TOPIC
This article contains Part 1 of the ReadMe file for the Power Macintosh 7300, 8600, and 9600 series computers.
DISCUSSION This document provides information about your Power Macintosh computer that could not be included in your user's manual or in online help. Contents ======== Tips ---- - Improving Video Capture - Improving the Quality of Audio CD Recordings - Allocating More Memory to Application Programs - Using the Recent Documents Command in the Apple Menu - Installing Acrobat Reader Software from the System Software CD - Reinstalling or Removing Zip Drive Software - Removing the 9600 Graphics Accelerator - Installing and Removing PCI Cards Important Information About Desktop Printing -------------------------------------------- - Creating Desktop Printers - Printing With a Desktop Printer - Selecting a Default Printer - Working With Desktop Printer Icons - Managing Printing - Turning Off Desktop Printing - Support and Compatibility Information - Troubleshooting Tips Tips ==== Improving Video Capture ----------------------- To increase the speed and quality of video captures on Power Macintosh models that support video capture, follow these guidelines: * Turn off virtual memory in the Memory control panel. * In the Monitors & Sound control panel, set the color depth to Millions. (The Millions setting may not be available until you select a smaller screen resolution setting first.) * Turn off AppleTalk. (You can quickly turn AppleTalk on or off with the Control Strip, or use the Chooser instead.) * Turn off the Menubar Clock in the Date & Time control panel. * Turn off all unnecessary extensions. Do not turn off QuickTime. (Use the Extensions Manager control panel to turn off extensions; then restart your computer.) * If you have installed Apple VideoPhone, remove the "QTCComponentDV" extension from the Extensions folder inside your System Folder, and then restart. (The "QTCComponentDV" video digitizer extension is optimized for video conferencing, but your Power Macintosh contains equivalent software that is optimized for video capture.) * Do not run programs other than the capture application while capturing video. * Reduce the size of the capture window. (160x120 is the best size; also, 320x240 is good.) * Make sure that your hard disk has enough free space to record. If you notice a decline in performance, use a disk optimizer to improve your disk's efficiency. * Make sure that the application program you use for capturing video has enough extra memory allocated for one second of video at the size and bit depth that you are using to record. For example, to record 30fps at 320x240 in millions of colors requires at least 4500K (4.5 MB) free in the application partition. About This Macintosh (in the Apple menu) lets you estimate memory usage. * Do not allocate all of the available memory to the capture application. When your capture application is running, you should have an unused block size of at least 500K in About This Macintosh. When working with applications that support adjusting video and sound settings, the following settings allow the highest video capture performance: * Use the Component Video video compressor. Do not use post-compression. * Set sound input sampling to 16 bits, stereo, and 44.1KHz. Do not use a sound compressor. Improving the Quality of Audio CD Recordings -------------------------------------------- You can use the AppleCD Audio Player and SimpleSound (both available in the Apple menu) to record from an audio CD to a file on disk. If your recordings sound distorted when you play them, try lowering the volume level in the AppleCD Audio Player and record the sound again. Usually, you should get acceptable results when the volume is set to about the middle level. However, you may want to experiment with different volume settings; because audio CDs are recorded at various sound levels, individual CDs may require a different setting for optimal recording. Allocating More Memory to Application Programs ---------------------------------------------- If you are having new issues with application programs reporting that they do not have enough memory, System 7.5.5 may require programs to use an additional 23K of memory. To fix the issue: 1. Quit the program if it is open. 2. Click the program's icon to select it. 3. Open the File menu and choose Get Info. 4. In the Info window, increase the value in the "Preferred size" box by 23. 5. Close the window. Using the Recent Documents Command in the Apple Menu ---------------------------------------------------- You can easily open any of your most recently used documents by choosing the Recent Documents command in the Apple menu, then choosing a document from the submenu. However, this feature can increase the time it takes to open some applications. This occurs because the recent-documents tracking includes all files that are opened--even those opened by an application as part of its launch sequence (such as drop-in filters used by desktop publishing packages). You can reduce the increased opening time by turning off the recent-documents tracking. You can either: * turn off "recent documents" tracking in the Apple Menu Options control panel * turn off Apple Menu Options in the Extensions Manager Installing Acrobat Reader Software from the System Software CD -------------------------------------------------------------- To install Acrobat Reader software from the system software CD onto your hard disk, make sure that the system software CD that came with your computer is not the startup disk. Then locate the Acrobat Reader folder on the CD and follow the installation instructions. Note: To make sure that the system software CD is not the startup disk, shut down your computer. Then start up the computer while pressing the eject button on the CD-ROM drive (the disc is ejected). After the computer restarts, reinsert the CD and install the Acrobat Reader software. Reinstalling or Removing Zip Drive Software ------------------------------------------- Some Power Macintosh models come with an internal Zip drive. Normally when you insert a Zip disk into this drive, an icon for the Zip disk appears on the Macintosh desktop. If an icon for the inserted disk does not appear on the desktop, the Iomega Driver in your System Folder may be missing or damaged. You can reinstall the Iomega Driver by following these steps: 1. Insert the system software CD-ROM disc that came with your computer. 2. Open the Iomega Tools folder in CD Extras folder on the CD-ROM disc. 3. Drag the Iomega Driver icon to the System Folder icon on your hard disk. One or more alert messages may appear. One will ask if you want to store the Iomega Driver in your Extensions folder, and another may ask if you want to replace a file that already exists. 4. Click the OK button in these alert messages. 5. Eject the CD-ROM disc. (Select the disc icon and choose Put Away from the File menu.) 6. Restart your computer. 7. Try inserting a Zip disc again. Though only some Power Macintosh models include an internal Iomega Zip drive, your model includes Iomega software on your hard disk, even if your model does not come with a Zip drive. If your Power Macintosh model does not include a Zip drive, you can remove this software if you wish. (Or you may also wish to keep this software in case you later purchase and connect a Zip drive.) Removing the software frees up disk space and makes your computer start up slightly faster. If you ever need to reinstall the Iomega software, it is available on the CD-ROM disc that comes with your computer. To remove the Iomega software, drag the following icons to the Trash: * Iomega Driver (located in the Extensions folder inside your System Folder) * Iomega Tools folder (located in the Apple Extras folder) Removing the 9600 Graphics Accelerator -------------------------------------- When you turn on your computer, icons appear along the bottom of the screen to indicate which system software extensions are being loaded during startup. On Power Macintosh 7300, 7600, and 8600 models, this extension may appear with a red "X" through it. This "9600 Graphics Accelerator" extension file is only required for use on Power Macintosh 9600 models that contain the optional video card. If you are using a Power Macintosh other than the 9600 model, you can delete this extension file if you wish. To delete the "9600 Graphics Accelerator" extension (located in the Extensions folder inside your System Folder), drag its icon to the Trash. Installing and Removing PCI Cards --------------------------------- Your Power Macintosh User's Manual contains detailed instructions about installing peripheral component interconnect (PCI) expansion cards. Follow these instructions carefully when installing a PCI card. To avoid damaging the PCI slot when you install or remove a PCI card, do the following: * Do not rock the card from side to side; instead, press or pull the card straight into or out of the slot. * Do not physically insert or remove two cards at the same time; insert or remove each card individually. Important Information About Desktop Printing ============================================ This document contains information about using the desktop printing feature on your computer. With desktop printing, a printer icon is created on your desktop whenever you select an Apple LaserWriter or StyleWriter printer in the Chooser. You can use these "desktop printer" icons to print documents and manage printing. With desktop printing, you can * print a document in the Finder by dragging it to a desktop printer icon * select the default printer without opening the Chooser * manage and schedule printing documents IMPORTANT Desktop printing works with Apple StyleWriter printers, Apple LaserWriter printers, and many other PostScript printers. Desktop printing does not work with other types of printers and Fax Sender. Creating Desktop Printers ------------------------- To create a desktop printer, follow these steps: 1. Open the Chooser. 2. Select the print driver for the printer you are using. 3. Select the printer you want to use. 4. Close the Chooser. When you close the Chooser, an icon for the printer appears on the desktop. The name of the icon is the name of the printer. The name of the printer also appears in the Printer menu to the left of the Guide menu and in the Desktop Printers item in the Apple menu. After the desktop printer icon appears, you can move it to any location on your startup disk. You can have as many desktop printers as you want. To create other desktop printers, you must open the Chooser, select the printer, and close the Chooser for each printer you want to use. The last printer you select in the Chooser becomes the default printer. The default printer is used whenever you choose Print from the File menu. The desktop printer icon for the default printer has a bold outline. For other ways to select the default printer, see "Selecting a Default Printer" later in this document. Note: If you use different versions of the LaserWriter 8 software to print to the same printer, you can create a desktop printer icon for each version of the LaserWriter software. For example, you might use LaserWriter driver version 8.4.1 for printing and version 8.2.2f for faxing. To create a desktop printer for each driver, select the LaserWriter 8.4.1 driver and your printer in the Chooser, then close the Chooser. Reopen the Chooser and select the LaserWriter 8.2.2f driver and your printer, then close the Chooser. To choose which version of the driver to use, change the default printer (see "Selecting a Default Printer"). To avoid confusion, rename the desktop printer icons to indicate which version of the printer software the icon uses. Printing With a Desktop Printer ------------------------------- You use desktop printers to print documents from the Finder. Using desktop printers, you can print several documents at the same time, including documents created with different programs. (You can still print documents from within applications using the Print command in the File menu.) To print documents with a desktop printer, follow these steps: 1. Select the icons of the documents you want to print. 2. Drag the documents to the icon of the desktop printer you want to use. Note: When you drag a document to a desktop printer, that printer becomes the default printer. The document opens and the Print dialog box appears. 3. Choose your printing options, then click the Print. Selecting a Default Printer --------------------------- The default printer is the printer you use when you choose Print from the File menu. To change the default printer, you can do the following: * Print documents from the Finder with a desktop printer icon. * Select a desktop printer icon and choose Set Default Printer from the Printing menu. * Choose the printer from the Printer menu that appears to the left of the Guide menu. * Select the printer name using the Printing module in the Control Strip. * Select a new printer in the Chooser. Note: Changing the printer you are using may change how much information appears on a page of your document. If you change printers, check the formatting of your document. Working With Desktop Printer Icons ---------------------------------- Desktop printer icons show the status of the printer. You can rename desktop printer icons, make aliases of them, and throw them away, just like other Finder icons. Note: You can't throw away a desktop printer icon while the printer is printing a document. If you throw away the icon for the default printer, another desktop printer is automatically selected as the default printer. If you do not have another desktop printer another icon is automatically created for the desktop printer you are throwing away. To throw away the last desktop printer icon, you must select a printer in the Chooser that does not support desktop printing. Managing Printing ----------------- If background printing is turned on for the printer you are using, you can use desktop printing to manage print jobs. You perform tasks with the Printing menu that appears when you select a desktop printer. You perform other tasks by using the desktop printer window that opens when you double-click a desktop printer icon. To manage printing using the Printing menu The Printing menu appears to the right of the Special menu when you select a desktop printer icon. Using the Printing menu you can do the following: * Choose Start Print Queue to restart printing. Note: You need to choose Start Print Queue to restart printing if you click the Stop Queue button in a printer alert message. * Choose Stop Print Queue to stop printing all of your documents. The icon of the printer indicates that you have stopped printing. * Choose Get Printer Info to see information about the printer. (Only available for some printers.) * Choose Change Setup to change the setup of the printer. (Only available for some printers. You can change the setup of other printers using the Chooser.) * Choose Show Manual Feed Alert to turn the manual alert on or off. * Choose Set Default Printer to select the printer as the default printer, if it isn't selected already. To manage printing using the desktop printer window Double-click a desktop printer icon to open its window. The name of the document currently printing and status messages about the current print job appear in the upper box. The status messages can help you troubleshoot a printing issue. When you are printing more than one document, a list of the print jobs appears in the lower box. If this list is sorted by the Print Time column, it shows the order in which the documents will be printed. Using the desktop printer window, you can do the following tasks: * To change the sort order of the print job list, click the title of the column by which you want to sort. The column title by which the list is sorted is underlined. For example, to sort by the name of the document, click Document Name. Note: Changing the sort order of the print jobs does not change the order in which they will print. To see that order, click the Print Time heading. * To cancel printing a document, select the print job in the list and click the Remove button. You can also drag the print job from the window to the Trash icon on the desktop. Note: These methods do not delete the document itself. * To put printing a document on hold, select the print job in the list and click the Hold Job button. You can also put the document that's currently printing on hold by dragging it to the print job list. * To resume printing a document, select the print job and click the Resume Job button. * To print a document immediately, select the print job and put it on hold. Next, click the Set Print Time icon button and select Urgent in the dialog box that appears, then click OK. You can also drag the print job to the top of the print job list or to the area reserved for the currently printing job. * To schedule printing, select a print job and click the Set Print Time button. In the Set Print Time dialog box, click At Time and set the time you want. Then click OK. * To change the print order, drag the name of a print job up or down in the print job list. * To print the document using another desktop printer, drag the print job to the icon of the other desktop printer. That printer becomes the default printer. You can only move a print job to another printer of the same type. For example, you can't move a print job from a LaserWriter printer to a StyleWriter printer. * To stop printing all documents, hold down the Option and Shift keys and click the Hold Job button. You can also choose Stop Print Queue from the Printing menu. * To start printing documents, hold down the Option and Shift keys and click the Resume Job button. You can also choose Start Print Queue from the Printing menu. Turning Off Desktop Printing ---------------------------- If you don't want to use desktop printers, you can turn off Desktop PrintMonitor using the Extensions Manager control panel. IMPORTANT Before you turn off Desktop PrintMonitor, be sure that all documents have finished printing. If there are documents waiting to print that you do not want to print, you can cancel printing as described in the previous section on this document. To turn off Desktop PrintMonitor, follow these steps: 1. Open the Extensions Manager control panel. 2. Click the boxes next to these extensions to remove the X: * Desktop PrintMonitor * Desktop Printer Extension * Desktop Printer Spooler * Desktop Printer Menu extensions 3. Click the close box to close the control panel. 4. If your computer has a Control Strip, drag the Printer Selector file from the Control Strip Modules folder in the System Folder to the Trash. 5. Restart your computer. Support and Compatibility Information ------------------------------------- * Some third-party printers do not support desktop printing. If no desktop printer icon is created after you select your printer in the Chooser, it is likely that your printer does not support Desktop PrintMonitor. Please contact the vendor of your printer to see if there is a version of the print driver that is compatible with Desktop PrintMonitor. * When you choose Save or Open in an application and look at files and folders on the desktop, desktop printers appear in the list as if they are folders. Do not save documents in a desktop printer "folder." If you do, you will not be able to access the document in the Finder. IMPORTANT If you save a document in a desktop printer "folder," use the Save As command to save the document in a different location as soon as possible. Note: You cannot remove a document that you save in a desktop printer icon. If you want to delete the document, throw away the desktop printer icon and select the printer in the Chooser again. * Desktop PrintMonitor supports drag-and-drop printing for all files that cause the Print command in the File menu to become available. Since clipping files do not make the Print command available, they cannot be dragged to a desktop printer icon for printing. * Apple's Fax Sender software is not supported by Desktop PrintMonitor. Fax Sender is fully functional when Desktop PrintMonitor is installed; however, it does not use Desktop PrintMonitor's features. IMPORTANT When you select Fax Sender in the Chooser, you will not have a default desktop printer until you select a printer icon and choose Set Default Printer from the Printing menu. Troubleshooting Tips -------------------- Issue: When you try to print, the spool file for the print job is moved to the Trash and an alert message appears saying that the desktop printer could not be found. Solution 1: It's possible that the desktop printer icon is damaged. To fix this, drag the desktop printer icon to the Trash and reselect the printer in the Chooser. A new desktop printer icon will be created. Solution 2: If your printer software is not published by Apple Computer or Adobe Systems, it may not be compatible with Desktop PrintMonitor. If this is the case, turn off Desktop PrintMonitor (as described earlier in this document) and use an older version of PrintMonitor. Issue: When you drag documents created by different software applications to your desktop printer icon, a message appears that says there is not enough memory to continue. Solution: Because the application used to create a document opens when you print the document, your computer must have enough random-access memory (RAM) available to open all of the programs for the documents you are printing. To resolve this situation, print your documents individually or in smaller groups. Issue: You are using a LaserWriter 300 and the "Out of Paper" message doesn't go away automatically after you add paper to the printer. Solution: If you are using Desktop PrintMonitor with the LaserWriter 300 driver, the "Out of Paper" message will not go away automatically after you add paper to the printer. The only way to work around this issue is to turn off Desktop PrintMonitor as described earlier in this document and use an older version of PrintMonitor. Issue: Documents printed on a Color StyleWriter do not have the correct colors after you put printing on hold and then resumed printing. Solution: To avoid this issue, always resume printing on page one. |
| Document Information | |
| Product Area: | Computers |
| Category: | Power Macintosh |
| Sub Category: | Power Macintosh 9600 |
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