Installing Neurosim on a Mac using CodeWeavers CrossOver.

These instructions have been tested and work with Crossover v24.0.1 and Monterey MacOS v12.6.8

Note that I am not a habitual Mac user, so these instructions are those of a naive visitor to the MacOS.

Installing Neurosim

The first job is to collate the files necessary to install and run Neurosim.

1. Download the latest Neurosim installation file Neurosim v?.msi and save it in a known location in the Mac file system. (? refers to the version number.)
2. Download the Microsoft installer VC_redist.x86.exe and save it in the same location. This will install some run-time library files that are required by Neurosim.
3. Place your Neurosim licence file neurosim.lic into that location.

You can now start the installation process, which has 4 stages.

Step 1: Set up a "bottle"

CrossOver installs Windows programs into a structure it calls a "bottle" (the name is probably a reference to the Wine source code), and the first job is to set up an appropriate bottle.

1. Click the + Install button at the bottom-left of the Crossover Home window.
2. Click Install an unlisted application at the top-right of the Crossover window.
   CrossOver now shows Unlisted application as its title.
3. Click the lower Edit button.
   1. Accept the default choice New bottle from the list at the top of the window.
   2. Name the new bottle Neurosim 5.
   3. Select Windows 11 as the bottle type.
   4. Click Done.

Step 2: Install the Microsoft library files

You should still be in the Unlisted application window.

1. Click the upper Edit button.
   1. Navigate to the folder containing the files you collated at the start.
   2. Select the Microsoft installer file VC_redist.x86.exe that you downloaded previously.
   3. Click Choose installer.
2. Click Install at the top-right of the main window.
   1. Follow the Microsoft instructions to install the library files.
   2. Click Close.

You will get a warning that no applications were found in the bottle, but you can ignore this.

You have now got a Neurosim bottle with some library files, but no actual runnable program.

Step 3: Install Neurosim

1. Once again click the + Install button at the bottom-left of the Crossover window, followed by Install an unlisted application at the top-right.
2. Click the lower Edit and select Neurosim from the list at the top (which by default shows New Bottle).
   Ignore the warning recommending that you select a new bottle - you definitely want Neurosim in the same bottle as the library files.
   1. Click Done.
3. Click the upper Edit, navigate to folder containing Neurosim v?.msi, slect the file and click Choose installer.
4. Click Install at the top-right of the main window, and follow the instructions of the Neurosim installer. Accept all default options.
5. Click Finish when the installer completes, but do not check the Launch box - you need to copy the licence first.

Step 4: Install the Licence

CrossOver should now display the Neurosim bottle with the Neurosim icon within it. You next need to place the licence into the bottle. You should have received a licence when you first purchased Neurosim.

1. With the Neurosim bottle selected in CrossOver, click the Open C: Drive link on the right.
2. In the Finder window, drill down to Program Files (x86): Neurosim 5.
   You should see the files Neurosim.exe and neurosim.chm already in the folder.
3. Move or copy the licence file neurosim.lic into the same folder.

You should now be able to run Neurosim by double-clicking the icon in the Crossover bottle window, or by right-clicking and selecting Open. Note that it can take several seconds to start after you select Open.

Accessing Parameter Files

CrossOver maintains a replica of the standard Windows file system, and parameter file access is easiest of this is used, rather than the main Mac system (although the latter can be made to work too, but it requires more permissions).

1. With the Neurosim bottle selected in CrossOver, click the Open C: Drive link on the right as described previously.
2. From drive_c in the Finder window, drill down to users: crossover: Desktop
3. Copy Neurosim parameter files into here. You could also copy them into Documents (or music etc., if you wanted to be perverse...), but Desktop is easiest.
   Note that this Desktop is local to Neurosim – it has nothing to do with the standard Mac desktop. But it will be shared with any other Windows programs running in CrossOver.
4. From within Neurosim, activate the File: Open command (either from the menu or toolbar).
   Look in the Desktop folder; you should see your parameter files.
5. You can also load parameter files by drag-on-drop from their folder location, or by double clicking on them within the folder.
6. You can save files from Neurosim into the local folder structure using the normal File: Save as commands.