Getting Python and SOAPpy

The python VO library uses python 2.4.1. Earlier versions may work but not have been tested. The easiest way to check if python is installed on your machine is to enter “python” from the command line on any platform. For example:

/home/skwok>python

Python 2.4.1 (#1, May 27 2005, 18:02:40)

[GCC 3.3.3 (cygwin special)] on cygwin

Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

>>>

If you get a output similar to the above, then python is installed on your machine. Next verify that you have version 2.4.1 or later. The “>>>” sign is python interpreters’ prompt. To exit from the python interpreter, enter Ctrl-D.

For Linux:

Python is included in most Linux distributions. So there is no need to do anything here.

But if it is missing, download python from http://www.python.org/download/ .

For Windows:

There are two ways to get python on Windows machines. One way is to use python that comes with cygwin. Cygwin is a package that gives Windows machines UNIX-like functionality, see http://www.cygwin.com/ for more.

Python binaries for Windows are also available from http://www.python.org/download/ .

I have not tested this installation. If someone has experience please write a paragraph here.

For Mac/OS:

See http://homepages.cwi.nl/~jack/macpython/download.html for details. Panther comes with python 2.3 pre-installed. This version may work fine. I have not tested this. If someone has experience with this version, please write a paragraph here.

For Solaris or other UNIX:

Download python 2.4.1 source code from http://www.python.org/download/ , configure, compile and install. The process is straightforward. I have not had any problems.

Getting SOAPpy

The SOAPpy package is required for the VORegistry SkyNode and SkyPortal classes. The home page for SOAPpy is http://pywebsvcs.sourceforge.net/ . I used version 0.11.6 to develop and test the VO library. Changes in SOAPpy versions are subtle and can affect the SOAP interface in very confusing ways, especially when talking to .NET implementations.

Before you can install SOAPpy, you need to download and install fpconst, a small package that provides constants and functions to deal with IEEE754 double-precision special values. The package is available at http://research.warnes.net/projects/RStatServer/fpconst/ .

Download the package, uncompress, untar, and enter :

python setup.py install

in the fpconst directory. That will copy necessary files into your python installation directory.

Download SOAPpy from http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/pywebsvcs/SOAPpy-0.11.6.tar.gz?download and save it in a temporary directory, for example ‘/tmp’.

Unpack with tar –zxvf SOAPpy-0.11.6.tar.

You should get a directory SOAPpy-0.11.6.

Go to that directory and enter

python setup.py install

to complete the installation of SOAPpy.

To test your installation, enter from command line:

/home/skwok>python

Python 2.4.1 (#1, May 27 2005, 18:02:40)

[GCC 3.3.3 (cygwin special)] on cygwin

Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

>>> import SOAPpy

>>> import fpconst

>>>

If your installation is correct no error messages should appear. Otherwise your installation is defective; contact your system administrator for support.

Other resources:

Shui Hung Kwok

NVO summer school 2005