MacInstall

Mac OSX Install

Download

XTrackCad is available from SourceForge

See #%_for download instructions

Note the binary is compiled for Intel, but the emulation built into OSX at the Ventura level and up allows the program to work well on modern Arm (M1/M2/M3/M4) Macs as well.

Preparing the Mac to run XTrackCAD

To run XTrackCAD you first need to install XQuartz -> the open-source version of X11.

• Go to [[http://www.xquartz.org xquartz.org:_ [DownloadInstall]]#%] and download the installer and run it to completion - it takes a couple of minutes so some patience is required.
• Once you have installed it you need to logoff and on (or restart the Mac) once to allow the X system to be fully enabled. If you forget this, XQuartz will be unable to provide a "Display" to the application, meaning it will fail to start. Other install instructions for XQuartz are on that same web site. You can start it by itself and run XTerm with in it (right-click on the running X icon) to test your install.
• If you have disabled XQuartz previously, for a previous OS level, a complete uninstall and re-install is the easiest way to get going, and this re-install is always needed after a OSX version upgrade. First drag the XQuartz app icon to the waste basket, then right click to empty it. Then follow the above instructions.
• Rarely that does not work, and you may need to "kick" the installation by removing XQuartz from launchctl. Please go to the support forum and ask there.

Installing XtrackCAD on OSX

Note that latest updates to OSX 15.7 (Sequoia), and any versions of OSX 10.15 Catalina and up, contain extra security precautions that discriminate against programs that did not come from the App Store. Please read these instructions as they have changed as a result.

• Got to System Settings->Security and Privacy, General Tab and look at the allow Apps Downloaded From - this should be set to "App Store and Identified Developers" - if it isn't unlock the tab by clicking on the lock at the bottom left - enter password, set the radio button and click Apply.
• Open the .dmg package from SourceForge #%[DownloadInstall]#%. You will see the application icon and a shortcut to the /Applications folder.
• OSX will try to get you to stop downloading/installing with a series of challenges that invite you not to use the download. These prompts vary by OSX level. Select the options to continue to use it.
• Drag the application onto the shortcut and it will be copied into the Application folder, maybe after another discouraging prompt.
• In OSX 13.1 Ventura and up,
  • After you have successfully installed XQuartz and dragged the XTrackCAD application into the Applications folder, you will find that when you try to open it, XTrackCAD will fail to start on OSX 13.1 and above__. This is because it is not signed by the App Store and Apple is trying to protect you from malware.
    
  • So, after you told OSX to open the file even though it was downloaded and installed, once OSX has verified the program; you will then immediately need to go to System Preferences->Security & Privacy and there you will see a button next to a description of XTrackCAD labelled "Run Anyway". (To enable it you may first need to click on the lock icon at the bottom of the window and sign in). Press that button, and XTrackCAD should now be able to be started without issue.
    
    
  • As you start to use the program when you touch "protected" folders, you will be asked if you want to give XTrackCAD access. Say yes.
• In OSX 10.14 Mojave up until OSX 12.6 Monterey,
  • Create a folder under your user home directory to house your layout files in Finder -> you can call this whatever you want, but we suggest XTrackCAD.
  • Copy any layout files you want to use into the new folder from wherever you stored them. This is because in Catalina and above, the normal Downloads and Documents folders are protected against access by non-app store programs like XTrackCAD.
  • To start the program for the first time in Catalina and above after install, please Right-Click on the icon in Finder and select Open. You will be prompted to make sure you want to allow this program to run. Double clicking on the icon will not work (fail silently) until this step has completed once.
• For OSX 10.10 up until 10.13 High Sierra,
  • After you have successfully installed XQuartz and dragged the XTrackCAD application into the Applications folder, you will find that when you try to open it, XTrackCAD will fail to start on OSX 10.10 and above__. This is because it did not come from the App Store and Apple is trying to protect you from malware.
  • So, after you told OSX to open the file even though it was downloaded, once OSX has verified the program; you will then need to go to System Preferences->Security & Privacy and there you will see a button next to a description of XTrackCAD labelled "Run Anyway". (To enable it you may first need to click on the lock icon at the bottom of the window and sign in). Press that button, and XTrackCAD should now be able to be started without issue.

When the program starts, the first noticeable item should be that XQuartz starts up (icon in the runbar). If this does not happen, please re-read the instructions on installing XQuartz above.

Note V5.3 has been tested on Sequoia

Note V5.2 has been tested on Mojave and Catalina and Ventura as a 64-bit application - and these OSX levels will only run the 64bit level.

There is a 32-bit version of V5.1 for users of older versions of OSX on old 32-bit hardware in the 5.1.2 folder on SourceForge. This package is provided on a "use at your own risk" basis as it has not been tested extensively.

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