Hi Guys,

If you have a Mac and want to run Ozi, most recommend using parallels or vmware, virtualbox etc. This works, but there is a lot of overhead and extra costs. Note: this only works with an Intel mac! Sorry PowerPC people

I set it up today to run using free software and figured that some of your may also be interested. It gets a little technical but should work for most people. (that said, if your mac gets up, slaps you in the face and runs off with your wife half way through the steps, it isn't my fault!) Its a work in progress, I've got a GPS coming from ebay which I will add in here too, as well as maps etc..

Running Ozi on 10.6 represents 2 main problems, 1) You're not running windows, and 2) you are running 64bit, not 32..

The easiest way to do this is with MacPorts and Wine. MacPorts is a software package manager which keeps track of heaps and heaps of different pieces of software and allows you to install and update them from one place. It also takes care of software dependencies. (that is, software which is required to be installed before you can run other software).

But before we get too much further you will need to install Xcode. Xcode is the development software for Macs. It is in the Optional Extras on your MacOS install CD. Note that if you have upgraded to 10.6, you will need to install the version of Xcode from that CD, the new one with 10.6 on it or it will not work. (well, it will install fine, but you will run into problems later.. )

So install Xcode, it is GUI based, next next next etc. It is large (think Gigabytes..) and takes time.

Now, first hurdle done.

Grab a copy of MacPorts from The MacPorts Project -- Download & Installation. I won't link to the actual install file so you will always get the latest version. The installer is GUI and again its pretty much 'next, next, next'.

Once its is installed, it must be access by the command line, but don't panic - a little command line work is good for you ;-).

So open up your terminal. You can do this by going to 'Macintosh HD' -> 'Applications' -> 'Utilities' -> 'Terminal'. The icon is a black square.

You will get a new window pop up which is, er, the terminal.

It should look something like this:


Last login: Sat Nov 7 17:29:10 on ttys003
Hostname:~ username$


The first step is to make sure the MacPorts has all the latest information on the software available. To do this, run the following:

sudo port selfupdate


This will ask you for a password (this is the same on that you use when you turn your mac on, or if you don't use a password on boot then the one that you gave when you installed it / first ran your mac!). This is normal, and as you type the password, nothing will be shown on the screen - this too is normal. Its a security feature.. Just type your password and press enter when done.

Considering you have just downloaded MacPorts this should not take too much time.

You will be using MacPorts to install Wine, but first you have to install a program called 'FreeType'. It is the fonts which are required to use Ozi - without this you have nothing to read...


sudo port install freetype +universal
sudo port install fontconfig +universal


note the +universal. This is key as without it you will have your 64 and 32bit programs all in a knot and nothing will work.

Now, down to wine.

This Guy Installing Wine on Mac OS X does a pretty good job so I wont repeat it here. Follow the instructions and we will see you back here in 10min or so...

Put your OziExplorer Cd in, nothing will happen but that is OK.

Back and your command line, you need to type:

cd /Volumes/OziExplorer

then

wine install.exe

Ta da! you should now have a window up with the Ozi installed in it.

I had a problem here, however where once I had clicked on install within the window, and it gave me the next blue window it was the wrong size and I could not see the buttons properly. I got over this by clicking on the very slim edge of the button which I could see.. This worked, and I was able to install Ozi as if I was on a Windows machine.

I installed Ozi to c:/ or 'drive_c' as it is called in mac land...

Once the install has finished, you will be able to run Ozi with the following (again from your terminal):


wine ./.wine/drive_c/OziExp.exe


ta da! now import your maps when i get some, If it is tricky I will add that here too.

I'm sure there is a way to have a dock icon link to a CLI command but I don't know how to do that, and 10 seconds of googleing made me none-the-wiser.