Manual Installations

Warning

Doing a manual installation is the hard way to use Playonlinux/Playonmac.

The easy way is to use a script already wrote by someone else (do search first into the 'Supported software' list, then in the forums), because the application that you want to use may need some additional libraries and it is very hard to know which ones.

Was your software already tested with Wine by other users ?

If a software does not work with Wine, usually it will not work with Playonlinux/Playonmac.

Before to waste time, look first into https://appdb.winehq.org (at left side of the screen, click : 'Browse Apps').
In the test reports you may find informations about:

• Wine versions tested
• Software components used by the software (ie: Microsoft DotNet Framework, DirectX 10)
• Middleware(s) used by the software (ie: Game Engine).
• Missing common Linux Libraries that Wine might need.

You may also look at the compatibility reports list of other projects using Wine such as:

• pcgamingwiki.com is also a fast way to find technical informations about games.
• The installation guides hosted on Gamers on Linux.com.
• Lutris (not commercial, run by enthusiasts. Wikipedia). Note: if you find the software you want, click 'View install script', then the button 'Download' ('the script'), this will show you the details about the tricks used by Lutris.
• CodeWeavers (pro support for Wine, commercial. Wikipedia)
• POL v5 (Phoenicis) scripts. Note: this software is still in Alpha version state. Note: the scripts code will be completely different from POL v4.

How to

In POL click the button 'Install'

At the bottom left of the window, click 'Install a non-listed program'.

An important step

This window is very important : 'What would you like to do before installation ?' (screenshot) because it can allow :

• 'Use another version of Wine' (a version different from the ones that your POL installation already has).
• 'Configure Wine' (advanced setting, forcing Set_OS, ...).
• 'Install some libraries' (by using POL/POM components and functions or WineTricks).

Lots of steps

... Write me... (or look some examples tutorials already wrote for other softwares).

If your software requires Winetricks or POL libraries

(screenshot example)

• Details about the Playonlinux packages (in the wiki, called 'Category: Features').

Shortcuts for the software installed

At the end of the manual installation, POL show you the list of .EXE files found in order to make shortcuts. Take the time to select carefully the files needed (you will be allow later to delete the useless shortcuts).

Troubleshooting

If a application do not work, do not forget that you can try a other (install a newer) version of Wine. This is very useful for the old tutorials found on the web, Wine receive improvements and bug fixes.

External links

• www.gamersonlinux.com/ : Many examples of manual installations (called there 'step by step')