<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Leland,<div class=""><div class="">Yes, Alice 2 has some problems in Catalina.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There is trouble importing billboards and custom models because there is virtually no access to the file system of your computer using Alice’s regular menu? That is what I am finding on my machine. In fact I cannot open any saved worlds from directly within Alice and its file system, but instead, I must double-click on the saved project file, and then it will open in Alice. Fortunately, I am able to save new projects created in Alice.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There are settings in System Preferences Security that are supposed to provide apps with different levels of access, but I have yet to find the correct settings for Alice 2.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I have found one solution, but I am not sure that it will work in your classroom environment.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It turns out that Alice is actually launched by a small app called JavaAppLauncher.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A lot of the following may depend on the administrative privileges you do or do not have on your machine. I have full privileges on my machine, and I am not able to test it on a machine that may be more locked down.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">On your Mac, find the Alice 2.5 app and right click on it</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1) Select “Show Package Contents”</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2) Open the “Contents” folder</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3) Open the MacOS folder</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You will see “JavaAppLauncher”. If you were to click on this, it will Launch (1) first a Terminal Window, and then (2) Alice 2. You may be asked if you wish to grant Alice permission to access your Desktop and Documents. Grant the permission. You should now be able to import a model, images from a billboard, and open save project files using the Alice access to the computer’s file system.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">If this works for you, right-click on “JavaAppLauncher”, and select ‘Make Alias” from the menu. You can then move this alias to the Desktop. Double-clicking on this launcher will then launch Alice (and the terminal).</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In fact, I have attached my copy of this alias for you to test on your machine. It may work, if you have Alice installed in the default location on your machine, in the Applications folder.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Another teacher who tried this says it does work, but it took Alice 5 minutes to launch.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I will be curious as to your results..</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We recognize that is not a satisfactory solution and are working on a better solution.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Any feedback you can provide us will be helpful.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In answer to your question about the future of Alice 2, it is probably safe to say that the clock is ticking. (Of course, as with any piece of software, as soon as it is released, the clock starts ticking.) As a small team, we will not be able to continue to support Alice 2 through every and all future releases. We will try to make the necessary tweaks for future software releases as long as possible, but Catalina may be the first shot across the bow.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I hope that we get this issue figured out, and that Alice 2 remains with us for some time.But preparing for a transition is not a bad idea.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Steve Cooper and Susan Rodger have prepared a course in Coursera, designed for teach Alice 3 along the lines of an Alice 2 course. I believe it is scheduled to be released in January. I have been a beta tester for the course, and I believe that it is worth checking out.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thank you for all you do to help support the Alice Community.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">All the best,</div><div class="">Don Slater</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Alice Project</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>