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- * *
- * METZ Software, Inc. Support (206) 641-4525 *
- * P.O. Box 6699 Sales 1-800-447-1712 *
- * Bellevue, Wa., 98008-0699, U.S.A. International (206) 641-4525 *
- * Fax (206) 644-6026 *
- * *
- * CompuServe: [75300,1627] *
- * *
- * METZ Software is pleased to announce our support forum on CompuServe. *
- * Type GO WINAPC, choose 3 - Libraries, then 7 - METZ Software to *
- * visit our forum. Drop us a note anytime! *
- * Copyright (c) 1989-1992 METZ Software *
- * All rights reserved. *
- **************************************************************************
-
- METZ FREEMEM
-
- METZ FreeMem is a Microsoft Windows utility that monitors and
- displays the percentage of free system resources and the amount of
- free memory available. Use METZ FreeMem to track your Windows
- memory usage and avoid "Out of memory" messages.
-
- WINDOWS MEMORY AND RESOURCES
-
- In the Microsoft Windows environment, there is both real and
- virtual memory. Real memory is the base memory of up to 640K
- (655,360 bytes). Virtual memory is a combination of extended memory
- and the memory which is swapped to disk by Windows. You can increase
- virtual memory by increasing the amount of extended memory you have
- and/or by increasing the size of your Windows swapfile. (For more
- information on using swapfiles, see the Microsoft Windows User's Guide.)
-
- Generally, it is a good idea to install at least 4MB of extended
- memory on your system. If you typically use several large
- applications at a time, you may want to add even more memory.
-
- Windows applications also use system resources. The memory available
- for system resources consist of two 64K pools, one for the User
- Interface and the other for the Graphics Device Interface, for a
- total of 128K memory. Windows has a limitation on the amount of
- system resources available. When several applications are loaded,
- you may reach this system resource usage limit. You may see an "Out
- of memory" error message when this occurs. Because the amount of
- memory available for system resources is limited, you will usually run
- out of system resources before running out of memory.
-
- USING METZ FREEMEM
-
- METZ FreeMem displays the amount of free memory on the right side of
- the application window and the percentage of free system resources on
- the left portion of its window.
-
- To test system resource and memory usage for a specific Windows
- application:
-
- 1. Set up METZ FreeMem to check memory and to compact memory
- every 1 second.
- 2. Close any applications you are not using.
- 3. Note the percentage of resources and amount of memory free
- displayed by METZ FreeMem.
- 4. Run the application you want to test.
- 5. Note the change in resources and free memory displayed by
- by METZ FreeMem.
- 6. Close the application you are testing.
- 7. Finally, check to see if the resource and free memory
- displayed by METZ FreeMem have returned to the same levels
- they were at before you ran the application.
-
- This procedure will reveal the following information about the
- application you are testing:
-
- 1. Whether the application is using an extraordinary amount of
- system resources and/or memory.
- 2. Whether it is "cleaning up" used memory efficiently. The
- levels of available system resources and free memory should
- return to the same level they were at before you ran the
- application.
-
-
- CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
-
- For normal use with Windows, set your METZ FreeMem options
- as follows:
-
- 1. Configure METZ FreeMem to check memory every 3 to
- 5 seconds.
- 2. Disable the Compact Memory option.
-
- Here is a list of available METZ FreeMem Configuration options:
-
- Check memory every ## seconds
- METZ FreeMem calculates the amount of memory available every ##
- seconds.
-
- Compact memory every ## seconds:
- METZ FreeMem tells Windows to compact memory every ## seconds.
- This is useful when you wish to see how much memory a particular
- application requires. Check the amount of memory displayed
- before and after an application is run to see how much memory it
- consumes. When Windows compacts memory, it frees up blocks of
- memory no longer being used by an application. These blocks are
- kept in memory for performance reasons, so enabling this option
- may impact performance.
-
- Invert Window:
- Choose Invert Window to display white text on a black background.
- You may prefer to use the Invert Window, if you have a black
- desktop or if you are using a Screen Saver.
-
- Stay in front:
- Select this option if you want METZ FreeMem to always be visible
- and displayed in front of any other application.
-
- USING METZ FREEMEM WITH A MOUSE
-
- You can move METZ FreeMem on the screen by pressing down on the left
- mouse, button and dragging it to the location you want. Use the
- right mouse button to close METZ FreeMem. Double-click on the
- METZ FreeMem window to display the configuration options.
-
- USING METZ FREEMEM WITHOUT A MOUSE
-
- You can use the following keyboard actions with METZ FreeMEM:
-
- F1 Displays the About box which contains the configuration
- options.
- ALT+F4 Closes METZ FreeMem.
-
- Tip: Because METZ FreeMem has no caption bar, it is difficult to tell
- whether it is the active application window. Press Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Escape
- to switch between windows. See the Microsoft Windows Users Guide for
- more information about switching between application windows.
-
- APPLICATION NOTES
-
- Use the left mouse button to move METZ FreeMem to whatever location
- you want on your screen. This position will be stored in the current
- METZ.INI for subsequent sessions. The default startup position is
- the upper left corner of your screen. You can add METZ FreeMem to the
- LOAD or RUN line in your WIN.INI file so that is run automatically
- during every Windows session. METZ FreeMem will stay in front of other
- windows so that it is always visible when you uncheck the Stay in Front
- option. This makes it easy to observe memory management problems
- with the Windows applications you use.
-
- * * * *
-
- Information in this document is subject to change without notice
- and does not represent any commitment on the part of METZ Software.
- No warranties of any kind are associated with this product.
-
- Payment for FreeMem is optional and the amount is completely up to you.
-
- METZ Software welcomes your comments and suggestions to help us improve
- our products.
-
- Thank you for your support.
-