OS X 10.12, 10.13, and 10.14+ Installation Workaround for AIJ

[karenacollins]

AIJ installation is currently not directly compatible with OS X 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, or 10.15+, but there is a new Java 8-based AIJ build that significantly simplifies AIJ installation. The new version only supports 64 bit Mac OS, so older Macs will need to continue to use the Java 6 installation.

Follow these steps to install the newer AIJ Java 8 version:

1) Download the latest AIJ Mac installation zip file that is labeled with "java8" from this link.
2) Double-click the installation file to decompress the app to "AstroImageJ".
3) Drag the AstroImageJ app to the Applications folder.
4) Open a terminal window and enter "xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/AstroImageJ.app" (without the quotes).
5) Double-click the AstroImageJ app and it should now open with no error messages.
6) Go to AIJ_Toolbar=>Edit=>Options=>"Memory and Threads" and update the "Maximum memory" value from the default 3000 MB to your preferred AIJ memory upper limit. It is recommended to set the value to ~75% of your computer's physical memory. For example, if you have 8 GB of memory, set the maximum memory value to 6000 MB.
7) Close and reopen AIJ to activate the new memory setting. Click on the bottom of the toolbar to verify that the new memory setting is retained, and verify that Java 1.8 is indicated. If so, you should be ready to use AIJ.
8) Use the AIJ Update feature at AIJ_Toolbar=>Help=>Update AstroImageJ to update to the latest numbered release or the daily build. The "Upgrade To:" box will default to the latest daily build version of AIJ. If you prefer the latest numbered release, select it in the dropdown box. Click "OK" and three files will be downloaded and installed in the proper location in the installation directory structure (you need write access to the installation directory). After the files have been installed, AIJ will automatically close. Restart AIJ to use the updated version.

Your AIJ installation should now be fully functional. STOP HERE.

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If you for some reason still need to use the Java 6 version of AIJ, follow the more complicated steps below to install it.

If installing or attempting to run AIJ with Java 6 after upgrading to MacOS Catalina (10.15), the version of Java needed for AIJ must first be installed by following the special instructions at the following link (then return to the instructions below). However, if you are upgrading to 10.15.4 or later, it is recommended to skip this link and start at the detailed instructions provide in the second link below.
http://astroimagej.1065399.n5.nabble.com/Reinstalling-Java-for-OS-X-2017-001-on-MacOS-Catalina-td1241.html
[Thanks to forum member Willie!]

If AIJ is not already installed, follow these instructions to install AIJ:

- Download the AIJ installation file.
- Unzip the installation file and move the AstroImageJ folder to the Applications folder
- Run this command in Terminal:
xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/AstroImageJ

If you have completed the above steps, and AIJ will still not start up properly (often with 10.15), follow the detailed steps outlined by Peter Plavchan at the link below. It is strongly recommended to follow all steps, even if you think you have performed some steps previously, in the order outlined by Peter.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hBd7V14wfPe6Stl_JwZUdiIsDKmNSvY3zy23zkkgpuM/edit?usp=sharing
[Thanks to forum member Peter Planchan!]

In a couple of cases, it has been reported that the AIJ_Prefs.txt file can become corrupted as part of an upgrade to 10.15. This will cause various error messages/exceptions when starting sub-modules such as Data Processor (DP). If you are seeing those problems, then open Multi-Plot and navigate to File->"Restore all AIJ default preferences..." (at the bottom of the list) and follow the instructions in the AIJ messages provided to reset the defaults.

Post Installation: After installation you should change the upper limit on the amount of memory that is available to AstroImageJ and check for AstroImageJ updates. Both of these can be done at any time, and the updates will keep your installation current with bug fixes and new features.

The default upper limit on memory available to AIJ is 640 MB. This will need to be increased in order for AIJ to run properly. Change the upper limit on the amount of memory available to AIJ using AIJ_Toolbar->Edit->Options->Memory & Threads. Enter the amount of memory in MB. It is recommended to set up about 2/3 of the physical memory installed in your system. For example, if your machine has 8 GB of memory, enter a memory size up to ~5500 MB. Note that this memory setting is an upper limit. AIJ uses only the amount of system memory that is needed at any one time. Click "OK" and close AIJ. Restart AIJ to use the new memory settings.

Finally, upgrade to the latest version of AIJ by using the built-in update feature. Go to AIJ_Toolbar->Help->Update AstroImageJ. The "Upgrade To:" box will default to the latest version of AIJ. Click "OK" and three files will be downloaded and installed in the proper location in the installation directory structure (you need write access to the installation directory). After the files have been installed, AIJ will automatically close. Restart AIJ to use the updated version.