Time for action – installing NumPy, Matplotlib, SciPy, and IPython on Windows

Installing NumPy on Windows is necessary but, fortunately, a straightforward task that we will cover in detail. It is recommended to install Matplotlib, SciPy, and IPython. However, this is not required to enjoy this book. The actions we will take are as follows:

1. Download a NumPy installer for Windows from the SourceForge website http://sourceforge.net/projects/numpy/files/.

   

   Choose the appropriate version. In this example, we chose numpy-1.7.0-win32-superpack-python2.7.exe.

2. Open the EXE installer by double clicking on it.

   

3. Now, we can see a description of NumPy and its features as shown in the previous screenshot. Click on the Next button.

4. If you have Python installed, it should automatically be detected. If it is not detected, maybe your path settings are wrong. At the end of this chapter, resources are listed in case you have problems installing NumPy.

   

5. In this example, Python 2.7 was found. Click on the Next button if Python is found; otherwise, click on the Cancel button and install Python (NumPy cannot be installed without Python). Click on the Next button. This is the point of no return. Well, kind of, but it is best to make sure that you are installing to the proper directory and so on and so forth. Now the real installation starts. This may take a while.

6. Install SciPy and Matplotlib with the Enthought distribution http://www.enthought.com/products/epd.php. It might be necessary to put the msvcp71.dll file in your C:\Windows\system32 directory. You can get it from http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msvcp71. A Windows IPython installer is available on the IPython website (see http://ipython.scipy.org/Wiki/IpythonOnWindows).

What just happened?

We installed NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, and IPython on Windows.