Memory Use and TFP V16

[garystan]

     Hi TFP :

                My question is about Memory Use when using TFP V.16.   I have several projects in the Projects Folder.  When I open TFP, and select a project to work on (or finish), THAT project is the only taking up memory space (other than the TFP software) ?  Correct ?    And.....the  (unselected) other projects, being they're in the Projects Folder, on my Hard Drive, are just  "in storage" (on the Hard Drive), not consuming memory ?  Am I correct in assuming this.   I just want to make sure I've got the correct information.    The reason I ask is that I have a number of projects on my Hard Drive.  Usually, when a project is complete, I  make a backup copy to disk.
                                                                                 garystan

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Garystan,

In very simple terms you are right but it depends how you use term memory. Your hard disk is often referred to as memory also and could have say 500 Gb. Each TFP file you save to the hard disk will use some of that memory, maybe 1-20Mb depending on the size of the project. Some additional space (memory) is used in addition to this for textures and photoboards but these are in other folders on your computer and are shared by all your different projects. All that is static hard disk memory or storage as you called it.

When you open TFP the program itself loads up and now uses your computer's Random Access Memory (RAM). This may be anything from 1 to 8Gb or even more. The more the better in a way as it give the program freedom to move without having to keep moving some data back and forth from the hard disk and hence slowing things down. When you open a TFP project, this also gets loaded up into the RAM and if you have other programs open, (eg email, internet etc) these are also occupying some of your computers RAM too. If this random memory is limited, then things can run slowly and that is why it is recommended that TFP be used without other programs open, as some of the TFP processes use a lot of this random memory.

When you close a project, it is removed from the random memory and replaces what you had on your hard disk memory as the latest copy, maybe increasing slightly the amount of hard disk memory it needs to store the project. If you make a backup copy, then that doubles up the storage memory used. When the program itself is closed, the RAM is no longer being used by TFP and it free to be used by other programs.

I am not a computer wizard by any means but that is how I understand it. Others may want to clarify or correct my explanation if I have not explained something correctly - please feel free to do so if that is the case. Otherwise I hope that explains what you wanted to know.

Allan

[garystan]

    Allan :

                  Thanks.  I figured that's the way things went.  I just needed verification.   By saving a backup copy to disk,  (just for clarity) I was referring to CD-RW or DVD-RW disks.    Anyway.....thanks.

                                                                                        garystan