Why is my iMac 27" slowing down with Sierra?

I always forget to 'CONTROL THE FONTS'. I use FontExplorer Pro to ensure I have only the fonts needed for the job. I have forgotten to re-arrange my font folders so that System Font numbers are minimised and FontExplorer only loads needed fonts. I am about to do this long task but I am sure it will solve one of the main issues. For details of managing fonts in Mac OS X see Kurt Lang's site and information http://www.jklstudios.com/misc/osxfonts.html

Before I ran EtreCheck I re-organised my font folders. At this stage InDesign is the only app beachballing and only on its panels when selected. I will use the EtreCheck results to remove a few items and hopefully this will clear up the problem.

Thanks for the heads up. EtreCheck produced the following info:

EtreCheck version: 3.0.4 (308)

Report generated 2016-09-22 15:09:54

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:58

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Show signature failures: Enabled

Problem: Beachballing

Description:

Adobe Indesign CS6

Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac13,2

1 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

32 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: Unknown

Video Information: ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX - VRAM: 2048 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

DELL 1907FP 1024 x 1280 @ 60 Hz

System Software: ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: about one hour

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Tardis (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (1.93 TB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online

APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Tardis (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (1.93 TB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online

USB Information: ⓘ

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

GenesysLogic USB3.0 Hub

Seagate FA GoFlex Desk

GenesysLogic USB2.0 Hub

Seagate FreeAgent

Samsung M3 Portable Samsung M3 Portable

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Apple Inc. Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/sudoers, File size 2299 but expected 1563

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Library/Application Support/Roxio

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (1.7 - 2015-07-12) [Support]

/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.FTDI.driver.D2XXHelper (1.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.paragon-software.filesystems.ntfs (14.2.359 - SDK 10.5 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.sophos.kext.oas (9.5.50 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.sophos.nke.swi (9.5.52 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Belcarra.iokit.USBLAN_netpart (3.1.1 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.Belcarra.iokit.USBLAN_usbpart (3.1.1 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.RemoteControl.USBLAN.usbpart (3.1.1 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (ZTEDriver_MacV1.3.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (ZTEDriver_MacV1.3.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avatron.AVExFramebuffer (1.7 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avatron.AVExVideo (1.7 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.deepseasoftware.driver.CDSDAudioCaptureSupport (1.1.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.eltima.SyncMate.kext (0.2.4b14 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.lexar.iokit.IOSCSILexarCommandsDevice (1.0.5 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDevice (2.0.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (2.0.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.0.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.tomtom.driver.UsbEthernetGadget (1.0.0d1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.10-2 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/OlympusDSCDriver.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamFWSerialBusProtocolTransport (2.0.0 - 2006-12-01) [Support]

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamUSBMassStorageClass (2.0.0 - 2006-12-01) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.0.1 - 2015-07-03) [Support]

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.0.1 - 2015-07-03) [Support]

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.0.1 - 2015-07-03) [Support]

Startup Items: ⓘ

FanControlDaemon: Path: /Library/StartupItems/FanControlDaemon

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 6 Apple tasks

[loaded] 164 Apple tasks

[running] 101 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.apple.emlog.plist (2016-07-31) - Invalid signature!

[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-26) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[loaded] org.postfix.master.plist (2015-08-23)

[not loaded] 37 Apple tasks

[loaded] 162 Apple tasks

[running] 102 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-08-27) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-16) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (2016-06-14) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[failed] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist (2012-12-29) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[failed] com.docudesk.deskpdf.userdaemon.plist (2011-11-16) [Support] - No signature!

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-09-12) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2015-07-03) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.paragon-software.NTFS.fsnotify.agent.plist (2016-07-04) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[loaded] com.paragon-software.facebook.agent.plist (2016-07-04) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[loaded] com.paragon.updater.plist (2016-07-04) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist (2010-03-11) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.sophos.uiserver.plist (2016-09-16) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (2016-07-23) [Support] - Invalid signature!

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[running] cn.com.zte.PPPMonitor.plist (2009-02-09) [Support] - No signature!

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2013-11-20) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist (2016-08-27) [Support]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2016-08-19) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-30) [Support] - No signature!

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist (2013-11-28) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2016-09-21) [Support]

[loaded] com.bresink.system.privilegedhelper-tts.plist (2016-09-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.bresink.system.securityagent3a.plist (2014-07-26) [Support]

[running] com.freemacsoft.appcleanerd.plist (2014-05-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-12) [Support]

[running] com.linotype.FontExplorerX.securityhelper.plist (2015-10-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist (2015-03-30) [Support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (2016-05-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support] - No signature!

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2015-07-03) [Support] - Shell script!

[running] com.paragon-software.NTFS.fsnotify.daemon.plist (2016-07-04) [Support] - No signature!

[loaded] com.paragon.NTFS.launch.plist (2016-07-04)

[running] com.sophos.common.servicemanager.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]

[running] com.tclementdev.timemachineeditor.scheduler.plist (2016-01-24) [Support]

[running] com.wacom.TabletHelper.plist (2016-07-23) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[loaded] com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (2016-07-23)

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2010-05-27) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2012-10-19) [Support] - Invalid signature!

[not loaded] com.linotype.FontFolderProtector.plist (2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2016-08-14)

User Login Items: ⓘ

ShortcutObserver Application (/Applications/Shortcuts/Shortcuts.app/Contents/MacOS/ShortcutObserver.app)

GeekTool Helper Application (/Applications/GeekTool.app/Contents/PlugIns/GeekTool.prefPane/Contents/Resourc es/GeekTool Helper.app)

MenuCalendarClock iCal Application (/Applications/Utilities/MenuCalendarClock iCal.app)

iTunesHelper Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

ShortcutObserver32 Application (/Applications/Shortcuts/Shortcuts32.app/Contents/MacOS/ShortcutObserver32.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

FontExplorer X Pro Application (/Applications/FontExplorer X Pro.app)

DiskWarriorDaemonStarter Application (/Applications/Utilities/DiskWarrior.app/Contents/Helpers/DiskWarriorStarter.ap p)

CCC User Agent Application (/Applications/Utilities/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC User Agent.app)

CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)

Google Drive Application (/Applications/Google Drive.app)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.app/Contents/Helpers/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

Dashlane Application (/Applications/Dashlane.app)

Google Chrome Application (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)

MenuMetersApp Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/MenuMeters.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MenuMetersApp. app)

Stickies Application (/Applications/Stickies.app)

Launch Nikon Message Center 2 Application (/Applications/Nikon Software/Nikon Message Center 2/Nikon Message Center 2.app/Contents/SharedSupport/Launch Nikon Message Center 2.app)

MacUpdate Desktop Application Hidden (/Applications/MacUpdate Desktop.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-06) [Support]

Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-15) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-06) [Support]

AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 (2014-11-22) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2015-07-03)

MRJPlugin: 1.0-JEP-0.9.7.3 (2012-12-29) [Support]

PepperFlashPlayer: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-15) [Support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown

RL Secure Plug-In Layer: Unknown - SDK 10.5 (2015-11-30) [Support]

DirectorShockwave: 12.1.0r150 - SDK 10.6 (2014-03-10) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)

FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-15) [Support]

AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2016-08-27) [Support]

VLC Plugin: 2.2.4 (2016-06-03) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.50709.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-09-15) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2015-06-03) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.3.7.3 - SDK 10.7 (2016-02-04) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.6 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-28) [Support]

WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-23) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 102 build 14 (2016-08-05) Check version

WacomNetscape: 1.1.1-1 (2012-12-29) [Support]

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

RocketEngine: Unknown - SDK 10.5 (2015-11-30) [Support]

UploadManager: Unknown - SDK 10.5 (2015-11-30) [Support]

nprevweb: 4.0.0.950 (2009-11-22) [Support]

ContentManager: Unknown - SDK 10.5 (2015-11-30) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-08) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

TinEye - TinEye - https://tineye.com (2016-09-22)

WOT - WOT Services Ltd - http://www.mywot.com/ (2016-09-22)

Exposer - Calle Gustafsson - http://maypril.se/safariextensions/ (2010-07-31)

Print Plus - Slice Factory - http://slicefactory.com (2011-03-18)

MouseGestures - Kai Straßmann - http://extensions.cbot-gsm.de (2010-07-31)

Dashlane - Dashlane Inc. - http://www.dashlane.com (2016-07-08)

AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-09-22)

Wolfram Toolbar - Wolfram Research - http://www.wolfram.com (2011-02-11)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

FinderPop (2015-10-16) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-08-30) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2016-02-04) [Support]

Java (2016-08-05) [Support]

MacFUSE (Tuxera) (2012-12-29) [Support]

MenuMeters (2015-10-07) [Support]

Paragon NTFS for Mac® (2016-07-19) [Support]

Perian (2013-12-11) [Support]

WacomTablet (2016-07-23) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Tardis: Disk size: 3.11 TB Disk used: 1.19 TB

Destinations:

Time Machine 2TB [Local]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 60

Oldest backup: 3/1/16, 12:03 am

Last backup: 22/9/16, 12:17 am

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 2.00 TB < (Disk used 1.19 TB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

7% SophosScanD

6% WindowServer

5% MenuMetersApp

4% Adobe InDesign CS6

4% Google Chrome Helper(16)

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

2.53 GB Google Chrome Helper(16)

1.86 GB kernel_task

1.02 GB mds_stores

786 MB mdworker(18)

557 MB Adobe InDesign CS6

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

17.00 GB Free RAM

15.00 GB Used RAM (5.33 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Sep 22, 2016, 02:04:33 PM Self test - passed

Sep 22, 2016, 01:16:34 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Adobe InDesign CS6_2016-09-22-131634_[redacted].hang

/Applications/Adobe InDesign CS6/Adobe InDesign CS6.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe InDesign CS6

Sep 22, 2016, 10:38:19 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WacomTabletDriver_2016-09-22-103819_[redacted]. crash

com.wacom.ProfessionalTablet - /Library/Application Support/Tablet/WacomTabletDriver.app/Contents/MacOS/WacomTabletDriver

Sep 22, 2016, 10:37:38 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WacomTabletDriver_2016-09-22-103738_[redacted]. crash

Sep 21, 2016, 04:47:48 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/photoFXlab_2016-09-21-164748_[redacted].crash

??? - /Applications/Topaz Labs/photoFXlab.app/Contents/MacOS/photoFXlab

Sep 21, 2016, 04:46:51 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/photoFXlab_2016-09-21-164651_[redacted].crash

Sep 20, 2016, 05:30:21 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/garcon_2016-09-20-173021_[redacted].crash

com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon - /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/PlugIns/garcon.appex/Contents/MacOS/garcon

Sep 19, 2016, 07:49:51 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.security.pboxd_2016-09-19-194951_[re dacted].crash

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/RemoteViewServices.framework/XPCServices/com. apple.security.pboxd.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.security.pboxd

I also asked this question on Adobe forums for InDesign and Mac. This is part of the answer and comes from https://forums.adobe.com/message/9023243#9023243

I have got InDesign CS6 to work with macOS Sierra but have to allow time for the panels to work. You are correct about it not being supported from El Capitan onwards. However, I noted this info on Apple Community support byJimmyCMPIT's Profile | Communities :

CS6 and 10.11 have not been claimed by Adobe to be compatible at this time.

Some here have claimed to be able to use CS6 in 10.11 without incident, others haven't.

What you can try is

a) launch the InDesign application from the applications folder (this will not work on a shortcut or the dock icon)while holding down SHIFT+CTRL+OPT+CMD

this will reset the preferences

b) try using the application from a newly created account that has administrative rights

c) reinstall the CS6 package and if the application asks for JAVA use this version:

Java for OS X 2015-001

d) roll back to an instance of your computer where the OS and the Application were stable if you have a time machine backup of that point in time.

I have completed a, b and c and removed a few suggested apps that eat memory and cpu time. It has improved but not totally fixed the problem. I can now work with it with a modicum of patience.

Having done some more research this afternoon on memory management and Sierra I have discovered that woodmeister50 had given me a great lead. I opened Activity Monitor and TinkerToolSystem 5 and ran a few tests looking at memory usage. TTS5 revealed the following:

So I removed any low priority and overly greedy login items from my system and a few hardly-used 3rd party System Preference Panes. The result still registered as FAIR but now IDCS6 works as it did before with no noticeable delays. I guess I have come up with an answer for my problem.