Karlheinz Essl

I sucessfully created a standalone with Max 8.1.2 which runs flawlessly on my MacBook Pro under macOS 10.14.6. However, when I upload this file as a .zip onto my webserver, and download it from there, it reports an error "xxx is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Trash."

I sucessfully created a standalone with Max 8.1.2 which runs flawlessly on my MacBook Pro under macOS 10.14.6. However, when I upload this file as a .zip onto my webserver, and download it from there, it reports an error "xxx is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Trash." 
Any ideas how to resolve this?

Thanks for your comments,
Karlheinz Essl
www.essl.at

I sucessfully created a standalone with Max 8.1.2 which runs flawlessly on my MacBook Pro under macOS 10.14.6. However, when I upload this f

standalone-with-max-8-1-2-error-report-after-download

Here is the standalone: http://khz96.org/app/REplayPLAYer_5.2.zip

http://khz96.org/app/REplayPLAYer_5.2.zip

Here is the standalone: http://khz96.org/app/REplayPLAYer_5.2.zip 

I just downloaded it on Windows, the file unzipped just fine (can't test the app, obviously).

It's not the question of unzipping - this works! But when launching the unzipped application, I get this error message. Also tried it with other zip-compressor with the same result.

It's not the question of unzipping - this works! But when launching the  unzipped application, I get this error message. Also tried it with other zip-compressor with the same result.

As first max 8.1.2 won't run on anything older than El Capitan,

as second standalones are not able to run if not

There are quite few threads here dealing with that problem.

If standalone did pass all that troublesome procedure,

than there are still possible issues - dealing with

placing it into dmg prior to zipping etc.

I can't provide more info on that, I gave up apple and max combo

on anything newer than High Sierra and Max 7.

As first max 8.1.2 won't run on anything older than El Capitan,
as second standalones are not able to run if not
fully signed and notarized by apple.
There are quite few threads here dealing with that problem.
If standalone did pass all that troublesome procedure,
than there are still possible issues - dealing with
placing it into dmg prior to zipping etc.
I can't provide more info on that, I gave up apple and max combo
on anything newer than High Sierra and Max 7.


MacOS will not run ANY app downloaded from the internet unless it has been signed and notarized using an apple verified code signature. If the app is not signed, MacOS actively lies to you, telling you that the app is broken. Why they lie to you, instead of saying that the app is unsigned, is beyond me, and is one of the reasons I don't like the MacOS platform. But, there's your reason.

You can try the instructions in the following video — it should work: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fqzb4qpgcs

PS: This issue should have been tagged "beginner" rather than "advanced." It's basic macOS troubleshooting.

You can try the instructions in the following video — it should work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fqzb4qpgcs

Hope this helps.

All the best,
António

PS: This issue should have been tagged "beginner" rather than "advanced." It's basic macOS troubleshooting.


Dear Maxers, thanks a lot for all your comments! Very sad to see that the possibility to share artistic works as standalones for non-Maxers became extremely difficult nowadays.

Dear Maxers, thanks a lot for all your comments! Very sad to see that the possibility to share artistic works as standalones for non-Maxers  became extremely difficult nowadays. 

Yes it is not only for maxers but any developer of mac apps

Shareware, donationware, freeware is coming to an end. 

And this is by no means "begginer" topic, and by no means

Most Mac users are frightened to use terminal as

if it were a blackhole, and don't even know how to set the basic

System settings for better OS performance.

Yes it is not only for maxers but any developer of mac apps
suffer under that policy.
Shareware, donationware, freeware is coming to an end. 
And this is by no means "begginer" topic, and by no means
"basic" MacOS troubleshooting.
Most Mac users are frightened to use terminal as
if it were a blackhole, and don't even know how to set the basic
System settings for better OS performance.


I agree on the general point concerning Apple, it's clear to me that Apple is developping a closed software ecology, and that independent software development and use is being pushed off the platform. Catalina is a breaking point for me on this and other matters, and that's why I'm staying on Mojave.

This said, moving an app to the Applications folder, and executing a single command line in Terminal is basic macOS troubleshooting, and it works. It's clearly a "beginner" issue, it is isn't all that hard or demanding, and everyone can do it and will eventually need to do it.

it is far more than a "beginner issue" because for some types of software it wont work at all.

for example does auvalidation fail when a bundle or package is not signed.

but it will last only until the next restart, then you have to repeat the process.

so to solve the issue you would have to tell the enduser to completly disable gatekeeper in order to use your software.

this seems infeasable for a number of reasons.


it is far more than a "beginner issue" because for some types of software it wont work at all.

for example does auvalidation fail when a bundle or package is not signed.

you can surely come around this by doing

sudo spctl --master-disable
auval -a
sudo spctl --master-enable 

but it will last only until the next restart, then you have to repeat the process.

so to solve the issue you would have to tell the enduser to completly disable gatekeeper in order to use your software.

this seems infeasable for a number of reasons.



What I suggested does work for Max apps and it's easy, at least in my experience. That was my whole point.

Since Catalina, at least on my machine with 10.15.6, neutralizing temporarily Gatekeeper (with 

does not seem to work anymore, unfortunately...

It looks like doing the job, showing again 'from anywhere' in Security and Confidentiality, but it is still impossible to open the standalone (either with double-click or ctl-click), nor does it make the filename to appear in the Preference Pane as it used to be the case with previous MacOS versions. 

In all cases, it still says the file is damaged, even after re-downloading again and again it to test all possible combinations...

Since Catalina, at least on my machine with 10.15.6, neutralizing temporarily Gatekeeper (with sudo spctl --master-disable) does not seem to work anymore, unfortunately...
It looks like doing the job, showing again 'from anywhere' in Security and Confidentiality,  but it is still impossible to open the standalone (either with double-click or ctl-click), nor does it make the filename to appear in the Preference Pane as it used to be the case with previous MacOS versions. 
In all cases, it still says the file is damaged, even after re-downloading again and again it to test all possible combinations...

khz´s question was basically about the deployment side of things, and that is still unsolved unless you want to follow apples instructions and pay a fee.

the only quick and dirty solution is to distribute collectives.

teaching each other how to remove all attributes from executable code will lead people into thinking that it could be a good idea to do that with the shit they downloaded via torrent, too.

to my suprise there is still no "developer account sharing" service around, or did apple forbid that, too?


khz´s question was basically about the deployment side of things, and that is still unsolved unless you want to follow apples instructions and pay a fee.

the only quick and dirty solution is to distribute collectives.

teaching each other how to remove all attributes from executable code will lead people into thinking that it could be a good idea to do that with the shit they downloaded via torrent, too.

to my suprise there is still no "developer account sharing" service around, or did apple forbid that, too?


Max 8.1.5 Standalone app - Catalina 10.15.6 

Completely fresh standalone build, without signing or notarization

on fully protected Catalina - means SIP enabled, Gatekeeper set to appstore only 

Everything works if one removes all xattributes from the app after one copies it into applications folder.

If anyone is interested in details, let me know, I'd post detailed instructions

how to make dmg with installer script and app, that can be free distributed.

Max 8.1.5 Standalone app  - Catalina 10.15.6 
Completely fresh standalone build, without signing or notarization
on fully protected Catalina - means SIP enabled, Gatekeeper set to appstore only 
which is most restrictive settings.
Everything works if one removes all xattributes from the app after one copies it into applications folder.

If anyone is interested in details, let me know, I'd post detailed instructions
how to make dmg with installer script and app, that can be free distributed.



I am indeed interested - as, I am sure, many other people who can't share their standalones!

It would be wonderful to have again a simple and 'correct' way to do it, especially when this is not for commercial purposes which may justify going through the signing and notarizing that is somehow exaggerated in other cases.

I am indeed interested - as, I am sure, many other people who can't share their standalones!
It would be wonderful to have again a simple and 'correct' way to do it, especially when this is not for commercial purposes which may justify going through the signing and notarizing that is somehow exaggerated in other cases.

but to your own standalone allredy downloaded,

xattr - rc and drop the standalone into terminal 

You can test minimal Max standalone download

I tested this only using max 8.1.5, older versions might fail.

it is nothing exotic, it is just executable script residing on DMG together with

Standalone app, which copies Standalone to Applications,

removes all xattributes from the app and quits.

The key is to make folder with exact name as mounted dmg

and to write correct paths in the script.

echo -e "\033[0;31m"Installer is running ...

echo -e "Installation is finished... Enjoy 

as first it clears the terminal , sets text color to red, posts installer is running...

makes 1 second pause after copying then removes xattributes from the app.

I write that stuff in textedit, set as plain text, 

It could be done without echoes etc, but it is just a short animation, so that

I place short instructions on the dmg so it is clear what to do :

Instructions.png

Install.command.zip

You can use this script to modify it for own app using textedit.

The reason to use terminal command is because it does not get rejected by the gatekeeper as for example apple script would, or unsigned installer.

1-make folder using name that will be mounted dmg name

2-place Instructions, Installer and Standalone App in that folder

new image from folder, select install folder and save as compressed dmg

I will post the script and infos soon,
but to your own standalone allredy downloaded,
did you try typing
xattr - rc and drop the standalone into terminal 
after copying it to applications ?
You can test minimal Max standalone download
from this link :

https://files.fm/u/e75mmddc

 it does exactly what I described .
I tested this only using max 8.1.5, older versions might fail.
------------
it is nothing exotic, it is just executable script residing on DMG together with
Standalone app,  which copies Standalone to Applications,
removes all xattributes from the app and quits.
The key is to make folder with exact name as mounted dmg
and to write correct paths in the script.
Here is the script :
-------------
clear
echo -e "\033[0;31m"Installer is running ...
ditto /Volumes/MyApp-Install/MyApp.app /Applications/MyApp.app;
(sleep 1 && xattr -rc /Applications/MyApp.app;)
echo -e "Installation is finished... Enjoy MyApp.app"
(Sleep 2)
killall Terminal
------------
as first it clears the terminal , sets text color to red, posts installer is running...
ditto is copy command
next has to be correct path
MyApp-Install is mounted dmg name, MyApp.app name of the application
Replace with own dmg and app name.
Take care  if path has spaces inside...

(sleep 1 && xattr -rc /Applications/MyApp.app;)
makes 1 second pause after copying then removes xattributes from the app.

echo -e "Installation is finished... Enjoy MyApp.app"  

and 2 seconds later quits terminal
---------- 
I write that stuff in textedit, set as plain text, 
save file as Installer.command.
To make it executable type in Terminal
chmod 775  (add 1 space at end) and drop the script
--------
It could be done without echoes etc, but it is just a short animation, so that
one knows if it did what it should.
I place short instructions on the dmg so it is clear what to do :


You can use this script to modify it for own app using textedit.
--------
The reason to use terminal command is because it does not get rejected by the gatekeeper as for example apple script would, or unsigned installer.
----------------
Again the procedure :
1-make folder using name that will be mounted dmg name
2-place Instructions, Installer and Standalone App in that folder
3-using Disk Utility :
new image from folder, select install folder and save as compressed dmg
 


I did not know about the 'xattr -rc' strategy: I tested it with my standalones downloaded from Dropbox and also form a website, and it works! 

I did not know about the 'xattr -rc' strategy: I tested it with my standalones downloaded from Dropbox and also form a website, and it works! 
So clear and simple: brilliant!
Many thanks!

it is a good idea to make a script or app to make it easy for everyone- but be careful that people dont get used to that method for files of unknown origin.

some of you have seen applications like "install gatekeeper friendly" - same story. know what you are doing.


it was in the first post by antonio. :)

it is a good idea to make a script or app to make it easy for everyone- but be careful that people dont get used to that method for files of unknown origin.

some of you have seen applications like "install gatekeeper friendly" - same story. know what you are doing.


There is another option - to use curl to download app directly into Applications

It has to be tar.gz compressed, and it will land into applications

without Gate Keeper taking notice and setting any xattributes.

Would be handy for application distribution to students or similar

sudo curl -SL www.someserver/files/MyApp.app.tar.gz ⏐ tar -x -m - -C /Applications

that is vertical line or vertical slash ( ascii 124) between .gz and tar

To compress app to desktop type in terminal :

tar -cvzf ~/Desktop/MyApp.app.tar.gz and drop the app

There is another option - to use curl to download app directly into Applications
It has to be tar.gz  compressed, and it will land into applications
without Gate Keeper taking notice and setting any xattributes.
Would be handy for application distribution to students or similar
they would only need the script...
Example :

It downloads and extracts app.
that is vertical line or vertical slash ( ascii 124) between .gz and tar


To compress  app to desktop type in terminal :
tar -cvzf ~/Desktop/MyApp.app.tar.gz  and drop the app

Standalone with Max 8.1.2 / error report after download