1. Install X11 (optional tool of your Mac OS X install disk)
To begin with, check whether X11 is already installed. From the Finder, select :
- Go
- Utilities
Scroll down the window. In the last applications, there should be the X11 icon. If you can see X11, skip directly to step 2.
If X11 is not installed, insert the Mac OS X Install disk 1, and :
- Wait a few seconds
- Double-click the Optional Installs folder
- Double-click the Optional installs.mpkg package
- Click Continue
- Click Continue a second time
- Click Agree (software licence agreement)
- Click the arrow in front of Applications (to expand)
- Check the X11 box
- Click Continue
- Click Install
- Type your password (you must be the computer's administrator)
- Click OK (the installation takes about 1 minute)
- Click Close
- Close all windows
- Eject your install CD and put it away
If you have managed to do that, you are on the right track!
Mac OS X starting from Yosemite
In the last versions of Mac OS X (Yosemite, El Capitan), the X11 program is no longer included. The XQuartz project was created by Apple as a community effort to allow old programs (like Darwine) to run on Mac OS X by using the same X11 libraries. So, you just have to install XQuartz, and then you'll get the X11 icon in your Utilities folder, as if X11 was installed.
The latest version of XQuartz is available here:
http://www.xquartz.org/
More information about the XQuartz project are available here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201341
Unfortunately, several users report problems with XQuartz. When they launch Darwine (and other programs), the message "Unable to locate X11.app. Make sure X11 has been installed" is displayed every time, as if X11 couldn't be located. There might be something to change in the settings. Some people have found a solution by typing "sudo" lines in the Terminal window. But it's often too complicated for the average user. Thanks to let me know about your own installation, so I can help those who can't make Darwine work.
Try Wineskin
If X11 cannot be located by your Mac, do some research about the free program called Wineskin. This one uses Wine and allows you to create "wrappers" around each of your Windows applications, so they can run on OS versions like Mavericks or Sierra. Several users managed to launch their .exe programs in this way. It's a solution that requires to strictly follow the procedure described by various sites. The official site of the program is:
http://wineskin.urgesoftware.com/
2. Download the DARWINE program and install it
This step is not required if you have already downloaded and installed Darwine. Once is enough for running all the Windows applications you want. It is only when a new version of Darwine is available that you need to do the installation again.
To download DARWINE (free) :
- Click Darwine 0.9.60.dmg (25.1 MB - from 2 to 5 minutes according to your connection)
Then, go to your Downloads folder, and :
- Double-click Darwine 0.9.60.dmg
- Double-click Darwine 0.9.60
- Click Continue three times
- Click Agree (software licence agreement)
- Click Install
- Type your password (you must be the computer's administrator)
- Click OK (the installation takes less than 1 minute)
- Click Close
- Close all windows
- Eject the Darwine 0.9.60 icon from your desktop
If everything went smoothly, you are a champion!
Advanced users
This installation has created a new folder called Darwine in your Applications folder. There, you will find the WineHelper program, several Windows applications given as examples, as well as the configuration program called winecfg.exe.
3. Download and install the Mac version of your favourite card game
An example is shown with Bel Atout, but the procedure is the same for the 4 games. Click the belatout661emac.exe link given above, and download the program. Then, open your Downloads folder and :
- Double-click belatout661emac.exe
- Welcome window : Click Next
- Information window : Click Next
- Select destination location : Click Next
Advanced users
The default installation folder is called : Z:\Applications\Card games\Bel Atout
Actually, it is your Applications folder that Darwine writes differently for internal requirements. You can change this path with the Browse button. Then, you should know that the Program Files folder is located in drive_c. Still, this folder is not really advisable as it is not easy to access (hidden folder).
- Creating a desktop icon : Click Next
- Click Install (less than 30 seconds)
- Click Finish
The Wine Log window is probably open. You'll have to get used to it, for it opens each time Darwine launches a Windows application, and it doesn't close automatically. So, close all the open windows.
If you've gone through this step, you may not think it but you have already run on your Mac a program written for Windows. What a performance!
4. Download and install the sounds and voices that go with the program
Only the sounds in the Wav format seem to be heard properly with this version of Darwine. This is why you also need to download them. They are not included in the basic version, so as not to make the package too big. But once you have installed them, you won't have to do it again for the next versions of your program.
Beware, you must have first of all installed the program (step 3) so that the installer finds the right installation folder.
An example is shown with Bel Atout, but the procedure is the same for the 4 games. Click the BelAtout_SoundsVoices102.exe link given above, and download the file. Then, open your Downloads folder and :
- Double-click BelAtout_SoundsVoices102.exe
- Welcome window : Click Next
- Information window : Click Next
- Click Install (less than 30 seconds)
- Click Finish
- Close all the open windows...
And that's it! Your program is installed. There must be an icon on the desktop, which is always the same one used by Wine (as the Windows icons are not in the right format). But you can change it at step 5.
5. Download and change the program icon as you like
I've not yet learnt how to create an icon in the Mac OS X format, but here is a procedure which seems to work on Leopard 10.5. No doubt that some advanced users will confirm to me that it is correct, or will help me to create an icon for all.
An example is shown with Bel Atout, but the procedure is the same for the 4 games. Click the BelAtout_icon1.gif link given above, and download the file. It is a simple image in the gif format. Then, open your Downloads folder and :
- Double-click BelAtout_icon1.gif to open the image with Preview
- Click Edit
- Click Select All
- Click Edit
- Click Copy
- Close the preview window
Now, here is the way to create an alias icon on the desktop, icon that will not be changed when installing a later version of the program :
- Right-click the Bel Atout.lnk icon of the desktop
- Click Make Alias
- Then, right-click the alias that you've just made
- Click Get Info
- Click Select New Original...
- Find the installation folder of Bel Atout
It is /Applications/Card games/Bеl Atout if you have not changed it.
- Select belatout.exe
- Click Choose
- Then, click the top left icon once
A small circle should be displayed around it, showing that it is selected.
- Press the Cmd-V key to paste the new icon image
The top left icon must then be changed.
- In the Name & Extension area, type the name you wish (e.g. : Bel Atout)
- Close the information window
That's all. You can move to trash the first icon (Bel Atout.lnk), and keep only the alias icon that you've just created. And now, any new installation will create a Wine icon that you can delete, knowing that your alias icon will not be changed any more.
Warning, useful links and acknowledgement
Warning
Be careful, don't call it a miracle and remember that the authors of Wine and Darwine give their program with no guarantee. You must not think that all the Windows applications will run on Mac properly. It is far from being the case. First, ask the authors whether they have tested their application on Mac and Darwine, and if it can be used safely.
My four card game programs have been tested on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5. A few changes have been made in them to fix or circumvent the bugs that were found. But now, as far as I know, one can play with no problem at all.
Still, there are a few bugs not fixed yet :
- The help pages are not displayed directly (or else they would be displayed in a very bad way). So, I propose you to open them in Safari and reach with a few clicks the help page corresponding to the help button you have pressed.
- The main window is not maximised properly. If you want your game in a full screen window, click the maximise green button, and quit the program. Then, when you restart, the window will be maximised but not completely so as to avoid the bug.
- There are some extra windows to close when quitting a Windows application launched by Darwine. It is the price to pay, for the moment.
Useful links
Wine's site is located here :
https://www.winehq.org/
The site where this version of Darwine was found is :
http://thisismyinter.net/
Scroll down to the end of the page, and click Next Page.
Direct link to this page (that you are free to use) :
https://vincent-brevart.fr/en/mac/card-games-for-mac.html
Acknowledgement
Of course, I thank the authors of Wine and Darwine (many programmers have contributed to these programs) without whom this page would not exist. And I also thank the few enthusiast users who helped me to prepare the Mac version of my card games (without having to reprogram the whole of it!).
Feel free to report your finds (new versions of Darwine, successful installations, unknown bugs, solution tips, etc.), so that it can be of benefit to other users and help me to improve my different card game programs.
Thanks to all for your help.
Vincent
Belote 
Bridge 
President 
Elevator Whist 
