Success running Freehand on a mid-2015 MacBook Pro running OS X 10.12.5 (Sierra) with Parallels 12
I’m new to this forum, so first: I love Freehand and always will. Grateful for this forum and the opportunity to commiserate with fellow Freehand devotees.
After putting it off for literally two years — and inspired by the posts in this forum (especially lovejoy’s), I finally migrated from an old MacBook Pro (6,2) running 10.6.8 to a relatively new MacBook Pro (mid 2015) running Sierra (10.12.5). I also have an Apple Cinema Display connected (via DisplayPort).
My goal was to do a clean install of the latest versions of everything with hopes that it would all work. I did eventually get everything working, although I must say it felt pretty hopeless at times, due to some baffling roadblocks. Since there aren’t any current success stories posted here with Sierra and Parallels 12 (as of May, 2017), I share my experience below, with solutions for the roadblocks I experienced. Hope this helps...
1. Start with a clean install of OS X Sierra (10.12) on the MacBook Pro.
Run software update to the latest version (10.12.5 for me).
2. Install Parallels 12. Be sure to also install Parallels Toolbox (needed later).
Went smoothly for me. No problems.
3. Install OS X Server 10.6.3 DVD.
Parallels requires the server version of Snow Leopard (10.6), not the regular version. The full server installer is not available as a download. I called Apple to purchase a DVD (as suggested by lovejoy), but they no longer sell it (as of May, 2017). Found it on Amazon for $177.
4. Problem: I have an Apple Cinema Display, but Snow Leopard only displays 1024 x 768, with no options to support the full native resolution of the display.
Solution: 1) switch to OS X Sierra. 2) Click on the Snow Leopard panel in the Parallels Control Panel to select it. 3) Go to the Parallels menu (right side of menu bar). Top item in menu should be your Snow Leopard VM. Choose Actions > Install Parallels Tools. 4) Follow the instructions. When the installer restarts, boom, full screen resolution.
5. Run software update several times to get to 10.6.8.
Problem: Software Update froze the first time I ran it. To work around the freeze, I clicked "Show Details" in the initial updater screen and unchecked all items except OS-related update package(s). Then it ran fine. I ran it again, with more things checked, and eventually everything updated fine for me after the 3rd or 4th round.
6. Install Freehand MXa from the 11.02 installer.
7. Launch Freehand MX.
Problem: the app icon bounces in the dock for a few seconds, stops and nothing further happens. Solution: copy the following two folders from the old machine to the same locations on the new machine:
/Library/Application Support/Macromedia
/Users/myaccount/Library/Application Support/Macromedia
Apparently these folders include the authorization key because once I did this step, FH just ran, didn’t ask for a key code. NOTE: save backup copies of those folders for future installs!
8. Run migration assistant from within Snow Leopard to transfer your files, fonts, etc. (or selectively copy what you need by hand).
9. To share files between the Sierra shell and Snow Leopard, in Snow Leopard open a Finder window and click the network "All…" item in the Shared section of the side bar. The Sierra shell should appear in the list of computers available on the network. Click it, click Connect As…, type in Sierra login info and it will mount as a volume. For convenience, put your Sierra documents folder in the Snow Leopard window sidebar.
[ Note to the forum admin: I don't do Facebook, so feel free to post this on the FB page and if folks have questions, post them back here... ]