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AnacondaInstall.md

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Anaconda Installation Instructions

Even if you have Python installed on your computer, it is intended to be used with ArcGIS and other programs. In order to have a clean installation to use for data analysis and other purposes, we highly recommend downloading the Anaconda Python distribution. This includes Python and most of the libraries and modules that you will likely use. If you already have Anaconda Python installed, or if you know better, then you can skip this.

It is required that you have a working Python installation before we meet on April 23. If you are bringing a laptop that is not your own, I suggest installing Anaconda on your desktop and use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to the desktop from your borrowed laptop.

  1. Download Anaconda distribution from https://www.anaconda.com/download/ Use the Python 3.x distribution, unless you have some personal reason to download the Python 2.7 verson. We'll assume you have the Python 3.x version for the course.

  2. IMPORTANT Progress through the installation until you get to the Advanced Options dialog. In the Advanced Options dialog, check the box for "Add anaconda to the system PATH environment variable". Uncheck the box for "Register Anaconda as the system Python". These settings will allow you to invoke Python from the command line by typing "python", but it will not interfere with any other Python installations you have on your computer. These go against the recommended settings for Anaconda, but they work, and they are easy to undo if any problems occur.

  3. It will ask you if you would like to install Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Do that if you want to, but you don't need to. (We won't be using it in the course, but it is a good editor for Python).

  4. Test to make sure it works. Open a new command prompt. (Type windows+R and enter "cmd" to open a command prompt). Type "python". A Python prompt should open stating something similar to Python 3.6 | Anaconda.... Type exit() to exit the prompt. If that works, try typing jupyter notebook at the command prompt. It may think a moment, then a large amount of text will show up on the screen and a browser window will open that says "jupyter" on top. Type control + C in the command prompt to quit jupyter notebook. If these two tests work, you should be good to go! If not, please email or contact Steve before April 23.

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