A PowerPC native application has different memory requirements when running on a 680x0 or a PowerPC based computer. Additionally, the Finder does not recognize the memory allocation settings of native applications. To do so, it requires the PowerPC Finder Update (7.1.2 or 7.5) or Finder Update (7.5 with System 7.5 Update 1.0). Starting your computer with extensions off disables the Update. Without the Update active, the Get Info dialog box shows the memory allocation for the application as if it were running on a 680x0 based computer.
The system software, however, sees the proper memory allocation for the native application and allocates the correct amount of memory to the application when it loads. This is why the higher memory usage appears in the About This Macintosh dialog box.
In the preceding example, ClarisWorks on a 680x0 computer has a preferred size of 950K by default. On a Power Macintosh, because it is a native application, it has a preferred size of 2,054K. Without the Finder Update, the Finder reports the first preferred size in the Get Info dialog but the System uses the second size.
Always make sure that the proper Finder Update has loaded at startup before trying to adjust memory allocation on a native Power Macintosh application. The Finder Updates also generate the message at the bottom of the Get Info dialog explaining that memory allocations go up or down if you turn virtual memory on or off. If you do not see this message when looking at the Get Info dialog of native application, the Finder Update did not load.
The Update does not show up in the Extensions Manager control panel. You must look in the Extensions folder to confirm its presence.
This article was published in the "Information Alley":
Volume II, Issue 1, Page 7
Article Change History:
03 May 1995 - Added keyword; made minor technical updates.
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