SchoolLeader is a Client/Server, Windows based, database management system. All these aspects combined result in a system that needs a good amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) to perform properly.
The RAM memory in your computer is the internal "thinking" memory that is actively used by the computer to perform calculations and make decisions. It should not be confused with the Hard Disk memory which is used for "storing" information and programs when they are not being used. This "RAM" memory is also needed for holding all the graphical images while they are being displayed on your monitor, among other things.
If you wish to have SchoolLeader windows "pop up" quickly when selecting different options, you can use this window to instruct SchoolLeader to leave the programs in memory even after you close the window. For example, if you go in and out of the Student Folder constantly throughout the day, you might want to tell SchoolLeader to have this window "stay resident on close". If that is done, the Student Folder will not need to reload all the programs everytime that window selected for viewing. The only downside is extra memory usage. The memory used by the Student Folder would not be freed up when you close the window.
There are three basic aspects of SchoolLeader memory usage that you can manage with this window. Each can be used separately or together to control your memory resources as follows.
When your workstation is accessing information on the database, the SchoolLeader Database engine is constantly loading and storing that information in RAM. It does this under the assumption that information accessed once is often accessed again in short order. "Caching" this retrieved information in RAM helps improve performance by reducing the need to return to the relatively slow Hard Disk to retrieve the information subsequent times. However, this comes with a price - RAM memory usage. This can be a problem if you are low on RAM memory.
To effect this RAM usage in your favor you can predefine the maximum number of kilobytes that SchoolLeader can use for "Caching" database information. If you are experiencing memory shortages then it is recommended that you initially try setting the maximum to 2048 Kilobytes (2 megabytes). If you still have problems lower it steadily to the minimum of 512K (1/2 Megabyte).
Rule: Setting the Max Buffer Size to Zero (0) tells SchoolLeader to use as much as it needs. This is the default setting.
Loading Windows information during the "Initial" startup of SchoolLeader can be faster than loading the information "as it is needed" when the individual windows are selected for viewing from the Main Menu. However, if you are low on memory then pre-loading graphics and data into RAM can cause problems. Select or Unselect the primary windows which you want loaded (or not loaded) during startup.
Note: The more windows you select at startup the longer it will take to initially load SchoolLeader. Only pre-load windows that you typically will use during your session.
Typically when you complete a task you will close the Window(s) that are open to clear the monitor of clutter. This is a typical practice (e.g. Closing the Guardian Folder after posting a payment). However, when you close a window SchoolLeader will not always remove the graphical information or window data from memory because it knows that any window you have opened before is more likely to be opened again in the very near future. Keeping the windows information in memory helps to improve the performance and makes subsequent "reloads" of the window very fast. The drawback to this technique is that more demand is placed on your computer as each window is opened, since the memory they require is never released after the window is closed. For computers with limited RAM memory this can cause a problem over time.
To avoid this problem you can use this set of Check boxes and "unselect" the main system windows which you do not want to "stay resident in memory" after being closed. With this option turned off the memory stored for the window will be "flushed" once the window is closed. It will make subsequent reloads of the window slower but it will prevent your computer from running out of RAM memory.