Operating System Changes with System 7.1.2 & Power Mac

ID: Q117595

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b, 2.5c
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b
• Microsoft FoxBASE+ for Macintosh, version 2.01
• Microsoft File for Macintosh, version 2.0a

SUMMARY

With the introduction of the Power Macintosh, Apple has released version 7.1.2 of the system software. System 7.1.2 has some new features and enhancements that may confuse users unfamiliar with the new operating system when they are performing standard troubleshooting tests. The purpose of this article is to document the differences between System 7.1 and System 7.1.2.

MORE INFORMATION

Below is a list of the new features, enhancements, and modifications found in System 7.1.2. Note that this list may not be complete.

• In the Memory Control Panel, the option to enable or disable 32-bit addressing has been replaced with an option to turn the Modern Memory Manager On or Off. Since all Power Macintoshes ship with a minimum of 8 MB of RAM, 32-bit addressing is always enabled. The Modern Memory Manager must be turned On in order to run "native" Power Macintosh applications. The option to turn off the Modern Memory Manager is provided in order to maintain compatibility with older Macintosh applications.
• Owners of machines with a Motorola 68040 processor can use the Cache Switch Control Panel to enable or disable the on-chip caching of the processor in order to improve performance with System 7.1. However, the Cache Switch Control Panel cannot be used with the Power Macintosh.
• If a Power Macintosh upgrade card is installed in a Motorola 680x0- based machine, there will be a Power Macintosh Card Control Panel that can be used to enable or disable the card.
• Under System 7.1, a text editor called TeachText is provided. Under System 7.1.2, the SimpleText editor is provided instead.
• Under System 7.1.2, there is a new Control Panel called PC Exchange, which makes it easy to exchange documents between Macintosh and MS-DOS-based or Windows-based computers. This Control Panel is superior in many ways to Apple File Exchange (AFE) because it can format floppy disks for MS-DOS and can associate MS-DOS files that have MS-DOS-style extensions (suffixes) with Macintosh applications and document types. Note also that the PC Exchange Control Panel is memory resident, unlike AFE, and will be disabled if the Macintosh is started without extensions.
• Minor changes have also been made to the Monitors and Sound Control Panels.

REFERENCES

Power Macintosh Upgrade Card "User's Guide"