Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 4/7/2009

Question
Oh, that looks like it might do the trick. How do i implement an increase of memory usage for Illustrator though?

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  Hi John,

Based on what you are telling me it sounds like she is running out of memory on her computer. Normally it is because not enough is allocated to Illustrator and the app is maxed out. This can happen when you are working on very complex files, larger placed images, or a lot of font activated by Suitcase.

Since we have tried everything else, here is my last resort -

Try allocating more via the Performance Monitor in the Control Panels. Illustrator's default memory allocation is set to around 40% of your available memory. Increase it 5% at a time and see if this helps. If she is maxing out the App. memory and not the system memory, then this may help. If however, you see that she is maxing out of system memory in total and there is no more to allocate, you need to look at other apps running and no. of fonts activated.

Thanks

Kevin

Answer
Hi John,

Quit all applications.
Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel and double-click System.
Click the Advanced tab and then select Settings in the Performance section.
Click the Advanced tab, and in the Virtual memory section, click Change.
From the Drive list, select a hard drive that has 1.5 times the amount of your computer's installed RAM. For example, if your computer has 512 MB of RAM, select a hard drive that has at least 1 GB of free hard drive space, or 768 MB for Windows XP. For best performance, choose a hard drive not used for the Photoshop scratch disk(s).
In the Paging File Size for Selected Drive section, select Custom size (Windows XP only), and in the Initial Size box, enter a value equal to the twice the amount of your computer's installed RAM.
In the Maximum Size box, enter a value equal to four times the amount of your computer's installed RAM.
Click Set and then click OK.

Thanks

Kevin