How is the Mac version different

[bpducman]

How is the Mac version different, or is it different.

I need to replace my windows computer and well maybe it should be a mac?

Brad

[Dazzled]

After 30 odd years of using PC's I got a Mac about 18 months ago and have not looked back. 

The user interface is basically the same as I use an old laptop in the workshop but am always glad when I get back onto the Mac.

I have been using every version of XL4 and have found that I didn't have anywhere as many problems as the people on the Windows version did.

You just need to get use to doing things a bit differently but if on old guy can do it anyone can.

Stuart

[bpducman]

do U have to have excel for mac installed

[dkulp]

The major differences:

1) The Mac build is 64bit so can handle larger sequences.   That said, if you didn't have an issue on Windows, it likely won't make a difference.

2) The Mac version doesn't ship with ffmpeg to convert videos.   You can get ffmpeg easily enough if you need it.

3) HiRes display support - this is the main difference.   The Mac version does the standard "Retina" double size drawing stuff that every Mac app does.   Thus, everything is the "normal" size, just sharper and clearer.  On Windows HiDPI screens, things tend to get really really small.   There are plusses and minuses.   You can fit more rows on the screen with Windows HiDPI.  However, many of the controls and dialogs don't layout right or are very tiny to hit on Windows HiDPI.  Obviously, this only applies if you get a Retina Mac.

That really are the only major differences.   There are some internal things like how fonts are rendered and having to disable the Mac AppNapp stuff when outputs are enabled, but those aren't things users see. 

[bpducman]

Dan are they still xml files. do U need excel for mac installed??

Brad

[dkulp]

Dan are they still xml files. do U need excel for mac installed??

Why would anyone think they need excel installed?   Seems like a strange question.   The answer is no, but I really don't know why it would even be asked.   

The files are exactly the same between windows and linux and Mac versions of xLights.   XML and fseq

[bpducman]

The reason I asked is that I have a Mac pro with parallels installed as my main work computer I have a separate Win 7p machine just for this .   I installed xl for mac on  mac and tool took a xml files from my win machine, and tried to open it in xl on the mac and the mac opened up parallels and then excel.

But to answer your question more specifically. Its because I can barley remember where the fn on button is.

Brad

[bpducman]

Its hard sometimes to perceive humor on one of these things

[flyinverted]

The Mac version does not use the green gear icon for render.

When on the phone with your wife do not tell her to hit the green gear icon because there is not a green gear icon for render on the Mac.

Nuff said.

[Phrog30]

Its hard sometimes to perceive humor on one of these things

It is hard. Seems to me dkulp just need not reply if he is going to respond like that. Not helpful at all.

James

[kevinp]

I installed xl for mac on  mac and tool took a xml files from my win machine, and tried to open it in xl on the mac and the mac opened up parallels and then excel.

If you opened the xml file directly from xLights on the Mac, there is no reason why Excel would open up in a emulator.  If you double clicked the xml file to open it, the default program will launch that is associated with a xml extension.  On my Mac, if I open a xml file I get xCode launching.  Prior to installing xCode I would always have Adobe Dreamweaver opening for those type of files.

[bpducman]

Thanks guys,

Brad

[uzelessknowledge]

The major differences:

1) The Mac build is 64bit so can handle larger sequences.   That said, if you didn't have an issue on Windows, it likely won't make a difference.

2) The Mac version doesn't ship with ffmpeg to convert videos.   You can get ffmpeg easily enough if you need it.

3) HiRes display support - this is the main difference.   The Mac version does the standard "Retina" double size drawing stuff that every Mac app does.   Thus, everything is the "normal" size, just sharper and clearer.  On Windows HiDPI screens, things tend to get really really small.   There are plusses and minuses.   You can fit more rows on the screen with Windows HiDPI.  However, many of the controls and dialogs don't layout right or are very tiny to hit on Windows HiDPI.  Obviously, this only applies if you get a Retina Mac.

That really are the only major differences.   There are some internal things like how fonts are rendered and having to disable the Mac AppNapp stuff when outputs are enabled, but those aren't things users see.

Thank you Dan for keeping xLights available on the Mac!

[scuba]

I use Mac 100% of the time when I sequence...THANKS DAN!  love the interface. fast and easy 

The only difference I see is the F1-F12 don't work with the Mac version.

But Dan posted "Mac AppNapp stuff" should be disable....I don't understand

[dkulp]

I use Mac 100% of the time when I sequence...THANKS DAN!  love the interface. fast and easy 

The only difference I see is the F1-F12 don't work with the Mac version.

But Dan posted "Mac AppNapp stuff" should be disable....I don't understand

They work OK for me on my MacBookPro.   If I hit Fn-F9 (without Fn, the F9 is the fast forward button)  for example, the open show folder dialog pops up.   F11 and F12 have issues, but I have them mapped in the system properties for the Show Desktop and Show Dashboard commands.