Running HydroSym on a Mac

HydroSym is a Windows-based hydraulic design software. You can run it on a Mac using a virtual machine (VM) like Parallels Desktop, Virtual Box or VMware Fusion (or another VM of your choosing). Below are important considerations and tips to ensure smooth operation.

License Key Issues

Some users may encounter license key validation errors, as HydroSym’s licenses are node-locked and don't run in virtual machines by default. You need a floating Anywhere License to run HydroSym in a Windows virtual machine on your Mac.

If you run into an invalid license error, here's how to fix your license key issue:

• Contact support@paro.nl.
• Provide details about your virtual machine (such as Parallels or VMware Fusion).
• Request a VM-compatible license key.
• Withdraw the former license key from your system.
• Input your new license key with your registered email address to activate the software.

After updating the license key settings, you're ready to start exploring HydroSym.

If the issue persists even after following these steps, please contact support@paro.nl.

Mouse and Keyboard Settings of your VM

If your cursor behaves erratically, it's possible you need to adjust the mouse settings in your VM.

In this example, we show you how you can change your mouse and keyboard settings in Parallels.

Navigate to the configuration options in the top right corner. Here, you can change the mouse and other settings of your VM:

Follow these steps to edit mouse settings in Parallels:

• Go to Virtual Machine → Configure → Options → General.
• Select the Mouse and Keyboard settings.
• Check if the option "Optimize for Games" is selected.
• Change it to “Don’t optimize for games” to give the mouse regular lag settings.
• You can do the same for the keyboard settings.

Keyboard Shortcuts

It might also be wise to check for any conflicting keyboard shortcuts. Some macOS keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Command + Tab) may interfere with the operating system of Windows and/or the HydroSym application.

To adjust these on your Mac, go to System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts. 

In Parallels, these settings can be adjusted in Parallels Desktop > Preferences > Shortcuts to customize or disable any shortcuts that might conflict. If you're running an alternative VM, please consult their support if you're unable to find the applicable settings.

You can find an overview of the HydroSym shortcuts via the Help menu option

Shortcuts overview in the software or this entry in the help files.

Additional Tips for Running HydroSym on a Mac

Ensure you are using the latest version of Parallels, or any VM of your choice, to avoid compatibility issues. In the case of Parallels, it supports Windows 11 ARM, which is optimized for Apple Silicon Macs.

Make sure to allocate sufficient resources by assigning at least 4GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores to your VM.

Need More Help?

If you continue experiencing issues using HydroSym on a VM on your Mac, contact:

• Paro Support: support@paro.nl, for issues with your HydroSym license key
• Your virtual machine provider for issues with your VM, e.g., Parallels Support