123D Design - Intel app on M1 Mac

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Level 1

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123D Design - Intel app on M1 Mac

Hi there,

I've become very proficient with using a piece of discontinued software called 123D Design by Autodesk – I use it for designing things that I then 3D print:

https://123d-design-1.en.softonic.com/mac

It was discontinued in 2017 or something and so wasn't kept up to date during the shift from Intel to Apple Silicon processors.

Fortunately I've still got an old Intel MacBook Pro on which the program works just fine, but my main computer now is an M1 Max MacBook Pro and it doesn't work at all on there ... it just about boots but then all the control bars appear all over the screen and it's basically unusable.

I know the best solution would be to learn how to use a modern / current 3D design package that is optimised for Apple Silicon, but I've tried doing this and none of the programs are nearly as easy to use as 123D Design, at least for my needs.

Is there any way of easily emulating an Intel environment on an M1 Mac so I can continue to use this software on my new computer?

Many thanks for your help 😊

David

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jul 4, 2023 2:35 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dialabrain

Level 10

124,649 points

Jul 4, 2023 2:41 AM in response to Hogster86

Hogster86 wrote:

Is there any way of easily emulating an Intel environment on an M1 Mac so I can continue to use this software on my new computer?

Normally the first time you try and run an Intel app on an Apple Silicon app, you will get a dialog window asking if you want to install it. See: If you need to install Rosetta on your Mac - Apple Support

If 123D Design doesn't run with Rosetta, it won't run at all on an Apple Silicon Mac.

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Answer 2

Hogster86 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 4, 2023 3:30 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks for your quick replies!

If I do a Get-Info on the program there isn't an option to 'Open with Rosetta' so I'm assuming it's not compatible with Rosetta?

This is how it appears in the System Report P.Phillips suggested:

And this is what it looks like when I do a Get-Info:

Looks like I don't really have any options left?

Hmm that's strange ... now it's behaving much better and it's pretty much usable apart from having the odd temporary blank square appearing on the screen which soon disappears ... I did run the Terminal instruction on this page to install Rosetta 2, so I don't know if that's made any difference, as there still isn't an option to 'Open using Rosetta' under the Get Info window:

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-rosetta-2-mac/

... but things have definitely become more useable compared to where they were this morning!

Many thanks for your help!

David

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Answer 3

PRP_53

Level 10

91,207 points

Jul 4, 2023 3:01 AM in response to Hogster86

Just to add 2 cents here and 123D design would have to contain the 64 Bit Binary code.

There are three categories / types of software that can run on the Operations System.

Only Intel Binary Code. This software will invoke Rosetta 2 to translate the Intel binaries so the operating system can understand and execute the Application. The Applications must be 64 Bit to function on Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura

Universal Binary Software. It contains Both Intel and M1/ M2 ARMs binary code and refer to ( Universal 2 ) When the user installs a 64 bit Application that contains Both Intel and M1 / M2 ARMs binaries - depending on factors, the Operating System may or may not invoke Rosetta 2.

“ Apple Silicon “ Checking in System Information >> Applications >> as of now, only see One Application classified as Apple Silicon and that is “ Rosetta 2 Updater “.

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