After downloading Prism 3 for Mac, why can't I install/run the program?

If you use OS9.x

There should be no problem. Download "Prism3MacInstaller.bin". This should put an icon labeled "Prism3MacInstaller"on your desktop. Double-click on that icon to install Prism. No "unstuffing" or "unbinhexing" is required.

If you use OS 8.x

Some older Mac operating systems have been confused by this and attempted to "unstuff" what is an application file. For those users, we've added a choice to download "Prism3MacInstaller.sea.hqx". Try this alternative if you're having difficulty.

In some cases where the ".bin" installer has been downloaded, the Mac system asks which program should be used to open the "document". OS 9 knows that a .bin file is an application. OS 8.x doesn't always know this. When you are asked which application to use, select "Stuffit Expander". Even though the installer is not stuffed (compressed), Unstuffit will create an application icon for the Prism installer that you can launch by double-clicking.

The ".hqx" installer in a binhexed file. In some cases, the Mac system tries to open it using the wrong program. If this happens, don't double-click on the hqx file. Instead drag that file to the icon for Stuffit Expander. Then double-click on the installer that gets created.

If you use OS X

Some people have had trouble using our downloads on OS X. When they double-click, the wrong program launches (often Roxio Toast Titanium). When they try to use stuffit expander nothing happens. In these situation, follow these steps:

1. Find Aladdin DropStuff program. You may use Sherlock program (click command-F from the Finder) to find it.
2. Drag the installer Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin file onto the DropStuff icon. This will result in the creation of a Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin.sit file.
3. Drag the file Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin.sit onto StuffitExpander icon. StuffitExpander is located near DropStuff (by default the folder is called "Stuffit Drag and Drop"). This step produces a Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin.1 file that automatically starts to install Prism.

If that doesn't work, here is yet another work around:

1. Reboot under Mac OS 9.
2. While under Mac OS 9, remove .hqx or .bin from Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin (or Prism3cxMacInstaller.bin.hqx)
3. Restart under Mac OS X.
4. Double-click the file Prism3cxMacInstaller (the one that was modified on the step 2)