As you’re discovering, the actual height that the machine can accomodate is less than 2".
My tray is also about 1.37", and with a focus range of .5", that means the max height “technically” is 1.87" - but you can fool the focus process a little.
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I’m not crazy for / trusting this ‘set focus’. Because every time I refocus, I have to adjust the image size & placement. I would much rather enter my focus manually. So, if the program will only allow .001 - .5 as you say… if I enter .5 would the program understand .5 to be a 2" item?
So how can I fool the focus process to accommodate a 2" item then (that Glowforge says is the maximum - but not really obviously)? Because the set focus changes every time I try it - how can I trust that the image I am trying to engrave is actually in the right place and the correct size??
You have to set to the max it will accept, then test - on a piece of sacrificial material. Even tape, with reduced power, will often suffice.
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Inputting .5" for something close to 2" would probably be a good place to start.
Yup yup, like @eflyguy said, test it. There are various ways to test and the tape on it with a low setting is a great way. What is the application of what you are trying to print? Is it the only one of that specific 8x8 pan and has an irreplaceable value and so you want to nail it on the first print?
Being able to nail the correct size and setting of a material and design on the first try is a skill you learn and get better at (yet realize you still won’t always get it right). Testing is an interactive way to understand. We can all recommend tips. What background level are you at with printing without the crumb tray? Is this the first print without one? Only asking so we can make sure and offer the best recourses to get to the next level.
The set focus will work properly if you use it (making sure to hit the surface where you want it) and then place the design where you want it.
If you choose a focus height of .5 and the dish is 1.87 then the focus will be off since 0 would be the surface of the tray (1.37).
I’ve engraved many items without the crumb tray. The deepest so far would be a pie plate at 1.86. So, with my crumb tray being 1.37, it makes sense that it worked for me since my focus would have been .49. This item is 1.99". I thought it would work since it is under the 2 inches, but obviously not.
So far, I have tried auto focus and a setting of .5 (just because) - and it engraved nothing. I may just have to pitch this idea…disappointing though. Too bad they couldn’t have made these machines just a bit deeper to allow thicker materials. 
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Don’t pitch it! I engrave on curets that for sure are pushing the limit. It’s doable but I have to usually do a few refocuses to get it. I have been able to get ones just over 2” to engrave to the quality level I had to lower for its height. Just had to make sure the assist never passed over the item. I have found a lot of item like what you are talking about just have basic quality control leaving the factory. If you have more then one try then try the other trays. I have an “I will get to you later” box for stuff that might not be to the exact as advertised size.
So, what do you enter for a 2" (or just under) item?
Just to be clear, you are not engraving a pie plate that is 1.86" deep, you are engraving the bottom without a lip.
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I am engraving an 8x8" square baking dish. I have it upside down to engrave on the bottom (have the image flipped horizontally so that it can be read through from the top. This is how I do all my glass items (showing the engrave pattern through from the bottom). I have measured the pan from top to very bottom (not from top to inside bottom).
So I am just telling you what I do and not saying that it is the ‘glowforge way’. I order in cases of these curets:
They are listed at 1 7/8"…but there certainly are some that are pushing it. Sooooooo (again, just what I do for my use case) I have the GF focus just a little more towards the neck of the curet and so I do know the value the GF reads will not be the true value. But, I am not printing the mona lisa on the curet and so I am fine with a lower quality result. I have only had a GF a year and a half and so I am sure there are so many factors I am over looking but it gets results I am okay with and I am not trying to build a business on the results.
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The engraving should absolutely work on this item and a focus height near .49" should work if the auto focus doesn’t work. Are you entering the height in the material or in the interface after toggling on the manual switch?
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I was entering the height in the material section.
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Try in the operation interface.
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Thanks for all your help. 
The .49 manual setting worked for me. I did ruin one of my pans, but thankfully I had a second! 
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In the future, you could always just measure directly using this free tool.
If it fits, it prints…
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Thanks! 
I’ll give this a try!