosh supports, reduce the number of colors from millions to thousands, 256, or even 16 colors. With fewer colors active, your Macintosh does not take as long to redraw the screen, and overall performance may improve. To change the Colors setting, choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, and double-click the Monitors icon.
• If you have at least 16 MB of memory, create a RAM disk in which to run Word. To create a RAM disk, choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, and double-click the Memory icon. For more information, see your Macintosh system documentation.
• In Word, work in normal view instead of page layout view whenever possible. In page layout view, Word takes longer to redraw the screen.
• Select the Background Printing option that best fits the way you work. With Background Printing turned on, your document prints a bit more slowly, but you can continue working in Word while your document prints. With Background Printing turned off, your document prints quickly, but you cannot work in Word until the print job is finished. To change the Background Printing option, do the following:

  1. From the Apple menu, choose Chooser.

  2. In the Chooser window, select your printer icon.

  3. If Background Printing is available for your printer, select the

        On or Off option as appropriate, then close the Chooser window.