Why is my app still not 32-bit compatible.

Backstory
When I started my project, I had it set to use ARC because that was the greatest thing in the world.

Then I released my app and I got an email asking why the app didn't work on their computer. After a few back and forth emails and some googling, I came up with the answer:

Because I was using ARC, my app was not 32-bit compatible. Their computer had an Intel Core Duo, which meant it wasn't 64-bit compatible, thus my app didn't run on their computer.

Verify the issue
I found this terminal command to check if an app is 32 bit compatible or not...
cd to the app bundle, then into its contents, then into MacOS. Then use

file <the name of whatever is at this directory... should be the executable file>

For apps that work on both 32 bit and 64 bit machines, it returns something like this:

Code:

iCal: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures
iCal (for architecture x86_64):	Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
iCal (for architecture i386):	Mach-O executable i386

For apps that don't work on 32 bit machines, like mine, it returns something like this:

Code:

Battery Status: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

What I tried
So, I went into Xcode and changed both my target and project setting "Architectures" to "Standard (32/64-bit Intel)".

And... nope, it's still not 32 bit compatible.

"Valid Architectures" for both my project and target are "i386 x86_64", so I don't think that's an issue either.

So... any suggestions for what I need to check that I haven't already?

 

I've already taken $3 from them.

What kind of person would I be to say "Thanks for paying! Sorry the app doesn't work! Now F Off!"

No, Apple still offers some support for their computers because they made the Mac App Store work on their computers. Thus I need to make sure my app works for them.

Now, I still have the issue. I've started a new project in Xcode 4, it doesn't have ARC, and yet when I archive it and check it in Terminal, I still get just:

Code:

Battery Status: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

So... how do I make it also list i386?

Edit: Okay. I finally got this to work. Here are the things I had to do to make an app in Xcode 4 that runs on any computer that also runs the Mac App Store:

1 - DON'T USE ARC! When setting up the project, do not check off automatic reference counting.
2 - Set to 10.6.6 In your target summary, set the Deployment Target to 10.6.6. (First version the MAS is on.)
3 - Architectures - Standard (32/64-bit Intel) This should be the setting in your Target's Build Settings.

Also... I was getting an odd error regarding the code from the template that synthesizes the window... my personal solution was just deleting that line, given my app is a menu-bar app.

Terminal finally prints this:

Code:

Battery Status: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures
Battery Status (for architecture x86_64):	Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
Battery Status (for architecture i386):	Mach-O executable i386

 

I like to value my time similar to that. I also pride myself on customer service. Where one customer has issues and thought to email me, who knows how many others are out there severely annoyed but don't realize the contact button is there?

 

Just one project designed to run on all Intel machines... No ifdefs.

Although I am starting over. My original code was mess and difficult to maintain (it had started life as a "proof of concept" and then became a full app, oops.) User interface was copied and pasted but everything behind the scenes is brand new (and hopefully much easier to maintain.)