Note: The following information is applicable only to System 6.0.X running
under MultiFinder.
TOPIC ---------------------------------------------
What causes the DA Handler to cease functioning occasionally? I am working on
a color Macintosh II (with an Apple monitor) with 4 MB RAM, a 40 MB hard drive,
and an AppleCD SC and running system software version 6.0.3 and MultiFinder.
(I'm also running numerous INITs.) I see the problem when I try to select any
DA.
The DA Handler icon flashes in the menu bar, but the system simply returns to
the current application. If I try selecting a different application or
returning to the Finder, the same thing happens. It also happens under system
software versions 6.0.2 and 6.0. The only solution appears to be to restart.
DISCUSSION -----------------------------------------
This situation can occur when you run low on the available MultiFinder memory.
If you have enough memory to load the DA Handler, but not enough to run the
desk accessory, the desk accessory quits. DA Handler then exits, because there
are no desk accessories currently running. Unless the desk accessory reports
an error, all you see is the DA Handler launching and then exiting, because
there are no loaded desk accessories.
The reason this happens under MultiFinder, and not under Finder, is that DA
Handler is an application that is run when a desk accessory is selected from
the Apple menu. There is not necessarily enough memory left for it to run,
after you have loaded other applications.
In the Finder, desk accessories are loaded into the memory taken by the
currently running application. You can force the same thing in MultiFinder by
holding down the Option key when you select the desk accessory.