Course Library Installation for Eclipse/Python
Instructions

These instructions review how to install the course library folder (courselib) in Eclipse/Python (these instructions also appear at the bottom of Eclipse Download and Installation Instructions). Then they explain how to populate this the courselib folder with all the modules in the standard course library (and individual modules).

Review: Courselib Folder Installation

1. Locate the workspace folder (typically C:\Users\yourname\workspace) and put a new, empty folder named courselib into this workspace folder. This folder will contain course-specific Python module files that are useable in all Python projects in Eclipse.

2. Inform Eclipse to use the courselib folder in all Python projects.
   • Select Window | Preferences.
   • Disclose PyDev by clicking the > in front of PyDev or double-clicking PyDev (after the >); the > changes to a v.
   • Disclose Interpreters by clicking the > in front of Interpreters or double-clicking Interpreters (after the >); the > changes to a v.
   • Select/Click Python - Interpreter.
     

     

   • Click the Libraries tab (2nd above the bottom pane).
     
   • Click the New Folder button (topmost, right of the bottom pane).
   • Browse to the courselib folder (added above) in the Browse for Folder pop-up window (C:\Users\yourname\eclipse-workspace\courselib).
   • Click the courselib folder selected, and then click SelectFolder.
     Notice a fifth entry (C:\Users\yourname\eclipse-workspace\courselib) appears in the bottom-right pane named System PYTHONPATH. Reorder with Drag & Drop.
   • Click Apply (you will see some progress bars).
     The pop-up window should now appear as

     

     Notice a fifth entry (ending in courselib) appears at the bottom of the bottom pane named System PYTHONPATH

   • Cick OK

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   Populate Course Library with Python Modules

   1. Locate the workspace folder for Eclipse (typically C:\Users\yourname\workspace); double-click it to open it and then double-click the courselib folder inside it (whose installation was described above) to open it.

   2. Download the courselib.zip file and move it into the courselib folder opened above.

   3. Unzip it. The courselib folder will look something like the following: the .zip file followed by .py files (although it may contain more .py files, and the sizes and dates on these files may be different).

      

      Later this folder will contain another folder named __pycache__

   4. If we are currently running Eclipse, we must terminate it and restart it: otherwise Eclipse will not notice the change that we have made to the courselib folder).

   5. Finally, we can individually add any other useful .py module files to the courselib folder (mostly we will be told when to do so), thus making their modules available to all our Python projects.

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