Problem with Downloadable Executable on the Mac

[Bill Longabaugh]

It turns out there is a shortcoming with the new downloadable, standalone executable for the Mac.  Specifically, you can only run ONE copy of BioTapestry at a time.  On Windows, you can double-click the icon and run as many separate copies of BioTapestry as you wish.  Linux also supports this behavior.  But for the Mac, double-clicking the icon after you have BioTapestry running just brings forward the one running instance you already have.  Given standard Mac application behavior, this is actually not surprising.   As a workaround, Mac users can use the still-supported Java WebStart option to launch as many simultaneous instances of BioTapestry as desired.  We are currently looking into ways to solve this problem.

Sorry for any inconvenience,

Bill

[Bill Longabaugh]

Another workaround, instead of using Java WebStart, is to use the "open" command with the -n flag.  Bring up the Terminal program (via the Finder; go to Application::Utilities).  Select Shell->New Window->Basic, and a terminal window will pop up. Assuming the BioTapestry Editor icon is on your desktop, type:

cd Desktop

into the terminal.  Then type:

open -n 'BioTapestry Editor.app'

hit return, and wait.  Do this as many times as you want.  Each time will bring up a separate instance of the BioTapestry Editor program.

Sorry for the hackish workaround.  We're still looking into the long-term alternatives.

Bill