MacOS Catalina will not run old apps, utilities and drivers that are 32 bit. Before upgrading to Catalina, you can run 32BitAppCheck to get a savable, searchable list of these 32 bit software. To collect the information, just click the Collect Info button, and be patient for a couple of minutes.
The collected information begins with a list of 32-bit applications, followed by 32-bit preference panes found in System preferences. Then, you will see 32-bit system extensions, and 32-bit system frameworks. These software will include both Apple and 3rd-party software.
The phrases "obtained from: Apple" and "support by: Apple" are colored green, so you can easily spot the software that should be updated as part of the Catalina release. But, not all software by Apple will be updated. If you have been hoarding an old version of QuickTime for its functionality, it will no longer run under Catalina.
Old Data? When you launch 23BitAppCheck, old results may appear in the window. These are the results from your most recent session, along with any edits you made.
Collect 32 Bit Apps: Click the 'Collect Info' button to create the list. You can also select the Collect Info menu item from the File menu. As soon as you select Collect Info, a message will appear in the window letting you know the process is ongoing.
How Long? The Collect Info process will usually take a minute or two on a typical Mac. If you have several terabytes of storage or more than one attached storage device, finding 32 bit software may take several minutes.
Don't Worry! During processing, the spinning beach ball may appear. Don't worry. This doesn't indicate a problem.
Edit Results: When Collect Info is complete, the list of 32 bit software will appear in the window after the title and instructions. If you wish, use the editing tools at the top of the window to edit the text. You can easily change size, color, and other attributes of the text, and add your own notes.
Save Results: Results and edits are automatically saved in this app's window. If you want to save the text to a file, click 'Save as RTF...' in the File menu. This will save the list as an RTF file. You will be asked for a file name and location. If you do not add '.rtf' to the file name, it will be added for you.
If you have saved the results to an RTF file, and make additional edits, you can revert to the saved version by clicking Revert to Saved in the File menu.
Command Keys: Command key equivalents are command-option-C for Collect Info on 32 bit software, and command-S to export the results as an RTF file. Revert to the recently saved version with command-R
Find Within Results: Command-F or the Find menu item in the Edit menu can be used to find specific text within the collected results, such as an application name. Tap command-F, tap the edit field and enter some text. Then, tap your return key or the '>' button to find the first occurrence of the text. Tap the Done button to dismiss the find fields/buttons.
Find and Replace: Command-Option-F or the Find and Replace menu item in the File menu can be used to find and replace specific text within the collected results, such as an application name. Tap command-option-F, tap the edit field and enter some text to find. Tap in the Replace field to enter text that will replace found text.. Then, tap your return key or the '>' button to find the first occurrence of the text. Tap the Replace button to replace the single occurrence of found text or tap All to replace all occurrences of found text with replacement text.