To get Netica to work on your Mac, you’ll need to first install a compatibility layer for running Windows programs, and then you can install Netica in the usual way.
Jump to known issues and simple work-arounds for running Netica on your Mac.
What are my options for compatibility layers?
There are multiple options for running Windows-based programs on your Mac, such as Parallels, VMware Fusion, and Apple Bootcamp. Each solution has advantages and disadvantages. Netica works well on all of them, but we have found that CrossOver Mac is one of the least expensive and easiest-to-use options for non-programmers. The other solutions mentioned will enable you to run a wider variety of Windows programs but are larger and more expensive.
Is there a way to get WINE on my machine for free?
CrossOver Mac 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.
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.
Why am I downloading a trial version of CrossOver Mac?
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). If you are comfortable with programming and using open source software, use one of the other options listed above. Netica has been created to run well under even the most basic of conditions so there are no serious issues using Netica under Crossover. Known Issues
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.
I’m having trouble installing CrossOver, help!
Go through the steps of the official Installation Guide. If you’re still having trouble, check out their FAQ page.
If you are having trouble with finding the right directory, check here.
Once I get Netica running on my machine, are there any known problems with the software?
There are a few minor issues, all with quick workarounds:
1. Right-clicking: Control-click, as you're probably used to with Mac programs, doesn’t work under WINE (so far).
Solution: 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 in word format in the upper left of the screen instead of bottom left.
Solution: Double-click the word to open the Messages window. Or, you can choose Window → Messages from Netica's toolbar. Moving forward, the Messages window may appear as a blank white square in the bottom left of the Netica screen. Again, you can double-click the white square to bring up the Messages window. If you don't see the words or the white square, try resizing the entire Netica screen to make it bigger; the square should appear.
3. Redrawing: When you open other parts of your net (CPTable, node palette, dialog boxes, etc), or other windows, they often do no redraw correctly when closed/minimized, leaving residual images in the way.
Solution: Minimize the Netica screen you wish to view and then maximize it. It will redraw correctly.
4. Onscreen Help: the help system built into Netica does either not launch when clicked (Help → Help), or launches with a dysfunctional Index and browse buttons.
Solution: Use this online Help system for assistance and for documentation on all the latest features.
5. Learning from Excel files: You will get error messages if attempting to learn from an Excel file.
Solution: You must convert your Excel case file into a text file and then you can proceed with the steps listed in Learning From a Case File.
6. Learning from text case files produced in 'R': for text case files produced in R, the output is in Linux line coding, by default, which will result in an error message.
Solution (submitted by Martin Koechy): R case files must be in Windows format to be processed properly (i.e. line endings must be coded CRLF). The free text editor Textwrangler will do the conversion.
Help us improve Netica's functionality on Mac by sending us your questions or feedback!