FAQ & troubleshooting

Installation

macOS: "PlateMap Studio is damaged and can't be opened"

The app isn't damaged. macOS blocks apps downloaded from the internet that aren't notarized by Apple. Click Done (not Move to Trash), then run in Terminal:

xattr -cr "/Applications/PlateMap Studio.app"

and open the app again. On version 0.1.0 also run:

codesign --force --deep --sign - "/Applications/PlateMap Studio.app"

Version 0.1.1 and later are signed, so this second step isn't needed.

macOS: "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified"

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this once.

Windows: "Windows protected your PC"

Click More info → Run anyway. The app isn't code-signed with a paid certificate, so SmartScreen doesn't recognise it yet.

Linux: the AppImage does nothing / sandbox error on Ubuntu 24.04

Ubuntu 24.04 restricts AppImage sandboxes. Install the .deb instead, or start the AppImage with --no-sandbox. If it complains about FUSE, run sudo apt install libfuse2.

Which Mac file: arm64 or x64?

Apple menu → About This Mac. Apple M1–M4 → arm64. Intel → x64.

Using the app

I made a mistake three steps ago

Open the History tab and click the step just before the mistake. Or press Ctrl+Z a few times.

The app closed and I didn't save

Start it again and choose Continue last session. Work is autosaved after every edit.

How do I use nM / ng/ml instead of µM?

Use the unit dropdown next to the concentration in the Inspector, or type the unit (10 nM). To change the default for new values, open the field settings (⚙ next to Concentration). See Units.

A compound has the same color as a cell line

Click the swatch next to the value and pick another color, or use Apply palette… on the field. New values automatically avoid colors already used by other fields.

Vehicle doesn't fill in for a new compound

Auto-fill only knows a compound after you've set its vehicle once (or imported a platemap that had it). Set it on one well, or fill in the mapping table in the field settings. The Checks tab lists compounds without a vehicle.

My platemap columns need different names

Edit the header text in the platemap export dialog, or click Use header from CSV… to copy them from an existing file. See Platemap export.

Exported PNG looks blurry in Word

Export at 600 dpi, or use PDF/SVG. The DPI is stored in the PNG, so Word sizes it correctly.

Can several people work on one project?

Share the .platemap file (by email, a shared drive, or Git). It's plain JSON. Simultaneous editing isn't supported.

Still stuck?

Open an issue at github.com/LIVR-VUB/Platemap-studio/issues with a screenshot and your app version (shown in the release file name).