Applies to: current versions ONLY of ConstructConnect Takeoff, On-Screen Takeoff, PlanSwift, and Quick Bid.
Question
Does ConstructConnect permit/support running its desktop takeoff and estimating products on Apple products such as MACs, iPads, and iPhones?
Answer
Yes, but that is a qualified "Yes". The level to which ConstructConnect supports its products on MACs varies with the product and version of that product you are using.
None of our desktop applications can be installed directly within MAC OSX, you must be running Windows on a MAC.
What you'll need
- Supported version of MAC OSX (check Apple's site, please)
- Your own copy of Parallels or another virtual machine platform (assuming you are running Apple's "M" processor...)
- Your own licensed copy of Windows 10 or 11 (see your product’s System Requirements for supported OSes)
- Technical skills to set up and install the aforementioned software
Bootcamp or Parallels?
There are two ways to run Windows on a MAC:
- Bootcamp - this is a separate partition from the MAC operating system (MAC OSX) on which a stand-alone installation of Windows is running. This allows the user to run Windows or MAC OSX but not both at the same time. Because this is a just a regular installation of Windows, you do not need to run any virtualization software - but you must own a license for whatever version of Windows you are going to install.
- Newer Apple computers run proprietary "M" processors that do not support dual-booting with Windows anymore. If your computer uses an "M" processor, your only option is to use a virtual machine (such as Parallels).
- Parallels (or any other virtualization product) - this product allows a MAC OSX user to run a virtualized installation of Windows within the MAC OSX environment. This is not a stand-alone installation of Windows, it is sort of like running Windows within a window, so to speak. You start Parallels (or whatever virtualization software you use) after you log into MAC OSX. Virtualization software is not included with Apple's OSes - you must purchase Parallels or whatever you're going to use separately. You also must own a licensed copy of Windows to install in your virtual environment. Your MAC must meet the requirements for the Parallels software or whichever emulator you choose.
Although a MAC that supports running Windows in a virtual environment or in Bootcamp should be able to run On-Screen Takeoff, Quick Bid, PlanSwift, QuoteSoft Duct or Pipe, or Digital Production Control, we do not test our products in this environment and cannot guarantee that your specific MAC provides a suitable environment. We test our products on native Windows machines only.
iPads, iPods, and iPhones run on hardware that is not compatible with Windows or windows-based applications.
The following applies to installing desktop products in a virtual environment (such as Parallels for MAC) on an Apple Computer running MAC OSX.
Licensing
You are responsible for ensuring your license are activated and deactivated on your MAC-Based Windows machine.
Job Data Folders, Databases, Image Files, and Downloading from Planrooms
When you are using a virtual machine, you must be careful about where you are storing things, how and when you reset a machine, and how you access planrooms (including ConstructConnect Project Intelligence/Bid Center/Document Viewer).
Job Data Folder, Databases, and Images Files
Because a virtual machine a very "volatile" environment, it is critical that you store and backup your databases and other project file appropriately. One reset of your virtual machine could take it back to a point in time where you'd lose hours, days, even years of work.
Although you should not store working databases in "The Cloud", we encourage you backup all your takeoff and estimating data to a Cloud drive (such as OneDrive or Google Drive), someplace outside your virtual machine and its host machine entirely.
We do not provide Technical Support for OneDrive or Google Drive, but they are pretty easy to use.
Planrooms
When you download from a planroom, do so within your virtual machine, but ensure the files themselves are stored outside of the virtual machine and host machine. A network drive is the best place. If you download them “locally” to your virtual machines “hard drive”, they could be lost if your machine is reset.
iPads and iPhones
These devices run operating systems that do not support the type of virtual machine required to run Windows-based applications. If you are in the market for something similar to the iPad for use with On-Screen Takeoff, Quick Bid or PlanSwift, check out our FAQs regarding Tablet PCs.
Most modern Windows 11 tablets, that are running a full-version of Windows 11, not “S” or “Safe” editions, should be capable of running our desktop apps. Just make sure they support installing an application from outside the Microsoft Store
.
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