Installing python

PmagPy Project Page: maintained by Lisa Tauxe

To use the PmagPy package, first install Python as described below, THEN download the latest PmagPy package here.

and follow the intall instructions.

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Installing Python on Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger) or a Windows PC:

For PCs:

download the enthought installer from the web site: http://www.enthought.com/products/epddownload.php
and install it by double clicking on the icon.

For MacOs 10.4 (Tiger)

Unpack either Tiger_Python_PPC.zip or Tiger_Python_Intel onto your desktop.

If you want to use the mapping software, download [basemap0.9.5-py2.4-macosx10.4.dmg] too

To install stuff double click each package, accept everything asked, choose the destination disk, wait for the install, and wait for the "optimize" whatever that is. Do this for each of these packages IN THIS ORDER:

Active Python 2.5 [ActivePython-2.5.pkg]
ActiveTcl-8.4.pkg

Install scipy [from Trichech.us]

PPC: [ScipySuperpack-PPC-10.4-py2.5.mpkg]

OR

INTEL [ ScipySuperpack-Intel-10.4-py2.5.mpkg]
Install matplotlib [matplotlib-0.90.0-py2.5-macosx10.4.mpkg]
Install basemap [basemap0.9.5-py2.4-macosx10.4.dmg]

For MacOs 10.5 (Leopard)

Start with a clean install of the Leopard operating system - do NOT install Active Python or any thing else and watch out if this is an upgraded version from Tiger - no guarantees.
Install scipy [from http://macinscience.org/?page_id=6]
- Intel: [ScipySuperpackInstaller.zip]
- PPC: [ScipySuperpackInstaller-PPC.zip] (I haven't tested this yet....)
Install basemap.py:
- Follow the downloading and instructions on this web site (be sure to use at least 0.98.3): http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/installing.html

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Once you have Python, and SciPy installed, test the critical pieces:

On a mac, open up a terminal window (terminal.app in Applications:Utilities) and type: python
- For Tiger users only:
  - if the python is not Active Python 2.5, then you have to set your path:
    - Setting path on Unix (Linux and Mac OS X included) machines:
      - Assuming you are using the "bash" shell (dollar sign prompt), you can ususally set the path like this:
        On the command line type this:
        cat >> .bash_profile
      export PATH=/usr/local/bin:~/PmagPy:./:$PATH
      
      ctrl-D
      - if you are using a "C" shell, you set the path like this:
      cat >>.cshrc
      
      set path = (~/PmagPy ./ $path)
      
      ctrl-D
      - The first two lines are followed by a carriage return. The last line means to press the ctrl and D keys simultaneously.
      - Each new window opened subsequently will have the correct version of python in its path
      - Note that I put the PmagPy directory in your path already, so when you install that distribution, it will already work.
      - If you are using a different shell (.sh), look it up.
- For Leopard users: You should be fine :)
On a PC double click on the Python icon that should be on your desktop by now....

When Python is started type the text after the prompt symbol: >>>>

ActivePython 2.5.1.1 (ActiveState Software Inc.) based on NB: [will be different version of python on Leopard and PC versions!]
Python 2.5.1 (r251:54863, May 1 2007, 17:40:00)
[GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Computer, Inc. build 5250)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

>>> import matplotlib
>>> matplotlib.use("TkAgg")
>>> import pylab
>>> pylab.plot([1,2,3,4])

>>> pylab.show()

this should give you a very boring straight line plot:

If this works, you are golden. If not, contact me (ltauxe@ucsd.edu)

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