Chem.Eq.Diagr  Chemical Equilibrium Diagrams

DATABASE/SPANA: Installing and Uninstalling


Distribution and installing:

The software is distributed through the Internet at:

www.kemi.kth.se/medusa

sites.google.com/site/chemdiagr/


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INI-files and Environment Variables

“ini”-files (Spana.ini and DataBase.ini) keep track of the user’s preferences, the default directory, the databases, etc. “Ini”-files are created in the installation directory. However, if the programs are installed on a Network disk or on a CD, then the “ini”-files in the installation directory will be read-only, and the programs will try to save the user’s preferences in directories specified in environment variables, etc. The sequence is:

A warning message is displayed if no “ini”-file is found or if it can not be written anywhere.

DATABASE: if an “ini”-file (DataBase.ini) is found in the installation directory (that is, where DataBase.jar is found) then this file is always used to read dabase names and some other options. On a Network server this file would contain settings common for all users. A personal “ini”-file (in %APPDATA% or %HOME%, etc) then supplies only the default directory, the start position of the DATABASE-window, etc, for each user.


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File associations

On Windows, files with extension “plt” and “dat” may be automatically associated with SPANA when running the setup program. However, these associations might be in conflict with other software. To remove file associations use the advanced program level in the menu “Preferences / General options” in SPANA.


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Installing on a Network server

All the files and sub-directories created during the installation can be moved by the system administrator to a network disk, which should be read-only to normal users. Alternatively the software could be installed directly to the final location by the administrator. Shortcuts should be modified, if necessary, to point to the correct location (i.e., to the network directory), and then copied for each user, depending on the system. Environment variables should be defined so that “ini”-files may be saved.

Installing on a CD-ROM

Follow the instructions below for a USB memory

“Ini”-files will be created when you run the software as indicated above. Because the CD is a read-only memory, “ini”-files will be created locally in the computer where the CD is inserted. If you do not want this: before burning the CD run first SPANA and DATABASE from the hard-disk, then edit the configuration files created (Spana.cfg and DataBase.cfg): change SaveIniFileToApplicationPath from false to true and burn these files also to the CD.

Installing on a USB memory

The programs may be installed on any removable memory.

Windows: Choose the option “Portable application” in the setup program.

If the PortableApps.com plattform is found on the removable drive Spana/Database will be installed following the portable apps directory structure. Otherwise to run Spana you can for example open the USB directory with the file explorer and double-click on the file “Spana­Portable.exe”.

Ubuntu (Linux): just copy the files to the removable drive.

Mac OS X: just copy the files to the removable drive. If the JRE (Java Runtime Enviroment) is installed on the local Macintosh, then double-clicking on a “jar”-file in the USB memory will start the program.

For all systems: “ini”-files will be created on the USB memory when you run the software.


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Uninstalling

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