The following is by Apple Technical Communications personnel, downloaded from
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Switcher: Memory configurations for LaserWriter printing
Serious problems can occur when printing to the LaserWriter from a Macintosh under Switcher when insufficient memory is allocated for the program.
The problem occurs because Switcher often allocates too little memory for printing to the LaserWriter, no matter how big or small the application or the document to be printed.
If there is reason to suspect that there is not enough memory allocated for the application to support printing to the LaserWriter, then the workaround is to save your documents before printing and then print them without the Switcher program.
The resource SIZE -1 contains the value of the preferred amount of memory that Switcher automatically allocates when it installs an application. SIZE -1 also includes the minimum amount of memory and whether or not to save the screen. Switcher looks for the SIZE -1 resource to get these parameters. If there is no SIZE -1 resource, then Switcher automatically allocates a preferred and minimum memory of 128K. However, 128K is not enough for printing to the Laserwriter. For this reason, we would caution against using the LaserWriter under Switcher unless you check the preferred and minimum memory allocations against the table below by performing the following steps:
1. Choose the Configure then Install... item from the menu under Switcher
2. Click on the name of the application and Click on Open.
3. Compare the displayed values against the values in the table. The values in the table are for installing the application in Switcher. You may have to use more memory for printing with the LaserWriter from a particular application in Switcher.
4. To create or modify these values in SIZE -1, change the values appropriately and then Click on the Permanent button.
Even with these specifications we would also advise caution about pushing a program's defaults, such as its limitations in working on a large document.
Preferred Takes advantage
Application Memory Size of more memory? Notes
Finder 4.1 106K Yes Use 128K on Macintosh XL.
Helix 512K Yes
Jazz 512K Yes
MacDraft 256K Yes
MacDraw 128K and up Yes Do not use more than 80% of total memory.