Note : the best source for information is  the user guide, available from the downloads page.

Compatible platforms

1. •Mac OS : tested under 10.6, 10.7, and 10.8 (compatibility with 10.5 is unknown but not likely).
   Note about OS X 10.8 («Mountain Lion»): the security features may prevent REtool from starting. At the first launch (but not later), you need to allow «all downloaded applications» in Mac OS preferences > Security > General. After starting REtool once, you may change the preference back to «identified developers only».
   

2. •Windows : tested under Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Windows 8 should not cause problems, according to the producer of the FileMaker run-time application.
   REtool will not work under Windows XP versions older than SP3, and as rule it is better to have all service packs installed.
   

3. •iOS : works with FileMaker Go 12 (currently free), but with limitations. Not tested with REtool 1.4 yet.
   

Working with REtool and Excel in parallel

1. It should be without problems. REtool contains functions to import RE evaluations and notes from Excel files. Obviously, this can only work if the content of the Excel file is organised as currently expected : REtool assumes that specific columns are added to the TSU sheet.
   There is even some potential to use REtool for merging RE notes entered by REs in 2 separate Excel sheets for the same chapter : during import, the RE inputs will be associated to their comments, any duplicates will be removed, and even the case were both reviewers have notes on the same review comment will be processed correctly - they will appear in the «history» mode of REtool, and «potential conflicts» will be identified if both sheets include notes for the same review comment
   

Link to PDF on MacOS: Adobe Acrobat Pro X does not work

1. This was solved in version 1.2 - support for Acrobat X on Mac was added
   (see Mode : «PDF readers + file names”)
   

Link to PDF on Windows: troubleshooting.

1. To get the «link to PDF» working within windows, you need a version of a PDF reader from Adobe. In REtool, you need to select your type of reader by clicking on the “Layout” button > “Admin operations” > “PDF readers + file names”. When this is done, clicking on the «blue button» in REtool will change the page in Adobe Reader to match the review comment.
   However, with Adobe Reader X for Windows, the PDF window will not come automatically on top of other windows. This is related to Adobe’s «protected mode»: to have the window come on top, in Adobe Reader X you need to click Edit > Preferences > General, and in the bottom of that window, uncheck the box «Enable Protected Mode at startup». This may however decrease your protection against malicious files. Therefore, we do not advice to make this change, we do not know if this would be a serious threat.
   

Note on using REtool on iPad:

The current version of REtool is usable on iPad - as far as we know - , but with limitations:

1. -you need to install FileMaker Go 12 (currently free) from the App Store.
   

2. -the most simple way to start is to prepare REtool with a PC (Windows or Mac), that is, import the Excel file for your chapter. When this is down, you need to upload the file REtool-database.fmp12 to your iPad.
   

3. -you should be able to edit RE data from the iPad and get the REtool-database.fmp12 database file back later, but we did not test this yet
   

4. -there is no «link to the FOD pdf» available on the iPad.
   

5. -It seems that there are limitations re the access to FileMaker (REtool) menus on the iPad, hence the need to import from .xls on a computer. Solutions may certainly be found regarding this, but require more investigation / testing.
   

If you tested REtool on iPad or you like to use it on the iPad, you may inform us