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PortableApps + PlayOnMac

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June 30, 2017 - 1:00pm
#1
Zelium
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PortableApps + PlayOnMac

Hi guys,

been using PortableApps for years, and been very happy with it, was many times a "life-saver"!

I've switched to a Mac few days ago and I'm trying to figure out on how to use PortableApps on Mac via PlayOnMac,
as here - https://portableapps.com/download - is written:
"Also Works With: Linux, Unix, BSD, etc via Wine & Mac OS X via CrossOver, Wineskin, WineBottler, PlayOnMac"

For sure I'm missing something because I cannot make it work as it should, but cannot find any specific information on how to do it.

Is there a way, a procedure to follow?
Really thanks a lot to whom will help on this as I...cannot figure it out (doh!)

All the Best,
Elia

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June 30, 2017 - 2:47pm
John T. Haller
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CrossOver

The only one I personally ever tested with was CrossOver which was the most polished of the bunch and there were reports from other folks that the others all worked. We only actually test on Wine within Linux (CrossOver, PlayOnMac, etc are all fancy frontends based on Wine) as I can fire that up within VirtualBox on my development machine. As MacOS is locked to Apple hardware, I can't fire that up in a virtual machine for development or testing, so I can't directly assist.

PlayOnMac has a first use page with details on getting things running here: http://wiki.playonlinux.com/index.php/First_Use

It may only work with 'installed' apps but I'm not sure as I've never used it personally and can't test it without spending a lot of money on new hardware.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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June 30, 2017 - 3:15pm
(Reply to #2)
Zelium
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Hi John,

Hi John,
thank you so much for your reply.

I'll dig more as I would like to keep using PortableApps, maybe asking directly to the guys on PlayOnMac will help.
I've tried few other times, but got the same error message.

I hope to update this thread with some useful info and maybe a solution.

Thanks a lot again.

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June 30, 2017 - 3:21pm
(Reply to #3)
John T. Haller
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Error?

What's the error you're getting? Can you install?

It's also worth noting for others that it seems like WineBottler and WineSkin are abandoned now, unfortunately.

Maybe I can borrow a Mac from a friend and see if I can put together a guide. Or if you can get it working and take a few screenshots and notes, we could base one off your work if you'd be willing Smile

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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June 30, 2017 - 5:14pm
(Reply to #4)
Zelium
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For sure

Sure, I would like to help wether it's possible Smile

The error is visible while installing (even if the installation can be concluded) and when I try to run PortableApps
(tried to install from the Start.exe file)

It says:
"Could not find the PortableApps.com Platform main EXE: C:\PortableApps.com\PortableAppsPlatform.exe"

I tried new "settings" and adding paths on Wine via PlayOnMac, but results are the same.

I guess I need to maybe "edit" the C:\ virtual path, but before that...I need to figure out where it is ^^"

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June 30, 2017 - 5:42pm
Zelium
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Little Steps

While writing the previous reply,I got a thought about "Start.exe - maybe isn't the right file to start the installation".

But before that, founded the missing folder, and copy/paste missing files & folders...little Eureka!
Could see the PortableApps platform but...in a "weird" mode...all green and without the Apps & Folders.

So I tried to install from "PortableApps.comInstaller.exe".
I guess is the right path, at least better, because now I can see the PortableApps installer!

The roadblock now is that it won't accept any folder, at least for now, where to install it...doh!

The error message is:
"Please select a valid portable app's base directory to create an installer for."

Need to figure it out this one now Smile

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July 1, 2017 - 4:44am
(Reply to #6)
richo
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RE: Little Steps

How about trying an install using the "PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_x.x.paf.exe" (where x.x is the version you are trying to install)

For the "Install Location" page, select Local All Users.

It that installation then works, copy/paste your existing PortableApps collection over the top of the installation.

E.g: copy the PortableApps folder from your existing installation that has all of the apps that you have installed and paste that into the virtual C:\ folder.

P.S: I don't know anything about PlayOnMac, so this could be wrong. However, having said that, it would make sense to try using the actual installer for the platform when setting up PortableApps via PlayOnMac.

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July 1, 2017 - 9:57am
(Reply to #7)
Gord Caswell
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Not PortableApps.comInstaller

PortableApps.comInstaller.exe runs the installer used for packaging new applications, not for running the platform.

The correct exe to use is Start.exe

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July 1, 2017 - 12:22pm
Zelium
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We got it !

Guys, I cannot believe it !!

I guess We made it!!

I've used your inputs, and after several trial and errors, though to merge them together…and it seems to work!

So now I need to try to put all the correct step… xD

- Start with the file “PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_x.x.paf.exe"

- follow the installation till need to choose “INSTALL TYPE”
here we need to select “SELECT A CUSTOM LOCATION…”

- Choose the folder where is located your PortableApps previous installation, the MAIN folder, we name it for the example “PortApps”

- Continue the installation and make sure to UNCHECK all the 3 “selections” at the end of the installation Wizard and click on “Finish”

- Now, the shortcut step is CRUCIAL,
so click on BROWSE and after it click on NEXT

- Click now on the Browse button and find the "START.EXE" file in the MAIN folder of your PortableApps, the one we previously called “PortApps”
when you find it click on OPEN and after that click on NEXT

- Insert your shortcut name and click on NEXT

- Now choose “I don’t want to make another shortcut” and click on NEXT

Installation finished, it should works all accordingly! Biggrin

________________________

Now got only one “little problem”,
sometimes when running the P.Apps application via PlayOnMac it hides immediately and there is no way for Wine or for the Mac to show the window,
this is a thing I haven’t figured out and it's quite annoying because without the window...we cannot use the PortableApps application xD

Maybe there’s an option in the settings to let the PortableApps window always visible?

Great work guys!
Elia

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July 1, 2017 - 12:31pm
(Reply to #9)
Gord Caswell
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Remain Visible

To keep the Platform visible, set the option to do so according to the instructions here: https://portableapps.com/support/platform#advanced

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July 1, 2017 - 1:03pm
(Reply to #10)
Zelium
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Great

Awesome, thanks a lot, going to edit the file!

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July 1, 2017 - 1:30pm
(Reply to #11)
John T. Haller
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Icon

By default, the PortableApps.com Platform keeps an icon in the taskbar as well as the system tray on Windows. In Wine on Linux, both show up correctly. I wonder if PlayOnMac is pretending to be an older version of Windows and confusing it. Could you post the Windows version that the platform indicates it is running on within the Help - About window please?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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July 1, 2017 - 1:58pm
(Reply to #12)
Zelium
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Right again

You were right, the default version was Windows XP 32-bit, now I've set Windows 7 and seems to work as it should, thanks!

Now I'm testing different Windows versions, as seems those newer slow down a lot PortableApps.

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July 1, 2017 - 2:08pm
(Reply to #13)
John T. Haller
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XP

It only needs Windows 2000/XP or later so XP is fine within Wine and similar. In Vista and lower, though, the platform only has a system tray icon, not a taskbar icon. Maybe I'll introduce a setting to workaround that. Until then, you can either keep it visible and set to XP or set it to 7 and the taskbar icon will show up. Odd that PlayOnMac doesn't have system tray support when it's built into Wine. If it worked like Wine on Ubuntu, it would show up with an icon in the upper right in MacOS near your wifi and other icons.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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February 18, 2020 - 3:01pm
Satchel
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Portable apps on Mac using CrossOver...

I was surprised to see this claim on the landing page "Also Works With: ... Mac OS X via CrossOver, Wineskin, WineBottler, PlayOnMac".

This is not accurate - I have tried many times to use a number of portables on Mac using CrossOver, Wineskin and PlayOnMac and I have yet to make it work. Having said that - is there a guide on which portables work with CrossOver and then how to make them work?

Looking forward to the guidance Smile

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