visualpython-users

Re: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

[Gary <pa...@in...>]

FRANCESCO NOSCHESE wrote:

>Hello everyone,
>
>I am a high school physics teacher who is planning post-AP exam student 
>projects using VPython.  However, my school refuses to allow Python and 
>VPython to be installed on the school's network because it is open 
>source.
>
>Here's the reply from the technology coodinator at my school:
>
>"Our technology team discussed your request to install VPython on the 
>network/lab at our May 4th meeting and all agreed that it is not good 
>practice to install open source software on the school computer systems.  
>We have conferred with LHRIC and a random sampling of other districts and 
>all agree it is not in the district's best interest to do so, even thought 
>there is no doubt your intended goal is worthy."
>  
>
I wonder if there is a commuincation gap.  You said "open source".  
Perhaps what they *heard* was "freeware".

Or an understanding gap:  open source = freeware.

If so, one would hope that a delicately worded education would solve the 
problem.  But we've all run into IT people who enjoy a rather feudal 
approach to management.  Keep us posted with details.  Perhaps we can 
help make your argument.

RE: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

[Lee H. <mi...@ho...>]

> > I am a high school physics teacher who is planning post-AP exam student
> > projects using VPython.  However, my school refuses to allow Python and
> > VPython to be installed on the school's network because it is open
> > source.
>
>I am frankly flabbergasted by the attitude.
>

>Does anyone have any ideas on how to attack this head on.
>

Here is a report on the advantages of using open source software
in schools. It was linked today on the K12LTSP mailing list.

http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/publications/documents/BEC5606_Full_report18.pdf

I would like to read the report that supports the other view. Can I
have a link to that one?

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RE: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

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

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vis...@li... [mailto:visualpython-
> use...@li...] On Behalf Of FRANCESCO NOSCHESE
> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 9:11 PM
> To: vis...@li...
> Subject: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I am a high school physics teacher who is planning post-AP exam student
> projects using VPython.  However, my school refuses to allow Python and
> VPython to be installed on the school's network because it is open
> source.

I am frankly flabbergasted by the attitude. 

Are they aware that their neighbors at a little technology company called
IBM would find their attitude laughable?  

If there are any network security problems related to the install of Python
and VPython (and I certainly don't think there are) it is certainly not
about it being Open Source.

Would they be interested in knowing that the author of Python works in the
field of computer security, and that many of the most locked down systems in
the world are running Open Source operating systems?

I am not an Open Source fundamentalist, by any means. 

But I am a concerned citizen (and happen to live in your area), and I would
love to be involved in a effort to educate your technology folks.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to attack this head on.

Art

> 
> Here's the reply from the technology coodinator at my school:
> 
> "Our technology team discussed your request to install VPython on the
> network/lab at our May 4th meeting and all agreed that it is not good
> practice to install open source software on the school computer systems.
> We have conferred with LHRIC and a random sampling of other districts and
> all agree it is not in the district's best interest to do so, even thought
> there is no doubt your intended goal is worthy."
> 
> [LHRIC is a technology-oriented consortium of local school districts
> <http://www.lhric.org>]
> 
> Is this really a problem?  What are the risks?  Is there any way to
> prevent student misuse of Python?  How can I make a case to allow Python
> in school?
> 
> FYI, we have a Novell Zenworks network for XP and Win98 machines.  We also
> have Citrix in XP.
> 
> Many thanks in advance for all your help.
> 
> Frank Noschese
> Physics Teacher
> John Jay High School
> Cross River, NY
> 
> fno...@kl...
> *****************************
> Frank Noschese
> Physics Teacher
> 
> John Jay High School
> Cross River, NY
> 
> fno...@kl...
> voicemail: (914) 763-7384
> *****************************
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.Net email is sponsored by Oracle Space Sweepstakes
> Want to be the first software developer in space?
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> Vis...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/visualpython-users

Re: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

[Lee H. <mi...@ho...>]

> > "Our technology team discussed your request to install VPython on the
> > network/lab at our May 4th meeting and all agreed that it is not good
> > practice to install open source software on the school computer systems.
> > We have conferred with LHRIC and a random sampling of other districts 
>and
> > all agree it is not in the district's best interest to do so, even 
>thought
> > there is no doubt your intended goal is worthy."


Do they have java installed on the web browsers? Java is open source.

I bet you can find other things already installed that are open source.

Do they have windows installed?  If I recall correctly, windows uses
quite a few BSD licensed programs in their base install (the ftp client,
parts of their TCP/IP stack).

Not installing because it is open source is the most outrageous thing
I have ever heard. That these are the people controlling what young
people get to learn is outrageous.

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Re: [Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

[Jonathan B. <jbr...@ea...>]

On Fri, 2005-05-13 at 21:11 -0400, FRANCESCO NOSCHESE wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I am a high school physics teacher who is planning post-AP exam student 
> projects using VPython.  However, my school refuses to allow Python and 
> VPython to be installed on the school's network because it is open 
> source.

"Because it is open source" is a horrible reason.  There is no
characteristic of Open Source software that makes it a security risk, or
susceptible to abuse beyond any of the other risks involved with
networked computing.  Here at North Carolina State University, we have
several labs with dozens of Linux machines that are composed almost
entirely of Open Source software.  Would we have deployed them if they
were unsafe, considering the several hundred students in the Computer
Science department which use these workstations?

> Here's the reply from the technology coodinator at my school:
> 
> "Our technology team discussed your request to install VPython on the 
> network/lab at our May 4th meeting and all agreed that it is not good 
> practice to install open source software on the school computer systems.  
> We have conferred with LHRIC and a random sampling of other districts and 
> all agree it is not in the district's best interest to do so, even thought 
> there is no doubt your intended goal is worthy."

Sounds like someone is woefully misinformed.  Its hard to argue against
their decision without knowing their reasoning, but I'll try to give you
a little ammunition.  If you do find out what their reasoning is, please
let us know.  "Open Source == unsafe" is a really bad belief to have in
an education technology resource center.

> [LHRIC is a technology-oriented consortium of local school districts 
> <http://www.lhric.org>]
> 
> Is this really a problem?  What are the risks?  Is there any way to 
> prevent student misuse of Python?  How can I make a case to allow Python 
> in school?

Python itself is not only a high-level language, it also includes a lot
of supporting libraries that allow you to read, write, create, and
delete files, run other programs, edit the system registry, make network
connections to other computers, etc.  See the documentation for the os,
sys, and socket packages in the Python Library Reference, for example.

A student with malicious intent could write a Python program that uses
these standard packages to take any action permitted by his account
privileges.

But this is somewhat of a red herring.  If the students can get data
onto the computer, even via a floppy disk or email (even web-based
email), then they would have exactly the same capability by writing a
program in Visual Basic, C, Pascal, or any of the other myriad
programming languages that target MS Windows.  Just write the program on
a home computer and email it to herself at school.

The key to limiting the damage that untrusted users/students can do has
less to do with what software is available on the machine and more to do
with how you setup the system privileges for the users.  All of the
machines on campus here are kept relatively safe by not allowing
students to login with administrative-level privileges.

If you have a firewall installed on the system that restricts outbound
network connections, in conjunction with non-administrative login, and
stay up-to-date on security patches, then the student is pretty much
limited to damaging his own personal files and installing
{ad,spy,mal}ware that only affects him.

The Debian GNU/Linux project (www.debian.org) is a community-based Linux
distribution that places great emphasis on Software Freedom and Open
Source (http://www.debian.org/intro/free).  Debian-edu
(http://wiki.debian.net/?DebianEdu) is a group within Debian that aims
to improve Debian's appeal to educational organizations.  I think they
would love to help you go to bat with your technology team.

HTH,
-Jonathan Brandmeyer

P.S.  The only kind of "misuse" that I have seen with computers in the
classroom has been students web browsing and instant messaging when they
(er, we ;) were supposed to be working on VPython.

[Visualpython-users] High School Network Security

[FRANCESCO N. <fno...@kl...>]

Hello everyone,

I am a high school physics teacher who is planning post-AP exam student=20=

projects using VPython=2E  However, my school refuses to allow Python and=20=

VPython to be installed on the school's network because it is open=20
source=2E

Here's the reply from the technology coodinator at my school:

"Our technology team discussed your request to install VPython on the=20
network/lab at our May 4th meeting and all agreed that it is not good=20
practice to install open source software on the school computer systems=2E=
 =20
We have conferred with LHRIC and a random sampling of other districts and=20=

all agree it is not in the district's best interest to do so, even thought=
=20
there is no doubt your intended goal is worthy=2E"

[LHRIC is a technology-oriented consortium of local school districts=20
<http://www=2Elhric=2Eorg>]

Is this really a problem=3F  What are the risks=3F  Is there any way to=20=

prevent student misuse of Python=3F  How can I make a case to allow Python=
=20
in school=3F

FYI, we have a Novell Zenworks network for XP and Win98 machines=2E  We al=
so=20
have Citrix in XP=2E

Many thanks in advance for all your help=2E

Frank Noschese
Physics Teacher
John Jay High School
Cross River, NY

fnoschese@klschools=2Eorg
*****************************
Frank Noschese
Physics Teacher

John Jay High School
Cross River, NY

fnoschese@klschools=2Eorg
voicemail: (914) 763-7384
*****************************

[Visualpython-users] VPython 3.2.0 installers

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

There are now on vpython.org download materials for VPython 3.2.0 for 
Linux/Unix and Windows. Is there someone in the community who might 
volunteer to address the Mac? And also Mac OS 10.4?

We're still feeling our way a bit on what installer files go where. For 
the moment, think of vpython.org as the place where newcomers might go, 
and where extra information about installation is offered.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/visualpython is the place for experts to 
go, with a history of versions, a variety of formats, etc. This link 
should be made more prominent on vpython.org.

Jonathan Brandmeyer has not only done a wonderful job of making a 
configurable installer but has provided crucial technical information 
especially for Linux/Unix users in the file INSTALL.txt which you'll 
find in the Linux/Unix package.

Bruce Sherwood

Re: [Visualpython-users] EPS output with gl2ps

[Jonathan B. <jbr...@ea...>]

On Fri, 2005-05-13 at 13:18 +0200, Thomas Pohl wrote:
> Hi folks,
> first of all: thanks a lot for this great tool!
> 
> What I was missing most was an EPS output, so I
> I just added a screenshot feature to vpython using
> gl2ps ( http://www.geuz.org/gl2ps/ ). Are you interested
> in the changes? Should I send some diff files to the
> current cvs?

Can you post a link to some examples showing the PS output and a plain
screenshot of the VPython window for comparison?

Thanks,
-Jonathan

[Visualpython-users] Using py2exe with VPython

[Dunning, R. B. <rdu...@bs...>]

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me with py2exe.  I know this is probably a=
 stupid question, but I just can't figure it out.

First, I'm developing 3-D animation for introductory astronomy courses usin=
g the latest editions of python and VPython on a Windows-PC.  I'm trying to=
 create stand-alone executable files using py2exe, but I can't get it to wo=
rk at all-- even with the provided examples.  Basically, I don't have a clu=
e about what I'm doing.

This is what I do:

(1) I open the setup.py file in the samples\simple directory using IDLE.

(2) From the IDLE menu, I select "Run . . . Run Module".

(3) In the shell window, I see the following:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Python24\Lib\site-packages\py2exe\samples\simple\setup.py", line=
 34, in -toplevel-
    console =3D ["hello.py"]
  File "C:\Python24\lib\distutils\core.py", line 137, in setup
    raise SystemExit, gen_usage(dist.script_name) + "\nerror: %s" % msg
SystemExit: usage: setup.py [global_opts] cmd1 [cmd1_opts] [cmd2 [cmd2_opts=
] ...]
   or: setup.py --help [cmd1 cmd2 ...]
   or: setup.py --help-commands
   or: setup.py cmd --help
error: no commands supplied

I'm sure this is a stupid question, but I don't know what to do from here. =
How do I supply commands?  The comments in the sample file say

# Run the build process by entering 'setup.py py2exe' or
# 'python setup.py py2exe' in a console prompt.

I know how to run commands a Unix prompt, but I don't know how to "run" the=
se commands.  I've tried using the Python shell window, but it doesn't reco=
gnize these commands.

If anybody can help me get this working, I will be indebted to you forever.=
 Thanks!

--
Rodney Dunning
Assistant Professor of Physics
Birmingham-Southern College

[Visualpython-users] EPS output with gl2ps

[Thomas P. <tho...@in...>]

Hi folks,
first of all: thanks a lot for this great tool!

What I was missing most was an EPS output, so I
I just added a screenshot feature to vpython using
gl2ps ( http://www.geuz.org/gl2ps/ ). Are you interested
in the changes? Should I send some diff files to the
current cvs?

Cheers,
Tom

-- 
Thomas Pohl, Lehrstuhl fuer Informatik X (Systemsimulation),
Universitaet Erlangen, Cauerstr. 6, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
phone: +49(0)9131 85-28687           fax: +49(0)9131 85-28928
url: http://www10.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/~pohlt/

[Visualpython-users] New VPython for Python 2.3

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

VPython 3.2.0 is now available on Windows for Python 2.3 as well as for 
Python 2.4. See the Windows download page at vpython.org.

Bruce Sherwood

Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Jonathan B. <jbr...@ea...>]

On Thu, 2005-05-12 at 10:45 -0600, Martin Gelfand wrote:
> Joe,
>   How tightly locked-down is your computer lab? In particular,  I'm wondering 
> whether a live-cd solution could work for you.   Now that vpython is in 
> Debian, building a custom live-cd should be relatively straightforward, 
> starting from Knoppix or morphix or ubuntu. 
>   If anyone's already built one, please speak up!  (I don't recall mention of 
> one on this list.)

I once rigged up an Autorun.ini that would load Idle when a host CDROM
disk was inserted to a standard Windows machine.  Here is the message I
posted to the list about it last year:


> Create a file named autorun.bat in the Python23 directory with this
> line:
> pythonw.exe .\Lib\idlelib\idle.pyw
> 
> Also create a file autorun.inf (same place) with these contents:
> [autorun]
> open=autorun.bat
> icon=py.ico
> 
> Then burn the disk with the complete contents of the Python23
> directory
> and you will get a Python "Live" CD that will automatically open up
> IDLE
> when inserted into the host computer.  Running from CD isn't exactly
> fast, though.  The biggest slowdown will be noticed when executing
> import statements.
> 

RE: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[SNOSWELL, M. <mic...@ba...>]

Thanks for the many responses!

I uninstalled all previous Python versions and reinstalled just 2.4. No
mention was made of problems writing to the Windows Registry during the
install process by Python24.=20

I definitely have write access to some parts of drive C: This PC is =
part of
the company's network (this part has about 2500 users) so they lock =
things
down pretty tight to minimise support issues.

Vpython install fails in exactly the same way as before.=20

I installed it last night on a PC at home for which I have =
administartor
access and there and no problems.

The problem appears to be twofold:

1. The Vpython installer fails to find the current C:\Python24 =
directory and
gives an error saying it can't be found. It is there. What test in the
installer doing to try to find Python? Why isn't it just looking for
C:\Python24 rather than (as appears to be the case) looking into a =
Registry
entry that it seems not to be able to find (but for which the Python
installer did not complain when it supposedly couldn't create it).

2. When the Vpython installer goes on to ask which directory to install =
to
it seems to ignore the directory I specify (C:\Python24), tests for =
Python's
presence again (and again says it can't be found) then finally gives an
error that a directory has not been specified.

I've installed Python and lots of extensions many times under IRIX and
Linux. Is there anything special about the windows install? Can VPython =
be
distributed as a ZIP files instead that I can unzip into
C:\Python24\lib\VPython??

Thanks for you help thus far guys


Michael Snoswell
AEW&C BIL Senior Systems Engineer
BAE SYSTEMS
Edinburgh Parks, South Australia=A0=A0=A0 +61 8 8480 7003


=20

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vis...@li...=20
> [mailto:vis...@li...] On=20
> Behalf Of Joe Heafner
> Sent: Friday, 13 May 2005 00:58
> To: Bruce Sherwood
> Cc: Visual Python Maillist
> Subject: Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2
>=20
> On May 12, 2005, at 9:23 AM, Bruce Sherwood wrote:
>=20
> > It shouldn't matter that you have other versions of Python=20
> present; I=20
> > have Python 2.3 on my machine as well as Python 2.4 and=20
> haven't seen=20
> > such a problem.
> >
> > Can you say more about not having administrator access? As=20
> Gary Pajer=20
> > comments, it seems odd that you could install Python if you're=20
> > explicitly locked out of being permitted to do software=20
> installations.
> > There is an option (or at least there use to be) to install=20
> Python in=20
> > your own documents if you don't have installation=20
> permission. In such=20
> > a "registry-less" installation the registry is not touched.
> >
> > My best guess is that somehow you managed to install Python 2.4=20
> > without the registry being updated, so that the VPython installer's =

> > first attempt to find python2.4 fails. It is possible that=20
> the VPython=20
> > installer then does the wrong thing after asking you for a=20
> location,=20
> > and I'll look into that later today. Thanks for the report.
>=20
> I have similar problems with installing Python and VPython on=20
> my lab computers running Win2000. Our IT guys don't give=20
> faculty admin privileges on our lab machines. I can't install=20
> either Python or VPython correctly and IDLE will not run=20
> without admin privileges.=20
> They've set up a hack using something called "tcqrunas" to=20
> make it run but it still doesn't work correctly.=20
> Specifically, IDLE doesn't know where any VPython programs=20
> are and the default save directory was at one time visible to=20
> the entire network. In one class students were unknowingly=20
> overwriting each other's programs by saving their own=20
> programs with the same name. Changes were showing up without=20
> explanation! Our IT guys either can't or won't fix it. So=20
> much for competence.
>=20
> Cheers,
> Joe Heafner -- Astronomy/Physics Instructor (by some definitions)
>=20
>=20
>=20
> -------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.Net email is sponsored by Oracle Space Sweepstakes=20
> Want to be the first software developer in space?
> Enter now for the Oracle Space Sweepstakes!
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> _______________________________________________
> Visualpython-users mailing list
> Vis...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/visualpython-users
>=20

[Visualpython-users] Windows installer

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

I started fresh on Windows, installed Python into c:\Python24, then 
changed the folder name to c:\Python24b, so that the registry wouldn't 
point to Python. Then I tried installing Visual. I was appropriately 
told that it couldn't find python and would be asked where it was. I 
then got the file dialog box and chose c:\Python24b, whereupon I again 
saw the dialog box about not being able to find python, but I discovered 
that after exiting this dialog box I could proceed anyway, and Visual 
was installed properly (that is, into c:\Python24b\Lib\site-packages). 
So the immediate problem seems to be that the error dialog box is shown 
after choosing an appropriate directory, making the person think that 
it's not going to work.

This has something to do with tricky coding in the InnoSetup script used 
to build the VPython installer.

There may be another thing wrong with the installer, but I haven't 
verified this for certain. If you've already installed Numeric, the 
VPython installer notices that it's already there and doesn't reinstall, 
but I think that if you uninstall VPython Numeric gets uninstalled, 
which is not the intent. Again, this has to do with details of the 
InnoSetup script.

Bruce Sherwood

Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Martin G. <mar...@co...>]

Joe,
  How tightly locked-down is your computer lab? In particular,  I'm wondering 
whether a live-cd solution could work for you.   Now that vpython is in 
Debian, building a custom live-cd should be relatively straightforward, 
starting from Knoppix or morphix or ubuntu. 
  If anyone's already built one, please speak up!  (I don't recall mention of 
one on this list.)
--Marty
On Thursday 12 May 2005 09:27 am, Joe Heafner wrote:
> On May 12, 2005, at 9:23 AM, Bruce Sherwood wrote:
> > It shouldn't matter that you have other versions of Python present; I
> > have Python 2.3 on my machine as well as Python 2.4 and haven't seen
> > such a problem.
> ....
>
> I have similar problems with installing Python and VPython on my lab
> computers running Win2000. Our IT guys don't give faculty admin
> privileges on our lab machines. I can't install either Python or
> VPython correctly and IDLE will not run without admin privileges.
> They've set up a hack using something called "tcqrunas" to make it run
> but it still doesn't work correctly. Specifically, IDLE doesn't know
> where any VPython programs are and the default save directory was at
> one time visible to the entire network. In one class students were
> unknowingly overwriting each other's programs by saving their own
> programs with the same name. Changes were showing up without
> explanation! Our IT guys either can't or won't fix it. So much for
> competence.
>
> Cheers,
> Joe Heafner -- Astronomy/Physics Instructor (by some definitions)
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.Net email is sponsored by Oracle Space Sweepstakes
> Want to be the first software developer in space?
> Enter now for the Oracle Space Sweepstakes!
> http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=7393&alloc_id=16281&op=click
> _______________________________________________
> Visualpython-users mailing list
> Vis...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/visualpython-users

-- 
Martin Gelfand

Associate Professor.............Phone: 970 491 5263
Department of Physics.............Fax: 970 491 7947
Colorado State University.......Email: ge...@la...
Fort Collins CO 80523-1875

Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Joe H. <hea...@ct...>]

On May 12, 2005, at 9:23 AM, Bruce Sherwood wrote:

> It shouldn't matter that you have other versions of Python present; I 
> have Python 2.3 on my machine as well as Python 2.4 and haven't seen 
> such a problem.
>
> Can you say more about not having administrator access? As Gary Pajer 
> comments, it seems odd that you could install Python if you're 
> explicitly locked out of being permitted to do software installations. 
> There is an option (or at least there use to be) to install Python in 
> your own documents if you don't have installation permission. In such 
> a "registry-less" installation the registry is not touched.
>
> My best guess is that somehow you managed to install Python 2.4 
> without the registry being updated, so that the VPython installer's 
> first attempt to find python2.4 fails. It is possible that the VPython 
> installer then does the wrong thing after asking you for a location, 
> and I'll look into that later today. Thanks for the report.

I have similar problems with installing Python and VPython on my lab 
computers running Win2000. Our IT guys don't give faculty admin 
privileges on our lab machines. I can't install either Python or 
VPython correctly and IDLE will not run without admin privileges. 
They've set up a hack using something called "tcqrunas" to make it run 
but it still doesn't work correctly. Specifically, IDLE doesn't know 
where any VPython programs are and the default save directory was at 
one time visible to the entire network. In one class students were 
unknowingly overwriting each other's programs by saving their own 
programs with the same name. Changes were showing up without 
explanation! Our IT guys either can't or won't fix it. So much for 
competence.

Cheers,
Joe Heafner -- Astronomy/Physics Instructor (by some definitions)

RE: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Dunning, R. B. <rdu...@bs...>]

Michael,

I've seen this before.  I assume you're installing to a Windows PC.  It alw=
ays happens when I forget to log on to my Windows machine as administrator.=
  Uninstall Python, log in as the administrator (for that machine), and try=
 it again.

Hope this helps.

--
Rodney Dunning
Assistant Professor of Physics
Birmingham-Southern College



From: SNOSWELL, Michael
Sent: Thu 5/12/2005 1:29 AM
To: Visual Python Maillist (vis...@li...)
Subject: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2


I downloaded Python-2.4.1.msi and it installed fine into c:\python24
=20
I downloaded VPython-Win-Py2.4-3.2.0.exe and when it installed I get a
dialog box saying "Could not locate where Python 2.4 is installed. You will
be asked where to install the Vpython extension."

I click ok and then I get a directory chooser. From here I type in or Brows=
e
to c:\python24, or c:\vpython, or c:\python24\libs or
c:\python24\libs\vpython. Nomatter which of these I try, or if I make the
directory manually, I always get an error box saying "Could not locate wher=
e
Python 2.4 is installed. You will be aske where to install the Vpython
extension."

I click ok on this and I get the "Select Components" box. I leave everythin=
g
selected. I click Next. I leave "Create a desktop icon" selected. I click
next. I get the Ready to Install box with the summary of what'll be install=
.
The destination directory looks ok (whatever I specified it to be earlier).

I click the Install button and I get an error box "You must enter a folder
name." I click ok and the installation terminates.

I've tried setting PYTHONPATH env variable. I tried rebooting (to pick up i=
f
python2.4 neede this). I had Python 2.2 previously installed and running
fine and 2.4 runs fine.

I am do NOT have administrator access on this machine but did not need it t=
o
install and run python.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank=20

Michael Snoswell




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Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

It shouldn't matter that you have other versions of Python present; I 
have Python 2.3 on my machine as well as Python 2.4 and haven't seen 
such a problem.

Can you say more about not having administrator access? As Gary Pajer 
comments, it seems odd that you could install Python if you're 
explicitly locked out of being permitted to do software installations. 
There is an option (or at least there use to be) to install Python in 
your own documents if you don't have installation permission. In such a 
"registry-less" installation the registry is not touched.

My best guess is that somehow you managed to install Python 2.4 without 
the registry being updated, so that the VPython installer's first 
attempt to find python2.4 fails. It is possible that the VPython 
installer then does the wrong thing after asking you for a location, and 
I'll look into that later today. Thanks for the report.

Bruce Sherwood

SNOSWELL, Michael wrote:
> I downloaded Python-2.4.1.msi and it installed fine into c:\python24
>  
> I downloaded VPython-Win-Py2.4-3.2.0.exe and when it installed I get a
> dialog box saying "Could not locate where Python 2.4 is installed. You will
> be asked where to install the Vpython extension."
> 
> I click ok and then I get a directory chooser. From here I type in or Browse
> to c:\python24, or c:\vpython, or c:\python24\libs or
> c:\python24\libs\vpython. Nomatter which of these I try, or if I make the
> directory manually, I always get an error box saying "Could not locate where
> Python 2.4 is installed. You will be aske where to install the Vpython
> extension."
> 
> I click ok on this and I get the "Select Components" box. I leave everything
> selected. I click Next. I leave "Create a desktop icon" selected. I click
> next. I get the Ready to Install box with the summary of what'll be install.
> The destination directory looks ok (whatever I specified it to be earlier).
> 
> I click the Install button and I get an error box "You must enter a folder
> name." I click ok and the installation terminates.
> 
> I've tried setting PYTHONPATH env variable. I tried rebooting (to pick up if
> python2.4 neede this). I had Python 2.2 previously installed and running
> fine and 2.4 runs fine.
> 
> I am do NOT have administrator access on this machine but did not need it to
> install and run python.
> 
> What am I doing wrong?
> 
> Thank 
> 
> Michael Snoswell
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.Net email is sponsored by Oracle Space Sweepstakes
> Want to be the first software developer in space?
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[Visualpython-users] Released: VPython 3.2.0

[Jonathan B. <jbr...@ea...>]

Its up on Sourceforge, now.  NEWS file details follow.  We will get a
prebuilt package up for Python 2.3 shortly.

-Jonathan


Visual 3.2.0
===============================================================================
   NEW FEATURES:
   * New stereo mode: "crosseyed".  It is just like 'passive', but
       reversed left-to-right.
   * Added the dependancy list for Gentoo systems to INSTALL.txt.

   BUGS FIXED:
   * A crash that affected users of some NVIDIA Quadro video cards on 
       Windows has been fixed.
   * Work around sizeof(float*) < sizeof(int) on AMD64 systems.

[Visualpython-users] Re: Visualpython-users digest, Vol 1 #666 - 1 msg

[John B. <jb...@te...>]

Hallelujah !
Hallelujah !
Great !
Wonderful !
Thank you !
Those of us who use crosseyed 3D-stereo on large monitors and on an almost
daily basis congratulate y'all for making an obviously deeply needed mod !
Peace
JB
Xj...@te...
( REMOVE the 'X' before using ! )
NOTE: due to virus explosion, currently deleting ALL messages over 140kb
from the server without downloading.
http://tetrahedraverse.com



----- Original Message -----
> From: Bruce Sherwood <Bru...@nc...>
>
> Now available for Python 2.4 on Windows: introduces the new feature
> scene.stereo = 'crosseyed', which is like 'passive' but places the view
> for the left eye on the right (and vice versa). To view such stereo,
> place a vertical finger between you and the screen, focus on the finger
> to get the eyes turned in (left eye pointing to the right, right ey
> pointing to the left), then while maintaining this crosseyed orientation
> refocus on the screen. You'll see true stereo without glasses.

Re: [Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[Gary P. <gp...@ri...>]

> I downloaded Python-2.4.1.msi and it installed fine into c:\python24
>
> I downloaded VPython-Win-Py2.4-3.2.0.exe and when it installed I get a
> dialog box saying "Could not locate where Python 2.4 is installed. You
> will
> be asked where to install the Vpython extension."
>
> I click ok and then I get a directory chooser. From here I type in or
> Browse
> to c:\python24, or c:\vpython, or c:\python24\libs or
> c:\python24\libs\vpython. Nomatter which of these I try, or if I make the
> directory manually, I always get an error box saying "Could not locate
> where
> Python 2.4 is installed. You will be aske where to install the Vpython
> extension."
>
> I click ok on this and I get the "Select Components" box. I leave
> everything
> selected. I click Next. I leave "Create a desktop icon" selected. I click
> next. I get the Ready to Install box with the summary of what'll be
> install.
> The destination directory looks ok (whatever I specified it to be
> earlier).
>
> I click the Install button and I get an error box "You must enter a folder
> name." I click ok and the installation terminates.
>
> I've tried setting PYTHONPATH env variable. I tried rebooting (to pick up
> if
> python2.4 neede this). I had Python 2.2 previously installed and running
> fine and 2.4 runs fine.
>
> I am do NOT have administrator access on this machine but did not need it
> to
> install and run python.
>
> What am I doing wrong?
>
> Thank
>
> Michael Snoswell




I once had a similar problem.  The problem was that I did not uninstall
the old python before installing the new one.  This would only be an issue
when python bumps to a "new directory".  I'm guessing there's a registry
issue somewhere.

I'm a little concerned about the privilige issue.  I'm no expert here.  I
suppose you shouldn't have been able to do the installation.  The fact
that you were able to seems to indicate that you have write priviliges to
c:\ . That would be odd.  Perhaps (???) you somehow have write priviliges
to c:\, but can't write to the registry ???

If you haven't wiped out 2.3, the best thing may be to go back to 2.3.  I
haven't upgraded yet.  (I'm waiting for a scipy installer for 2.4)

Next best: (IMHO) Try uninstalling all your pythons and then reinstalling
2.4.   You have some privilges, you may have enough to clean out the old
and bring in the new.

-gary

[Visualpython-users] Problem installing on WinXP SP2

[SNOSWELL, M. <mic...@ba...>]

I downloaded Python-2.4.1.msi and it installed fine into c:\python24
 
I downloaded VPython-Win-Py2.4-3.2.0.exe and when it installed I get a
dialog box saying "Could not locate where Python 2.4 is installed. You will
be asked where to install the Vpython extension."

I click ok and then I get a directory chooser. From here I type in or Browse
to c:\python24, or c:\vpython, or c:\python24\libs or
c:\python24\libs\vpython. Nomatter which of these I try, or if I make the
directory manually, I always get an error box saying "Could not locate where
Python 2.4 is installed. You will be aske where to install the Vpython
extension."

I click ok on this and I get the "Select Components" box. I leave everything
selected. I click Next. I leave "Create a desktop icon" selected. I click
next. I get the Ready to Install box with the summary of what'll be install.
The destination directory looks ok (whatever I specified it to be earlier).

I click the Install button and I get an error box "You must enter a folder
name." I click ok and the installation terminates.

I've tried setting PYTHONPATH env variable. I tried rebooting (to pick up if
python2.4 neede this). I had Python 2.2 previously installed and running
fine and 2.4 runs fine.

I am do NOT have administrator access on this machine but did not need it to
install and run python.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank 

Michael Snoswell

[Visualpython-users] crosseyed on Windows

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

Now available for Python 2.4 on Windows: introduces the new feature 
scene.stereo = 'crosseyed', which is like 'passive' but places the view 
for the left eye on the right (and vice versa). To view such stereo, 
place a vertical finger between you and the screen, focus on the finger 
to get the eyes turned in (left eye pointing to the right, right ey 
pointing to the left), then while maintaining this crosseyed orientation 
refocus on the screen. You'll see true stereo without glasses.

Linux/Unix version coming soon.

Bruce Sherwood

[Visualpython-users] Improved VPython for Python 2.4

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

On vpython.org there is now an improved VPython for Python 2.4 for 
Windows; other versions to come.

This fixes a bug in convex objects on machines using Quadro graphics 
cards. It also completes support for all the standard attributes of the 
helix object.

Bruce Sherwood

[Visualpython-users] VPython with Smartboards?

[Joel K. <jj...@ya...>]

Has any programming been done in VPython that is aimed
directly at the smartboards (interactive whiteboards)
from SMART Technologies? These boards are very popular
in education, and the school district I work for has
been getting into them in a big way. If you are not
already familiar with them, check out the firm's site:

http://www.smarttech.com

Joel


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