Changes between Version 15 and Version 16 of Wisdom/Python

Timestamp:

04/13/12 17:09:33 (14 years ago)

Author:

lia@…

Comment:

--

Wisdom/Python

@@ -25 +25 @@
 
 - [mailto:adrn@astro.columbia.edu Adrian]
+
+=== Quick Start Guide (for IDL users) ===
+
+'''How to open the door:'''
+
+Once you have Python installed, you can run an interactive session by invoking "python" at the command line.[br]
+(This is equivalent to writing "IDL" on the command line.)[br]
+ % python
+
+ >>>
+
+You will very often need to activate different packages for your python session.  Numpy is one that you will probably need often.
+ >>> import numpy
+
+Now each time you need to use something from numpy, you will invoke that package:
+ >>> x = numpy.array([1,2,3,4])
+
+You can also give the package a nickname for use within your session, for example:
+ >>> import numpy as np
+
+ >>> x = np.array([1,2,3,4])
+
+When you want to quit python, press Ctrl+D or:
+ >>> exit()
+
+Now let's say you want to run the equivalent of a "batch" file.  In IDL you would do the following:
+ % IDL
+
+ IDL> @my_batchfile.batch
+
+In python, you would create a file containing everything you would run from the command line (including "import numpy" etc etc).  Then from the command line, you can enter:
+ % python -i my_pyfile.py
+
+ >>>
+
+The code will compile and open an "interactive" session.  You can access and play with all the variables you created in my_pyfile.py.
+
+
+This is how I do it!  Please add your own tips and tricks.  (Added by [mailto:lia@astro.columbia.edu])