CrossOver has improved its installation process very substantially since we last tested it, making it much simpler and easier, though it is neither simple nor particularly easy. Still, it’s a vast improvement. For do-it-yourselfers considering tackling the project of bringing the substantial benefits of our software to their Macs, on a scale of one-to-ten, the difficulty factor has moved from ten down to six.
We agree that it is a royal shame that Microsoft’s lobotomy given the Mac version of Word has made it impossible for us to create a Mac version of our software, but CrossOver is a reasonable workaround. If you follow the directions exactly, you will succeed. The really good news is that we’ve found the CrossOver solution to be safe and stable. Because it is not a real operating system, it does not expose Macs to the social diseases so prevalent in MSFT’s world. Please do keep in mind that our support for Mac installations is limited; we just don’t have the expertise to troubleshoot cross-platform issues. Fortunately, problems have been rare. Please note that CrossOver does not currently appear to support use of Doxserá DB with Excel; it doesn’t include the drivers necessary to connect Excel and Word and Doxserá DB interprets that as an installation failure.
Here, thanks to Joshua Lowe of Mansfield, LA are the newest, simplest steps to install CrossOver, then TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá:
Install Crossover:
a. Install Crossover. Directions are at https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/crossover/theformtool. The best idea is to license CrossOver before downloading the program in order to simplify the remainder of the steps.
Install Office/Word:
a. Insert the Office 2010 or 2013 installation disk in your disk drive (or download installation file).
b. When you open Crossover, there is a button or screen for installing a windows application. Type in your software version “Microsoft Word 2010”, “Microsoft Office 2013”, etc. It then opens a screen acknowledging that it had found the program. Click Continue. Crossover confirms it will install MS Office and place it in a bottle called “Microsoft Office 2010”. A “bottle” is CrossOver’s name for the environment created to run a Windows program on a Mac.
c. Approve the various installation steps. Some are fast, some are much slower. One will appear to stall completely. Allow at least 5 full minutes before concluding that it has stalled.
Install the Form Tool/Doxsera:
a. Download the installer file for the Form Tool or Doxsera.
b. Click to “Install Windows Software” from the crossover screen.
Search for “TheFormTool” or “Doxsera” and select it to install.
Click “Continue” and then browse to the download of the Form Tool or Doxsera.
c. Click “Select Bottle” and verify the Office or Word bottle is selected. d. Click continue.
e. Click Install
Setup the Form Tool/Doxsera:
a. Open MS Word from within the Crossover bottle or graphic menu.
b. Open TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá zip file. Drag the file titled “TheFormTool.docm” and drop it on top of the Word icon in your Dock, forcing the Word for Windows program to open the file. In the alternative, you can use Word’s commands to open the file (File>Open>Desktop>My Mac Desktop>(the zip folder)>the .docm file)
c. When the program’s document opens in a new window, click the yellow “Enable Content.” There may be a second yellow command as well.
d. Approve the licensing information.
e. Click “OK” to install.
f. Completely close Word.
g. Reopen Word. The program tab should appear in Word’s menu. Select it.
h. Click on any of the program’s menu commands. It should request licensing information, the Registration Name and License Code you saved earlier. Complete that step and you’re done.
— END of 2019 Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to putting Word for Windows 2010 and either TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá on your Mac. If you prefer, we’ll do it for you, including both CrossOver and our program of your preference, for the current price of just $465.
Here are the steps:
Requirements:
Crossover, with registration information
Word for Windows 2010 installation disk (CrossOver requires a disk version of Word). These are readily available on eBay at reasonable prices.
TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá program zip folder saved unopened on your computer’s desktop, with licensing information (Registration Name and License Code) where you can use command-c to copy it and, later, command-v to paste it into the licensing window.)
An internet connection
One to two hours of your time
The Steps:
- Install Crossover. Directions are at https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/crossover/theformtool. The best idea is to license CrossOver before downloading the program in order to simplify the remainder of the steps.
- Insert the Office 2010 installation disk in your disk drive
- When you open Crossover, there is a button or screen for installing a windows application. Enter “Microsoft Word 2010.” It then opens a screen acknowledging that it had found the program. Click Continue. Crossover confirms it will install MS Word 2010 and place it in a bottle called “Microsoft word 2010.” A “bottle” is CrossOver’s name for the environment created to run a Windows program on a Mac.
Approve the various installation steps. Some are fast, some are much slower. One will appear to stall completely. Allow at least 5 full minutes before concluding that it has stalled. - Next, install VBA Runtime Service Pack 6 by typing “Microsoft Visual Basic 6 Service Pack” into the space for the program name to be installed, and it will find it for you.
- Now, install the TIE file for the Form Tool at https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/browse/name/?app_id=10978 and clicking the gray/green button in the middle button of the three boxes on right side). The installation is automatic. Crossover then provides a choice as to how to activate the installer.
- Choose “Choose the Installer File.”
- Select TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá zip file for installation.
- Crossover your selection for installation.
- Select the “Microsoft Word 2010” bottle for the installation.
- Click install
- Open MS Word 2010 from within the Crossover bottle or graphic menu.
- Open TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá zip file. Drag the file titled “TheFormTool.docm” and drop it on top of the Word icon in your Dock, forcing the Word for Windows program to open the file. In the alternative, you can use Word’s commands to open the file (File>Open>Desktop>My Mac Desktop>(the zip folder)>the .docm file)
- When the program’s document opens in a new window, click the yellow “Enable Content.” There may be a second yellow command as well.
- Approve the licensing information.
- Click “OK” to install.
- Completely close Word.
- Reopen Word. The program tab should appear in Word’s menu. Select it.
- Click on any of the program’s menu commands. It should request licensing information, the Registration Name and License Code you saved earlier. Complete that step and you’re done.
We’d like to extend a tip of the hat and major appreciation to John Russell, Homewood, IL for his very substantial contributions to this article.
