KDrz

Please bear with me as I've been working only intermittently in Max for the past few years and haven't gotten the time/opportunity to go deeper.

I've created an app that would allow my students to track their credits as they advance towards a Communication major, to help with advising. I first followed Timothy Place's 

 on signing the app with my developer ID (although I followed the work flow intended for distribution outside of the App Store, and still found that the other computer's gatekeeper blocked it anyway...but that's another issue...) and when I changed security settings and was able to finally launch the app, the background image, which I placed via fpic was not showing up. I tried following a few forum threads related to this, to no avail.

However, these forum threads also mentioned that the users were able to get their app to work using a dmg, so I tried doing that, and got the error: "The following disk images couldn't be opened" with the reason showing "no mountable file systems."

As a side note, simply Air Dropping the app to the other computer worked fine, but I'd want to share this app remotely with students so they can be prepared for their advising appointment with me ahead of time. Any advice?

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I've created an app that would allow my students to track their credits as they advance towards a Communication major, to help with advising. I first followed Timothy Place's tutorial on signing the app with my developer ID (although I followed the work flow intended for distribution outside of the App Store, and still found that the other computer's gatekeeper blocked it anyway...but that's another issue...) and when I changed security settings and was able to finally launch the app, the background image, which I placed via fpic was not showing up.  I tried following a few forum threads related to this, to no avail. 

However, these forum threads also mentioned that the users were able to get their app to work using a dmg, so I tried doing that, and got the error: "The following disk images couldn't be opened" with the reason showing "no mountable file systems." 

As a side note, simply Air Dropping the app to the other computer worked fine, but I'd want to share this app remotely with students so they can be prepared for their advising appointment with me ahead of time.  Any advice? 

Please bear with me as I've been working only intermittently in Max for the past few years and haven't gotten the time/opportunity to go dee

standalone-mac-app-distribution-problems-zip-file-can't-find-media-and-dmg-returns-"no-mountable-file-system"-error

I should note that I am using Max 7.3.5, not Max 8.

Additionally, when I double-check the code signing in RB App Checker Lite, it tells me that there are 30 unsigned executables. This appears to be a problem, but I don't know how to solve this, and I have no idea if this is related to the dmg issue.

Would appreciate a second set of eyes or just some advice. Thanks!

I should note that I am using Max 7.3.5, not Max 8. 

As first, the patch You posted is missing essential stuff needed to

create standalone, like standalone object, thispatcher

If Your students are admins on their Mac computers,

You could start by creating a folder, putting

Your app in that folder, placing Installer Applescript there as well.

That Applescript could turn off gatekeeper alltogether, or add

gatekeeper exception for Your app, and copy it from dmg

do shell script "sudo spctl --master-disable;

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/

 GKAutoRearm -bool NO" with administrator privileges

That would permanently disable the gatekeeper.

spctl --add /Applications/Application.app

that should be executed after copying the app to Applications

The copy path should point to mounted dmg.

ditto /Volumes/ABC/Application.app /Applications

If You want app to be invisible on the dmg, place it in invisible folder

As You are not allowed to create invisible folders, ha ha

ditto /Path/To/Application.app /~Desktop/ABC/.XXX 

At the end You have dmg with Applescript app that works as

gatekeeper control, and kind of installer, as it copies app to Applications.

If You need help with that, just post exact name of the app,

and wished dmg name, and I'll provide the whole script for You.

As first, the patch You posted is missing essential stuff needed to
create standalone, like standalone object, thispatcher
to control window size etc.
But back to the gatekeeper problem:
If Your students are admins on their Mac computers,
You could start by creating a folder, putting
Your app in that folder, placing Installer Applescript there as well.
Than create dmg out of that folder.
That Applescript could turn off  gatekeeper alltogether, or add
gatekeeper exception for Your app, and copy it from dmg
to Applications.

here is one example:
--------------
do shell script "sudo spctl --master-disable;
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.security GKAutoRearm -bool NO" with administrator privileges
--------------
That would permanently disable the gatekeeper.
-----------
Option 2 :
add gatekeeper exception for Your App:

do shell script "sudo spctl --add /Applications/Application.app" with administrator privileges
that should be executed after copying the app to Applications
-----------
The copy path should point to mounted dmg.
So if You made a dmg named ABC, than
path is /Volumes/ABC/Application.app
Copy part of script:
ditto /Volumes/ABC/Application.app /Applications

If You want app to be invisible on the dmg, place it in invisible folder
on Disk Image.Than path would be:
/Volumes/ABC/.XXX/Application.app
As You are not allowed to create invisible folders, ha ha
You have to sudo mkdir ~/Desktop/ABC/.XXX  from terminal, than
ditto /Path/To/Application.app /~Desktop/ABC/.XXX to copy app into .XXX  folder 
---------
At the end You have dmg with Applescript app that works as
gatekeeper control, and kind of installer, as it copies app to Applications.

If You need help with that, just post exact name of the app,
and wished dmg name, and I'll provide the whole script for You.


@source audio - thanks so much for the helpful advice. I do have a standalone object in there, but I don't have the thispatcher object. I'll try adding that if I find that the window size is unreliable on other computers.

I'm going to try running the Applescript myself that you so helpfully provided. If I can't get that to work I will let you know. Again, thanks so much for the insight.

@source audio - thanks so much for the helpful advice. I do have a standalone object in there, but I don't have the thispatcher object. I'll try adding that if I find that the window size is unreliable on other computers. 

Not sure if you're still notified of this thread, as I had to drop off on this project for a bit due to another work project that needed me. Sorry for disappearing. Do you know if there is any way to incorporate that Applescript into a .zip file instead? I still can't get past the dmg error "no mountable file system." thanks!

No problem, mail notification for this thread worked.

I don't quite understand what the problem with dmg Image is.

Does it get corrupt after being uploaded to server,

One could zip the dmg image to protect it

till it reaches the destination, although I never had any problem

storing dmg images even to mega.co.nz or any other

The point with script and app being on the same dmg

is that script knows the path of the app...

No problem, mail notification for this thread worked.
I don't quite understand what the problem with dmg Image is.
Does it get corrupt after being uploaded to server,
or transfered by mail or what exactly ?
One could zip the dmg image to protect it
till it reaches the destination, although I never had any problem
storing dmg images even to mega.co.nz or any other
cloud starage.
dmg is in a way zip compressed.
-------
The point with script and app being on the same dmg
is that script knows the path of the app...


-I was able to fix the problem where the background image file path is lost. The background image shows up just fine when transferring the app to another computer via a zip file uploaded to Google Drive, but despite my code signing the app, it still flags Apple's security firewall which tries to prevent me from downloading.

-When I try to transfer the app via DMG (made through Disk Utility), on the other computer (again through Google Drive), it gives the error "no mountable file system" and won't open it. Maybe it's the way I am transferring it through Google Drive?

Hey, thanks for the reply.

So, to clarify:
-I was able to fix the problem where the background image file path is lost. The background image shows up just fine when transferring the app to another computer via a zip file uploaded to Google Drive, but despite my code signing the app, it still flags Apple's security firewall which tries to prevent me from downloading.
-When I try to transfer the app via DMG (made through Disk Utility), on the other computer (again through Google Drive), it gives the error "no mountable file system" and won't open it. Maybe it's the way I am transferring it through Google Drive?

I would zip the dmg and let client computers download

I don't use Google Drive, and definitely not any Desktop App

that would mount Google Drive as being local.

Simple file upload / download cures all that annoying Apple restrictions.

I would zip the dmg and let client computers download
and expand the zip file.
Then it must be mountable.
I don't use Google Drive, and definitely not any Desktop App
that would mount Google Drive  as being local.
Simple file upload / download cures all that annoying Apple  restrictions.



Yes, that worked perfectly, thanks! It was an issue with the way that Google Drive was compressing the file.

Now, onto produce the Windows version, which is apparently even more complicated. Will post separately if I can't find the answers in the forum. Thanks again for your help.

Yes, that worked perfectly, thanks! It was an issue with the way that Google Drive was compressing the file. 

You are welcome, glad it solved the problem.

Windows version should be on easier side,

I usually bundle Windows standalones into single exe file

using freeware enigmavb. If you are interested in that,

have a look in this forum, I posted detailed instructions there:

https://cycling74.com/forums/fyi-successfully-protected-a-standalone-max-app-on-pc

You are welcome, glad it solved the problem.
Windows version should be on easier side,
being completely folder based.
I usually bundle Windows standalones into single exe file
using freeware enigmavb. If you are interested in that,
have a look in this forum, I posted detailed instructions there:
https://cycling74.com/forums/fyi-successfully-protected-a-standalone-max-app-on-pc

Thanks for your detailed explanation. I do also have an app which I would like distribute freely but I had the same problem of not being able to pass the barrier without asking user to open terminal and so on. To be honest, I have never opened the terminal itself, frightens me with messing things :) If your offer is still valid and open to the others as well, I would like to get help from you about this issue, if not I will try to follow your footsteps in here, as much as I can :)

Dear Source Audio, 
Thanks for your detailed explanation. I do also have an app which I would like distribute freely but I had the same problem of not being able to pass the barrier without asking user to open terminal and so on. To be honest, I have never opened the terminal itself, frightens me with messing things :) If your offer is still valid and open to the others as well, I would like to get help from you about this issue,  if not I will try to follow your footsteps in here, as much as I can :)
Thanks anyways,


Well, to be honest last time I looked into this standalone issues was

Things became worse since than, and I have no

interest fighting with that apple nonesense if not really needed.

Last success to prevent OS to translocate downloaded app was to

download it directly from a server usind curl and extract it into

Remember - if You app gets translocated once,

it becomes almost impossible to get rid of that.

After that You need to disable gatekeeper totaly .

 | tar -x -m - -C /Applications" with administrator privileges

Making script app gives You trouble again, thus only script.

Well, to be honest last time I looked into this standalone issues was
up to mojave 10.14.4 and before.
Things became worse since than, and I have no
interest fighting with that apple nonesense if not really needed.
It is just loss of time.
Last success to prevent OS to translocate downloaded app was to
download it directly from a server usind curl and extract it into
applications.
Also App had to be gzip compressed.
That is the part about translocation.
Remember -  if You app gets translocated once,
it becomes almost impossible to get rid of that.
-----
After that You need to disable gatekeeper totaly .
If You can cope with that...

this is example script :
sudo curl -SL www.serverxy/files/Tuner.app.tar.gz | tar -x -m - -C /Applications
underlined part is example download link
One can pack that into applescript.
do shell script "sudo curl -SL www.serverxy/files/Tuner.app.tar.gz | tar -x -m - -C /Applications" with administrator privileges

Making script app gives You trouble again, thus only script.


Maybe another word to people willing to share ( not sell)

apps - why not just share patches or collectives and let interested people download max ?

If You don't violate apple's rules about saving stuff into forbiden places,

And one could trimm down Max to only include what a runtime would need to have,

I don't know if that would conflict with cycling license rules,

Maybe another word to people willing to share ( not sell)
apps - why not just share patches or collectives and let interested people download max ?
If You don't violate apple's rules about saving stuff into forbiden places,
than it should work.
And one could trimm down Max to only include what a runtime would need to have,
and place it somewhere for download.
I don't know if that would conflict with cycling license rules,
but honestly... I don't care.


Thanks Source Audio, I do understand your points. I think I will look for some other solutions for that. Too bad that gatekeeper only opens by paying the fee and I think go from that road :) 

Frankly, I would like people to use the patch that I have done but I prefer to keep inside secure (I know it is an issue on Max/MSP as far as I gaze through the forum). 

Thanks Source Audio, I do understand your points. I think I will look for some other solutions for that. Too bad that gatekeeper only opens by paying the fee and I think go from that road :) 
Frankly, I would like people to use the patch that I have done but I prefer to keep inside secure (I know it is an issue on Max/MSP as far as I gaze through the forum). 


if by "inside secure" You mean to protect the patch from being modified

mxf file can easily get transformed into editable patch.

if by "inside secure" You mean to protect the patch from being modified
or similar, than forget it.
mxf file can easily get transformed into editable patch.


Standalone Mac App distribution problems - zip file can't find media and dmg returns "no mountable file system" error