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yuy

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 27, 2005
62
0
When i try to download the exe file for PC, system pop up me that the download contains application.

Is that suggest that in future, the PC software can run on OS X?
 
There are .EXEs that run on Macs but aren't apps. I'm pretty sure they're for Folding @ Home from memory. Maybe it's just getting a little confused, understandable really. :)
 
It may well be because OSX86 will have a form of WINE in it. Or at least that's what goes through my mind every time I get an "this is an app" message from Safari
 
Open With...

I'd noticed recently that when you right-click on a file and choose 'open with' (on certain files) that the list of applications contained (exe) files. I think they were automator actions or something. Curious. :confused:
 
I don't think this change has anything to do with the switch to Intel processors. I think it's there for consistency reasons and to make the Mac user-friendly (for those who've used Macs all their lives and have no idea that .EXE files are often Windows executables).
 
Also, Macs can run .EXEs albeit through an emulator (VPC generally) so it's definitely a good precaution to have for those people wrldwzrd89 is describing. :)
 
The most likely explanation is that the file in question has the executable bit set so the system knows it's an executable. Whether or not the system is able to execute it is not the issue.
 
dogsbody said:
I'd noticed recently that when you right-click on a file and choose 'open with' (on certain files) that the list of applications contained (exe) files. I think they were automator actions or something. Curious. :confused:
This is true. If you have the Adobe Creative Suite installed on your machine, and select "Open With..." you will get a rediculously long list of Photoshop mini-apps to open the file with.

Perhaps Adobe made their apps able to understand these plugin (not plugins) function apps, so they didn't have to rewrite them when changing OS compatability.

PS How can I get rid of them out of the "Open With..." option?
 
Read the warning carefully. "The file you are downloading MAY contain an application". something like that. Any time it's not sure, it'll warn you that there "might" be an executible inside. I doubt it sees .exe files as anything but data.
 
michaelrjohnson said:
PS How can I get rid of them out of the "Open With..." option?

That's what I'd like to know! I have the same problem... I have to wade through a whole long list of useless Photoshop .exe's to get to the program I want. It's a huge inconvenience.
 
When you download files from Safari, it it is a zip, or .sit, or dmg, or I guess a .exe file, safari will ask if you want to open the application. You can turn that option off in Safari. I dont think this means that OSX can actually run the exe, it just means that Safari knows that it is not a simple jpg or something.
 
Just to add a touch of clarification..

rainman::|:| said:
I doubt it sees .exe files as anything but data.

While a Mac cannot run a .exe, it and any unix based system is able to recognize foreign filetypes, ie. Windows .exe, BSD ELF files, etc...

You can always check in the Terminal what type of program/system a file is associated with by checking its file type.

Code:
iMac:~/Desktop:$> file iTunesSetup.exe 
iTunesSetup.exe: MS-DOS executable (EXE), OS/2 or MS Windows

robbieduncan said:
The most likely explanation is that the file in question has the executable bit set so the system knows it's an executable. Whether or not the system is able to execute it is not the issue.

And when it comes to these types of executables, the 'x' bit doesn't even have to be set for the Mac to recognize that it as such since it's a non-native filetype.

Code:
-r--------    1 user  user         20M Aug 11 11:51 iTunesSetup.exe
 
Hemingray said:
That's what I'd like to know! I have the same problem... I have to wade through a whole long list of useless Photoshop .exe's to get to the program I want. It's a huge inconvenience.

I would LOVE to know the answer to this one.
 
Yeah I know, it's a pain in the ass when you have to wade through this
 

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