Using PSICAT on a Mac (macOS or OSX)
This page describes solutions and workarounds to common issues running PSICAT and the associated SchemeEditor application on a Mac (macOS/OSX).
In OSX 10.7.3 (Lion), Apple introduced a security feature called Gatekeeper to help protect users from malicious software downloaded on the web. Unfortunately, legitimate software like PSICAT is also perceived as potentially dangerous by Gatekeeper.
When launching PSICAT or SchemeEditor, you may see one of the following messages:
To resolve this problem, right-click on the application icon and choose "Open" in the menu that pops up. You'll then see one of the following:
Choose "Open" and the application should launch. You shouldn't see this message on future launches.
In macOS 10.12 (Sierra), Apple introduced a security feature called App Translocation. Apps distributed outside of the Mac App Store, such as PSICAT, are run from a randomized path. For the most part PSICAT runs normally under App Translocation, with one exception: it cannot locate the default lithology and symbol schemes located in the "resources" folder alongside PSICAT.app when a new project is being created.
When you choose the File > New > Project... menu option on a Mac using App Translocation, you'll see this:
To work around this issue, create your project as normal without selecting default schemes. Then, manually add default schemes with the following steps:
- Choose the Edit > Choose Schemes... option to open the Edit Project Schemes dialog
- Click the Add Schemes... button
- Navigate to the resources folder within your PSICAT folder
- Select a lithology scheme (Comprehensive or Soft Sediment) and click OK.
- Repeat steps 2-3, then select the default symbol scheme and click OK.
- You should now see your selected lithology and symbol scheme in the list.
- Click OK to close the Edit Project Schemes dialog.
- With default schemes in place, you can continue work on your project as usual.
PSICAT and SchemeEditor depend on version 6 of the Java runtime. This version of Java was included in macOS/OSX until version 10.15 (Catalina), when it was removed. When you try to launch PSICAT or SchemeEditor in Catalina, you'll likely see the following:
Clicking "More Info..." will take you to a page where an installer can be downloaded. However, this installer cannot run on Catalina! Please contact CSDCO and we'll provide an installer that will run under Catalina.