<h1>Response from AxoGraph Support</h1>

<p>I received an answer from John of AxoGraph suggesting to follow the steps outlined in <a href="https://au.pcmag.com/vmware-fusion-8-for-mac/63913/how-to-run-32-bit-apps-in-macos-catalina" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this tutorial</a> to set up a virtual machine (VM) on my computer with an earlier version of macOS using the <strong>Parallels</strong> software ($79.99/year).</p>

<p>He also discouraged using <strong>VirtualBox</strong>, the free VM manager, as "there's more work involved, and it’s not so smoothly integrated with Catalina." In his reply, John also promised "to finish the new completely re-written 64-bit version of AxoGraph," which "is not far from completion," first releasing a new data-acquisition-only version, subsequently followed by an update with data analysis features. It sounded like all of this would take at least several months, though.</p>

<hr>

<h1>My Solution</h1>

<p>After some digging, setting up a virtual machine (VM) with an earlier version of macOS indeed did seem to be the best option for me at this point. What I was after, however, was a <strong>free solution</strong> - and eventually, I managed to get a <strong>Mojave VM</strong> to work on my Catalina using <strong>VirtualBox</strong>. Getting through the whole process was a patchwork of several different sources (mostly following <a href="https://appletoolbox.com/need-to-run-32-bit-apps-on-macos-catalina-use-a-mojave-virtual-machine/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this tutorial and its comments</a>), so I decided to re-write the <strong>detailed steps I took below</strong> (some steps may be adjustable but I used these specific settings with success):</p>

<h3>1. Download macOS Mojave Installer:</h3>

<ol>
<li>Go to this link: <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190</a></li>
<li>Click on <em>Get macOS Mojave</em> in step 4, and open in <strong>App Store</strong>.</li>
<li>Click on <em>GET</em> - that will open the updater, which will download the installer (if you already have Catalina installed, the "update" will stall after the download automatically)</li>
<li>Find it in your <strong>Applications</strong> folder as <em>Install macOS Mojave.app</em></li>
</ol>

<h3>2. Create an ISO installation media using Terminal:</h3>

<ol>
<li><p>Create a temporary disk image from the install file &amp; make a bootable installer using Terminal:</p>

<pre><code>hdiutil create -o /tmp/Mojave.cdr -size 7000m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Attach that file, with Terminal command:</p>

<pre><code>hdiutil attach /tmp/Mojave.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Build it, with command:</p>

<pre><code>sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Move it to your mac’s Desktop:</p>

<pre><code>mv /tmp/Mojave.cdr.dmg ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Unmount the file:</p>

<pre><code>hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Mojave
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Convert it to ISO:</p>

<pre><code>hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Rename it to remove the CDR extension:</p>

<pre><code>mv ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Exit Terminal via Terminal command:</p>

<pre><code>exit
</code></pre></li>
</ol>

<h3>3. Create a new virtual machine (VM) in VirtualBox:</h3>

<ol>
<li>Download <strong>Oracle's VM VirtualBox Manager</strong> (<a href="https://www.virtualbox.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.virtualbox.org</a>) &amp; install it on your Mac</li>
<li>Open <strong>VirtualBox</strong></li>
<li>Click on <strong>New</strong></li>
<li>Select <em>Type: Mac OS X</em> and <em>Version: Mac OS X (64-bit)</em></li>
<li>Memory size: <em>8192 MB</em> (at least 3 GB)</li>
<li>Hard disk: <em>Create a virtual hard disk now</em></li>
<li>Hard disk file type: <em>VDI</em></li>
<li>Storage on physical hard disk: <em>Fixed size</em></li>
<li>File location and size: <em>32.00 GB</em></li>
</ol>

<h3>4. Tweak the VM before installation:</h3>

<ol>
<li>With your newly created VM selected in VirtualBox, go to <em>Settings</em> → <strong>Storage</strong>:

<ol>
<li>Click on <em>Empty</em> → Remove [<em>square with a red cross at the bottom</em>]</li>
<li>Click on <em>Controller: SATA</em> → Add optical drive [<em>CD with a green plus sign</em>] → <em>Add</em> → Find the .iso file you created and click <em>Choose</em></li>
</ol></li>
<li><em>Settings</em> → <em>Display</em>: <strong>Video Memory</strong> - at least <em>128 MB</em></li>
<li><em>Settings</em> → <em>System</em>: <strong>Processor(s)</strong> - at least <em>2</em></li>
</ol>

<h3>5. Install the macOS on your VM:</h3>

<ol>
<li>With your VM selected in VirtualBox, click <em>Start</em></li>
<li>Wait until the <em>Language</em> selection appears; select your preferred language and continue</li>
<li><em>macOS Utilities</em>: <strong>Disk Utility</strong> → Continue</li>
<li>Select <em>VBOX HARDDISK Media</em> → click on <strong>Erase</strong> in the toolbar</li>
<li>Name the drive as you wish and keep the default selections: <em>Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)</em> and <em>Scheme: GUID Partition Map</em>; click <em>Erase</em></li>
<li><em>Quit</em> Disk Utility when done</li>
<li>Select <strong>Install macOS</strong>, <em>Continue</em>, and <em>Agree</em> to the license</li>
<li>Select the hard drive you just erased and <strong>Install</strong></li>
<li>MacOS starts installing; wait and <strong>be patient</strong>! (It took about half an hour for me. The VM may restart at least once in the process.)</li>
<li>Go through the <strong>MacOS setup</strong> (select your Country, keyboard, etc.)

<ul>
<li>It is recommended that you do not log in with your Apple ID at this time and click <em>Set up later</em> instead</li>
<li>I also did not allow <em>Location Services</em>, nor <em>data collection</em> from Apple</li>
<li>Once installed, you can eject the installation disc from within the VM</li>
<li>It also might be a good idea to go to <em>System Preferences...</em> → <em>Software Update</em> → <em>Advanced...</em> → uncheck <em>Check for updates</em></li>
</ul></li>
</ol>

<h3>6. Install the latest version of AxoGraph on your VM:</h3>

<ol>
<li>Open <strong>Safari</strong> within your VM</li>
<li>Go to <a href="https://axograph.com/download" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://axograph.com/download</a></li>
<li>Click on <strong>Mac OS X 10.4 and up*</strong></li>
<li><strong>Install</strong> AxoGraph</li>
</ol>

<blockquote>
  <h1>Voilà!</h1>
  
  <p><strong><em>Now you can run AxoGraph, as well as other 32-bit applications, on your MacOS Catalina!</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li>You should be able to turn off the VM from within, as you usually would shut down your Mac</li>
<li>It is booted again by selecting your VM in VirtualBox and clicking <em>Start</em></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-27T14:00:16.973Z
Thanks for the thorough update!
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-27T04:48:34.397Z
2019-12-27T15:43:34.450Z
2019-12-27T15:43:34.450Z
Brunox13
<p>After a recent MacOS update, I am no longer able to run the (latest) AxoGraph software for electrophysiology data analysis on my computer, as I get the following error message:</p>

<pre><code>"AxoGraph.app" needs to be updated.

The developer of this app needs to update it to work
with this version of macOS. Contact the developer for
more information.
</code></pre>

<p>Screenshot:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tWvmD.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tWvmD.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I understand that this is because AxoGraph is a <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>32-bit application</strong>, which is not supported by macOS Catalina</a>. I have already contacted the support of the application for advice. In the meantime, <strong>is there any good solution besides switching to a different software?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-19T16:41:40.190Z
I don't have a good solution for you, but in solidarity, I would note that I still have a (network-isolated) machine running Windows XP due to the lack of a software update for my patch clamp hardware (and lack of success running in any sort of 'compatibility mode'). I hope you can find a solution!
Bryan Krause
<data><software><electrophysiology><analysis>
Unable to run AxoGraph v1.7.6 on macOS 10.15 Catalina
Brunox13
# Unable to run AxoGraph v1.7.6 on macOS 10.15 Catalina

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-19)

After a recent MacOS update, I am no longer able to run the (latest) AxoGraph software for electrophysiology data analysis on my computer, as I get the following error message:

```
"AxoGraph.app" needs to be updated.

The developer of this app needs to update it to work
with this version of macOS. Contact the developer for
more information.

```

Screenshot:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/tWvmD.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tWvmD.png)

I understand that this is because AxoGraph is a [**32-bit application**, which is not supported by macOS Catalina](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436). I have already contacted the support of the application for advice. In the meantime, **is there any good solution besides switching to a different software?**

**Tags:** data, software, electrophysiology, analysis

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't have a good solution for you, but in solidarity, I would note that I still have a (network-isolated) machine running Windows XP due to the lack of a software update for my patch clamp hardware (and lack of success running in any sort of 'compatibility mode'). I hope you can find a solution!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2019-12-27. Score: 1

# Response from AxoGraph Support

I received an answer from John of AxoGraph suggesting to follow the steps outlined in [this tutorial](https://au.pcmag.com/vmware-fusion-8-for-mac/63913/how-to-run-32-bit-apps-in-macos-catalina) to set up a virtual machine (VM) on my computer with an earlier version of macOS using the **Parallels** software ($79.99/year).

He also discouraged using **VirtualBox**, the free VM manager, as "there's more work involved, and it’s not so smoothly integrated with Catalina." In his reply, John also promised "to finish the new completely re-written 64-bit version of AxoGraph," which "is not far from completion," first releasing a new data-acquisition-only version, subsequently followed by an update with data analysis features. It sounded like all of this would take at least several months, though.

---

# My Solution

After some digging, setting up a virtual machine (VM) with an earlier version of macOS indeed did seem to be the best option for me at this point. What I was after, however, was a **free solution** - and eventually, I managed to get a **Mojave VM** to work on my Catalina using **VirtualBox**. Getting through the whole process was a patchwork of several different sources (mostly following [this tutorial and its comments](https://appletoolbox.com/need-to-run-32-bit-apps-on-macos-catalina-use-a-mojave-virtual-machine/)), so I decided to re-write the **detailed steps I took below** (some steps may be adjustable but I used these specific settings with success):

### 1. Download macOS Mojave Installer:

1. Go to this link: <https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190>
2. Click on *Get macOS Mojave* in step 4, and open in **App Store**.
3. Click on *GET* - that will open the updater, which will download the installer (if you already have Catalina installed, the "update" will stall after the download automatically)
4. Find it in your **Applications** folder as *Install macOS Mojave.app*

### 2. Create an ISO installation media using Terminal:

1. Create a temporary disk image from the install file & make a bootable installer using Terminal:

   ```
   hdiutil create -o /tmp/Mojave.cdr -size 7000m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

   ```
2. Attach that file, with Terminal command:

   ```
   hdiutil attach /tmp/Mojave.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build

   ```
3. Build it, with command:

   ```
   sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build

   ```
4. Move it to your mac’s Desktop:

   ```
   mv /tmp/Mojave.cdr.dmg ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg

   ```
5. Unmount the file:

   ```
   hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Mojave

   ```
6. Convert it to ISO:

   ```
   hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso

   ```
7. Rename it to remove the CDR extension:

   ```
   mv ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/Mojave.iso

   ```
8. Exit Terminal via Terminal command:

   ```
   exit

   ```

### 3. Create a new virtual machine (VM) in VirtualBox:

1. Download **Oracle's VM VirtualBox Manager** ([https://www.virtualbox.org](https://www.virtualbox.org/)) & install it on your Mac
2. Open **VirtualBox**
3. Click on **New**
4. Select *Type: Mac OS X* and *Version: Mac OS X (64-bit)*
5. Memory size: *8192 MB* (at least 3 GB)
6. Hard disk: *Create a virtual hard disk now*
7. Hard disk file type: *VDI*
8. Storage on physical hard disk: *Fixed size*
9. File location and size: *32.00 GB*

### 4. Tweak the VM before installation:

1. With your newly created VM selected in VirtualBox, go to *Settings* → **Storage**:
   1. Click on *Empty* → Remove [*square with a red cross at the bottom*]
   2. Click on *Controller: SATA* → Add optical drive [*CD with a green plus sign*] → *Add* → Find the .iso file you created and click *Choose*
2. *Settings* → *Display*: **Video Memory** - at least *128 MB*
3. *Settings* → *System*: **Processor(s)** - at least *2*

### 5. Install the macOS on your VM:

1. With your VM selected in VirtualBox, click *Start*
2. Wait until the *Language* selection appears; select your preferred language and continue
3. *macOS Utilities*: **Disk Utility** → Continue
4. Select *VBOX HARDDISK Media* → click on **Erase** in the toolbar
5. Name the drive as you wish and keep the default selections: *Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)* and *Scheme: GUID Partition Map*; click *Erase*
6. *Quit* Disk Utility when done
7. Select **Install macOS**, *Continue*, and *Agree* to the license
8. Select the hard drive you just erased and **Install**
9. MacOS starts installing; wait and **be patient**! (It took about half an hour for me. The VM may restart at least once in the process.)
10. Go through the **MacOS setup** (select your Country, keyboard, etc.)
    * It is recommended that you do not log in with your Apple ID at this time and click *Set up later* instead
    * I also did not allow *Location Services*, nor *data collection* from Apple
    * Once installed, you can eject the installation disc from within the VM
    * It also might be a good idea to go to *System Preferences...* → *Software Update* → *Advanced...* → uncheck *Check for updates*

### 6. Install the latest version of AxoGraph on your VM:

1. Open **Safari** within your VM
2. Go to <https://axograph.com/download>
3. Click on **Mac OS X 10.4 and up\***
4. **Install** AxoGraph

> # Voilà!
>
> ***Now you can run AxoGraph, as well as other 32-bit applications, on your MacOS Catalina!***

* You should be able to turn off the VM from within, as you usually would shut down your Mac
* It is booted again by selecting your VM in VirtualBox and clicking *Start*

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Thanks for the thorough update!  

---

