Enscape on MacOS

Hello norbertsf , thank you for telling us about this. I have filed your question as a feature request for our developers! We'll have a look at this development and see what we can do.

Hi,

so i was wondering if it was possible to use this incredible tool on a MacOS device.
As you guys haven't developped a native MacOS version I started to search for a workaround with the use of a virtual machine.

My Imac had a Nvidia Graphics card GTX 680 MX 2GB, so that shouldn't be an issue.

However the OpenGL version seems to provide the problems. Enscape needs OpenGL 4.2 and the options that I've found don't cover this.
I installed a windows 10 pro license on my MacOS High Sierra with following virtual machines, without any succes.

• Virtualbox supports OpenGL 2.x
  (wasn't even able to run sketchup 2017 since it needs OpenGL 3.0)
• Parallels supports OpenGL 3.
• VMware Fusion supports OpenGL 3.x

Anyone had more luck of can provide me with other solutions...

@Enscape: any plans for a mac release or provide a solution to run enscape with opengl 3.x

costeur The only possible way would be to install and use Windows via Bootcamp.

OpenGL 3 is not providing all needed functionality for Enscape, that's why we need at least OpenGL 4.2.

So far we don't have any fix plan for Mac support but the topic got your upvote.

Jonathan,

Thanks for the input and I'm glad to say I succeeded.

These are my iMac specs:

• iMac - Late 2012
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
• Sketchup Make 2017
• Enscape 2.1
• Apple bootcamp
• Windows 10 Pro

Here are roughly the steps I followed, (If anyone else wants to give it a try).

• Make sure your Mac/iMac/Macbook has a Nvidia Graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.x
  Full list of Apple devices with their respective graphics cards:
  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202823
  I haven't tested out other devices with older openGL support but I assume 4.x is wanted since it's specified by Enscape. (They even suggest 4.2) The list on the apple website says 4.1 but on the Nvidia website they speak of 4.2. So do some research on your graphics card.
• Back-up everything. I didn't ran into any problems, but you never know. Bootcamp seems stable but don't say i didn't warn you.
• Have a working windows 10 (or 7/8 might also work) product key and ISO file.
  You can download the correct ISO from the Microsoft site. Do a quick google-search
• Run Bootcamp on you Mac and follow the steps.
  You need an usb key or HD in FAT format.
• Follow the steps to install Windows.
  You will need some space on your hard drive to partition it and install Windows.
• Once i got into Windows I downloaded Sketchup 2017 and Enscape. But sketchup gave me an error.
  After some searching I decided to update the driver of the display and everything worked.

Thanks for the input Jonathan and i hope anyone else who needs to run Enscape on their iMac might be able to succeed.
Please notice that it worked for my setup, so this doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you. But give it a try and make sure to back- up everything before you try.

Happy!

PS: You can find specific drivers for running your graphics card via Bootcamp visit https://www.bootcampdrivers.com/

Quote from Jonathan Knoefel

costeur The only possible way would be to install and use Windows via Bootcamp.

OpenGL 3 is not providing all needed functionality for Enscape, that's why we need at least OpenGL 4.2.

So far we don't have any fix plan for Mac support but the topic got your upvote.

Is funny how you guys have a bunch of obvious iMacs on your main page home screen

on the player and the background, with the logo and everything, and

don't have an interest in Mac Support.

christian_498

Thank you for your feedback! I'm sorry for possible confusion.

=>But I always would recommend to check the system requirements. If you're a Mac user you could install Windows via Bootcamp as mentioned above.

Mac support is a difficult topic. The used hardware is weak/old (graphics) and the market share in our field marginal.

The new iMac is the first Mac with a suitable graphics card for years. So it got more interesting.

Mac Support is on our list but still without a fixed schedule. The topic got your upvote.

=>Our current focus is to optimize Enscape for all current users.

Clients who pay for all of our buildings that we all design run Mac's. It would be great if we could at least get an .exe version that will run on a Mac. +1

+1

ryanfernie Regarding standalone files: we have a new solution for Macs, low spec workstations and mobile devices on our agenda.

What is the minimum computer requirement to run a exe file. everybody I send the exe file to can never open it. What should I do different?

ryanfernie Standalone executables have the same system requirements as Enscape.

So your clients should have a supported graphics card with a current driver.

Hello,

We are installing a new machine in our office and we all run on Mac machines. Currently we operate Enscape on a separate Windows machine, however we would like the new Mac machine to also operate a licence. We understand that the new Mac machines graphic cards are compatible to run Enscape via Bootcamp, however our IT contractor has advised that the supplied AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics card with 8GB of Video Memory only has a Open GL 4.1 driver available. The technical specs advise that you require Open GL 4.2. Can you please confirm that Enscape will be able to operate on the Mac with the latest hardware specs before we purchase?

Quote from Kevin

We understand that the new Mac machines graphic cards are compatible to run Enscape via Bootcamp, however our IT contractor has advised that the supplied AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics card with 8GB of Video Memory only has a Open GL 4.1 driver available. The technical specs advise that you require Open GL 4.2. Can you please confirm that Enscape will be able to operate on the Mac with the latest hardware specs before we purchase?

Hi Kevin & welcome to our forums!

The AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics is definitely compatible with Enscape given it is run with the correct driver. The OpenGL 4.1 limitation is known for MacOs. As far as I'm aware you apparently can't install a regular AMD driver for Windows on Macs with bootcamp, however AMD itself and certain 3rd parties provide reasonably current drivers specially built for bootcamp (https://support.amd.com/de-de/download/desktop/bootcamp). Since these drivers should be ports of the Windows drivers I personally expect them to provide OpenGL4.2 and higher support. Unfortunately we don't have the hardware configuration here and therefore we cannot guarantee you the compatiblility with Enscape. But since you're able to run our 14 day trial for free (& even afterwards with watermarks) there's no reason not to try it on the machine before purchasing another license, is there?

Hope that helps

Hi Clemens,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately it isn't a lot of help because if the machine cannot run Enscape then we need to look at other options. Are you saying that you have no confirmation of Enscape running on the latest iMacs running Bootcamp?

Quote from Kevin

Are you saying that you have no confirmation of Enscape running on the latest iMacs running Bootcamp?

Yes, I can't give you a guarantee on that, as we don't have the Mac hardware to verify it.

Quote from Kevin

Unfortunately it isn't a lot of help because if the machine cannot run Enscape then we need to look at other options.

As stated above: Why not install the free Enscape trial version (or download a standalone at the bottom of this page) and see for yourself? If it runs you can acquire an additional license for the Mac otherwise you're of course still free to choose another option. I'm quite confident that it's worth trying!

Can you please release a version of Enscape for OS?! We would absolutely love to use Enscape but are unable to. Bootcamp is not an option for us as it's unwieldy and requires switching back and forth on our computers. It's not a practical solution. Please release a Mac compatible version!!

rharkrider Topic got your upvote. Which Mac computers are you running in your office?

Enscape runs ok on bootcamp.

I use both a separate PC on work and my MacbookPro (2017) with Bootcamp (SketchUp now - waiting for the Archicad plugin).

Sure you don't get the same performance on Bootcamp with the AMD Radeon on MBP as you would on a PC workstation with a Nvidia 1080, but that's only when we have to walk around in VR. Otherwise my MBP is perfect with Enscape.

Would of course be heaven for us if Enscape was on both Mac and Archicad!!!