Illustrator CS virtual memory allocation

[BothamSLove]

Hi everyone,
New to the group, so forgive any web faux-pas that seem to upset some people. I'm having trouble writing an .eps file with Illustrator CS. I keep getting the error message -1309 which I believe indicates a lack of virtual memory or temporary disk space. However, since I've recently upgraded to OS X.3.7, I have no idea how to up the allocation for Ill CS, and Mac help usefully tells me how to do this only for OS 9.
BTW is anyone else finding OSX a pain in the ...? I never had as many problems with previous OS in the 6 years I've been usin Macs professionally, and in the past 3 months, NIGHTMARE!
Cheers all just for reading; all help appreciated (my deadlines are getting ridiculous!)

Botham

 

[jimoblak]

OSX does not manage memory like OS9 so you will not be able to adjust this setting for Illustrator.

At what moment do you see this error message? What is the full text of the message?

OSX requires a little learning but it is the best operating system that I have used.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[dodge20]

All Macintosh applications use a preset amount of RAM. You can view the default amount of RAM assigned
to Illustrator by clicking the Illustrator application icon and choosing File > Get Info. Then choose Memory
for Show to view the Suggested (minimum RAM allocation recommended by Adobe), Minimum (matches
Suggested setting by default), and Preferred amount of RAM. The Preferred amount is what your system
will allocate to Illustrator at launch, if that amount is available. Increasing the Preferred amount typically
improves performance—for example, if you have 128 MB of RAM installed, allocating half of it to Illustrator
can really help in special projects where speed matters a lot. You can then adjust that allocation when you
need to run other programs.
To change the memory allocation, close Illustrator. Then click the program icon, choose File > Get Info,
select Memory from the Show popup menu, and enter a new amount for Preferred. When you close the Get
Info window and launch Illustrator again, it uses the new memory partition.

Dodge20

 

[jimoblak]

dodge20, Illustrator CS is OSX-only. BothamSLove already knows about the memory allocation in OS9.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[dodge20]

Sorry you are right, OS X uses dynamic memory allocation. So it takes as much as it needs.

Check the activity monitor to see where all your memory is going.

Dodge20

 

[jmgalvin]

I have not had any problems creating eps with Ill CS - OSX.

I don't know whether you're using the Save As command or the Export command - for saving legacy Ill versions. You might try using the command different from the one you're using.

Under OSX you should get an application crash - not a numerical error code like Classic. Make sure that you're not running Classic (although I've had no problems) and see if you get the same error. Also try exporting to some other formats and see if the problem exists with those formats. If this problem exists across the board, something is bothced up in the app.

Just like Classic, your app preferences can get botched up. They're located in your User/library/Preferences folder. You might try trashing the Ill prefs. OSX will create a new Prefs folder upon launching Ill - just like Classic. Of course you can also try reloading ILL.

You might find some problems creating PDFs directly out if Ill CS. You can check the specificis on Adobe's website - suggesting saving as EPS or printing a PS file for Distiller.

I thought OSX was a PITA too when I first started using it, but it's actually much better than Classic. It does like a lot of RAM. I use 1.25 gigs of RAM on a G4 1.25. I almost always have Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, and Acrobat pro running at the smae time, along with Safari, Word, & Entourage, with no problems whatsoever.