WindowsPython

Installing Python

Python can be user installed.

1. Download Python windows MSI installer of the version you want from here
2. Click run, to run the installer
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3. Select a home directory as the install folder (i.e.C:\Users\[YOURUSERNAME]\Documents\Pythonx.x.x) where x represents the version number
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4. Finish the installation

If you want to be able to access Python from the command line by just typing python instead of the full path (i.e. \temp\pythonfolder\python) you have to add the python folder to your path.

1. Navigate to Control Panel -> System and Security -> System
2. Select Advanced system settings from the sidebar
3. In the Advanced tab click the Environment Variables... button
4. Check if a Variable called Path exists in the list of user variables
   • If it exists, add the python directory to the end of the Path value separated by a semicolon (i.e. C:\Things\In\Path;C:\Path\To\Python\Folder)
   • If it does not, press the New button and set the variable name to Path and the value to the path to your python directory

Installing Modules

Using easy_install

These steps assume that Visual Studio is installed (It is by default)

First, we configure python to work with Visual Studio

1. Open the file msvc9compiler.py from the location C:\Path|To\Python\Folder\...\Lib\distutils\msvc9compiler.py using a text editor such as notepad
2. Replace the line containing toolskey = "VS%0.f0COMNTOOLS" % version with the following toolskey = "vs110COMNTOOLS" , where 110 is a three digit number corresponding to the version number of Visual Studio 2012

   • To do this, type Ctr + a to highlight all the text, and type Ctrl + f to search for the line to be replaced, and edit the file to replace it

3. Also replace the line containing mfinfo = self.manifest_get_embed_info(target_desc, Id_args) with the line: mfinfo = None

Next we install the module

1. Download the easy_install graphical installer from here
2. Run the downloaded file, it should open a command line and finish the installation
   • The installed files should be located in C:\Path\To\Python\Folder\..\Scripts
3. There are several different python modules, so note the name of the module you want to install. numPy will be installed here.
4. Open a command prompt, by pressing the start button, and searching cmd
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5. At the prompt, type the full path to easy_install executable and the name of the python module you need. ie. C:\Path\To\Python\Folder\..\Scripts\easy_install.exe module_Name

   where module_Name is the name of the module, numPy in this case

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   • Click to enlarge
6. Finally, press enter to run and install the module

Using an executable

Alternatively, python executable modules can be found on the web, and the executable installed