[Visualpython-users] VPython stand-alone for Windows

[Arthur <ajs...@op...>]

I have a draft of a stand-alone (no pior Python or Numeric installation
necessary) distribution of VPython for Windows completed.  It is in the form
of a self installing executable of about 3.5 megs, using the Inno installer.
It successfully ran all the VPython demos, including the one requiring Tk.

It uses a customized version of ScITE as its IDE.  The ScITE cusomization is
crossplatform - will work on Linux with GTK.  The ScITE cusomiztion "README"
is below.  I am looking for a place to put it up to make it available for
testing and feedback.
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README for ScITE for VPython:

Following customizations and configurations:

1) the scintilla LexPython.cxx amended to allow 4
   keyword classes for Python files, rather than 1.

2) python.properties files amended to
     a) add VPython classes, attributes, and constants
        as classes for syntax highlighting

     b) make VPython index.html the default help file

3) vpython.api file created and used as api file for *.py files

4) misc configuration options selected in
   ScITEGlobal.properties file


Functionality:

1) Syntax highlighting of VPython classes
   and common attributes and constants

2) Calltips from api file:
     e.g. type "arrow(" and a calltip will pop-up showing

               a) on line 1: the example arrow construction call
                 from the VPython documentation

               b) on line 2: the full set of possbile attributes
                 associated with a VPython arrow instance

3) Autocompletion from api file:
        e.g. type "sp" and then hit keys control I and the 2 words
             starting with "sp" from the vpython.api file:

          space
          sphere

        will appear for selection.

        (pick sphere and then type "(", and the sphere calltip,
         as per 2 above, will appear).


Setting preferences:
    Most preferences are set by editing the the
       ScITEGlobal.properties file.

    For example, for my resolution screen,
       position.width=900 and position.height=700 are set as
       the intial size of the Scite for VPython window.
       Change if not appropriate for your screen resolution.