Installing PythonCard on your system requires the following
steps:
- Download Python from the python.org site.
- Download wxPython from the wxPython.org site.
- Download PythonCardPrototype from the PythonCard site.
- Install Python
- Install wxPython
- Install PythonCardPrototype
- Confirm the installation works
Downloading Python
Python 2.2.3 is available from a couple of sources.
For this guide, we'll be installing from the main Python site. Click on this
Python-2.2.3.exe
link to begin the download. Tell your browser where you want the file stored and
the download proceeds. Note where on your system the file is saved by your browser.
Downloading wxPython
PythonCard relies on the wxPython package. Click on this
wxPython 2.4.1.2 for Python 2.2.x
link to begin the download. Tell your browser where you want the file stored and
the download proceeds. Note where on your system the file is saved by your browser.
Downloading PythonCard
The latest version of PythonCard is always available via the
PythonCard download page.
Click on this
PythonCardPrototype-0.7.1.win32.exe
link to begin the download. Tell your browser where you want the file stored and
the download proceeds. Note where on your system the file is saved by your browser.
Installing Python
Python arrives at your system as an installable application. All you
have to do is double-click on the file you downloaded (it's called Python-2.2.3.exe)
and follow the instructions in the installation wizard. By default, the installer
will create a new directory C:\Python22 to contain the Python executables, documentation,
tools, IDLE editor, and standard libraries. We'll refer to that directory as just
Python22 for the remainder of the instructions.
Installing wxPython
wxPython also comes as an automatic installer. Just double-click on the
file you downloaded (it's called wxPythonWIN32-2.4.1.2-Py22.exe) and follow the instructions.
By default, wxPython will be installed into Python22\Lib\site-packages.
Installing PythonCardPrototype
PythonCard also comes as an automatic installer. Just double-click on the
file you downloaded and follow the instructions. By default, the PythonCard framework will be
installed into Python22\Lib\site-packages.
As part of the automated instal some shortcuts and a program group on your start menu are created.
If you have installed Python as a ordinary user (Who doesn't have administration rights) then this
may not work correctly. If, after the installation has completed, you see a text box with the words
"*** Could not load Python ***" in it then its likely this is the case. This isn't a big
problem, PythonCard will still have been installed onto your system, its just that the shortcuts
and program group won't appear.
Confirming Installation
OK, now comes the acid test. Open the folder called "minimal" in
Python22\Lib\site-packages\PythonCardPrototype\samples.
Find the icon labeled minimal.py and double-click it. In a few moments (after
an operating system console window has appeared), a small window like the
one shown in Figure 1 will appear. This indicates that your installation
was successful and everything is working. Close the minimal application in
the usual way and proceed with the Walk-Through.
Figure 1. PythonCard minimal application window open to confirm installation
is correct
If for some reason this test fails, go back over these instructions carefully.
In particular, make sure that wxPython and PythonCardPrototype both appear
in the site-packages folder in Python's Lib folder.
If everything seems OK and you still can't get minimal.py to launch, post
a message to the PythonCard Users Mailing List. (If you aren't yet a member, visit
the
list management page
and join.)
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