FAQs on running Netica on a Mac

What is CrossOver and why do I need to install it to run Netica?

To get Netica to work on your Mac, you’ll need to install a compatibility layer for running Windows programs. There are several possibilities (see below), but we have found that CrossOver is one of the least expensive and easiest-to-use options. It will allow Netica to run with full speed and capability.

Why am I downloading a trial version of CrossOver?

Codeweavers offers a 30 day full featured version of CrossOver, so you can try it out for free and get support along the way. Once you’re satisfied with its performance on your Mac, you can purchase it for $39.95 (which goes to support the open-source development).

Are there alternative options to using CrossOver?

There are other options for running Windows-based programs on your Mac, such as Parallels, VMware Fusion, and Apple Bootcamp. Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages. Netica works well on all of them. These other solutions will enable you to run a wider variety of Windows programs but are more expensive and larger.

This differentiation chart may be helpful in making your decision and there are many other reviews online.

What about WINE?

CrossOver itself is based on something called “WINE”, which is an open source re-implementation of the Windows API, consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code, allowing applications to run as if natively on Windows. The original open-source version of WINE can be complicated to install and is written by volunteers, hence there is no user support.

Will this download pollute my Mac?

No! CrossOver is just a compatibility layer (in other words, you are not actually installing Windows on your Mac), and it won’t affect anything else on your Mac.

Can I easily get rid of CrossOver if I decide I don’t want it on my machine?

Yes! To erase all traces of CrossOver, follow these steps:

First you should drop your CrossOver bundle into the trash and empty it. This may first require you to stop the CrossOver CD Helper. To stop it manually, run the Activity Monitor (usually found in your Applications/Utilities folder). Select CrossOver CD Helper in Activity Monitor and click Quit Process to stop it.

User-specific CrossOver files are located in your home folder, under the Library/Application Support/CrossOver hierarchy. Trash that folder and its contents for each user of CrossOver on your system. Then, to be truly comprehensive, remove the preferences files located in Library/Preferences/ called com.codeweavers.CrossOver.plist.

Finally, if you have any published bottles or CrossOver has been run using your system's administrator account, you may have files in /Library/Application Support/CrossOver on your startup drive. These may also be removed.

How compatible is Netica with CrossOver?

Netica has been created to run well under even the most basic of conditions, and so there are no serious issues using Netica under Crossover (check out their review of Netica’s compatibility).

I’m having trouble with installing CrossOver, help!

Go through the steps of the official Installation Guide. If you’re still having trouble, check out their FAQ page.

Is there a way to get WINE on my machine for free?

If you are comfortable with a more technical approach to getting WINE on your machine, you can try out the free Wine Binary Downloads, as well as the Recommended Packages for building Wine on 32bit.

Once I get Netica running on my machine, are there any known problems with the software?

There are a few minor issues:

1. Right-clicking: Control-click, as you're probably used to with Mac programs, doesn’t work that way under WINE (so far).

Workaround: Enable secondary click. To do this, go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad and enable ‘Tap trackpad using two fingers for secondary click’. You can then right-click by tapping the trackpad with two fingers.

Update: If you are running a current version of Xquartz, you can go into the X11.app preferences when it’s running and select what you want to be modifier keys for right and middle clicks.

2. Messages window: When Netica first opens the Messages window appears as just a word, and it is in the upper left of the screen instead of bottom left. You can double-click the word to open the window, and from then on it will work as normal.

3. Onscreen Help: the onscreen help built into Netica does not work. Instead, you can access the dynamic Help System online.

Help us improve Netica on a Mac by sending us your feedback!

Unanswered questions? Email our support team.