Installing Cytoscape 3.2 on Mac OSX Snow Leopard (10.6.8)

Cytoscape 3.2 requires Java 7 to run. Unfortunately Java 7 is not officially available for Snow Leopard (10.6.8). We found a version of Java 7 (Update 25) that works with Mac OS X 10.6.8. Note, later versions of Java 7 do not work on OS X 10.6.8 even if you manage to install them.

Install Java 7

• Download the modified Java 7 (Update 25) package from here - this version will allow you install Java 7 even though it is technically not supported.

  • Only the installer has been modified using package maker in Apple Dev tools. The modification removes the restriction that only those with OSX 10.7.3 or higher can install it. With apple dev tools this can easily be done for later updates but please not that with later updates of Java 7 we had issues with thread exceptions while using cytoscape.

• Install Java 7.

• Set your Java Home as described here : heading:Java 6 used on Mac, even with Java 7 installed

• verify that you are now using Java 7. Open a terminal window (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal , Run the command "java -version")

MacPro:~$java -version

java version "1.7.0_25"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_25-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.25-b01, mixed mode)

Download Cytoscape 3.2

• Download Cytoscape 3.2 from here

• Do not download click on the main download link. Click on Other Platforms. (Can't download the DMG for Mac because it too has a restriction on it requiring minimally OS X version 10.7.3)

• Under Archive Distributions click on the link GZip archive (for Mac os x) or click here

• Download file cytoscape-3.2.0.tar.gz'

• Double click on file to unzip and extract contents.

• Copy cytoscape-unix-3.2.0 and paste into Applications directory.

Launching Cytoscape 3.2