Step by step instructions for instaling gretl on OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion Allin Cottrell, 2012-12-06 Before getting started, it might be helpful to have an overview of the process. You're going to install one or two pieces of software that are required for gretl to run, then install gretl itself. Each piece of software will be downloaded as a disk image ("dmg") file, and each of these images must be "mounted" temporarily (which just requires double-clicking). From the mounted disk image, you either run a step-by-step installer (for XQuartz) or you just drag an icon onto a folder, which has the effect of copying the required files onto your system. Once the installation is done you can eject the disk images and trash the files you initially downloaded. 1. Check X11 and install it if need be. * Open the Finder and click on Applications. Scroll to the foot of the Apps window and open (double-click on) the Utilities folder. In there you should see an item named "X11": double-click on it. * If X11 actually starts, you can skip to step 2 below. But you may see a dialog box explaining that X11 is not installed, and asking if you want to install it now. In that case click the "Continue" button in the dialog. * Clicking Continue should take you to an Apple webpage which provides a link to macosforge. Follow that link and download the latest version of XQuartz. As of this writing the file you want is XQuartz-2.7.4.dmg. * The XQuartz file should land in your "Downloads". Open Downloads and double-click on the XQuartz file. This will open the disk image, but the Finder window showing the image will likely open behind your web browser. Minimize the browser so you can see the newly opened window. Double-click on XQuartz.pkg in that window and walk through the installer process. You'll be prompted for your password at some point in the installation. * When the XQuartz installation is complete you'll see a dialog box telling you that to set XQuartz as "your default X server" you need to log out and log back in again. So go ahead and do that. 2. Go to the gretl for OS X page at http://gretl.sourceforge.net/mac-intel.html From here we have to download and install two things. * Click on the link to GTK+.framework.dmg (under the heading "Step 1: install GTK"). After a little while the dmg file should appear in your Downloads. Open Downloads and double-click on GTK+.framework.dmg. You may have to minimize your browser to see the Finder Window that opens. In that window, drag GTK+.framework onto Frameworks. You'll likely see a warning that Frameworks "can't be modified", but just authenticate yourself (provide your password) and it should go OK. * Back on the gretl OS X page, download either the latest release or the current snapshot (links under "Step 2: install gretl"). Again the selected gretl file should appear in your Downloads after a short while. Again, double-click to open the image; and again minimize the browser. (Note: if you can't see the gretl disk-image window after double-clicking on the gretl file in Downloads, open the Finder and look at the foot of the left-hand pane. The names of any currently available disk images should be shown there. Double click on "gretl" to make it appear.) Once you've got the gretl disk-image window in view, you should see a gretl icon and a folder labeled "Applications". Drag the gretl icon onto Applications. 3. Now you should be done. Navigate to Applications in the Finder and you should find a gretl icon there. Double-clicking should start gretl. On its first run gretl may take a while to start, as it scans the fonts available on your system. If gretl starts OK, you can drag its icon from Applications onto the dock to get a quick-launcher. 4. Clean up. You should now eject any disk images that remain in place. Open the finder and go to the bottom of the left-hand pane. If you see items there for XQuartz, GTK+ or gretl, use the little up-arrow button to eject them. Then go to your Downloads: you can move the original XQuartz, GTK+ and gretl files to the trash.