Bring Doc/using/windows up to date

Doc/faq/windows.rst

 :tocdepth: 2
 
 .. _windows-faq:
 
 =====================
 Python on Windows FAQ
 =====================
 
 .. only:: html
 
    .. contents::
 
 .. XXX need review for Python 3.
-   XXX need review for Windows Vista/Seven?
+   XXX need review for Windows Vista/Seven? Reviewed Windows 7/8 by kw

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

Better to just remove the comment.  If we have XP and 7 covered, Vista should be
pretty well covered too.  The number of people still stuck with Vista is pretty
small compared to XP and 7+ anyway.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

So when we accomplish a task on a comment, we delete the comment?

On 2014/03/15 05:13:58, Zach Ware wrote:

 
+.. _running-windows:
 
 How do I run a Python program under Windows?
 --------------------------------------------
 
+Starting with Python 3.3, there is launcher for windows.  Use is
+discussed at :ref:`launcher`.  
+Some users may find that method more efficient than the below method.

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

I think adding this paragraph before the next one makes the next one make less
sense.  I think it would be better to segue into this from the end of the next
paragraph, something like "The situation has been made somewhat simpler since
Python 3.3, which introduced the :ref:`launcher`..."

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Done.

+
 This is not necessarily a straightforward question. If you are already familiar
 with running programs from the Windows command line then everything will seem
 obvious; otherwise, you might need a little more guidance.
 
 .. sidebar:: |Python Development on XP|_
    :subtitle: `Python Development on XP`_
 
    This series of screencasts aims to get you up and running with Python on
    Windows XP.  The knowledge is distilled into 1.5 hours and will get you up
    and running with the right Python distribution, coding in your choice of IDE,
    and debugging and writing solid code with unit-tests.
 
 .. |Python Development on XP| image:: python-video-icon.png
 .. _`Python Development on XP`:
    http://www.showmedo.com/videos/series?name=pythonOzsvaldPyNewbieSeries
 
-Unless you use some sort of integrated development environment, you will end up
-*typing* Windows commands into what is variously referred to as a "DOS window"
-or "Command prompt window".  Usually you can create such a window from your
-Start menu; under Windows 7 the menu selection is :menuselection:`Start -->
-Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt`.  You should be able to recognize
-when you have started such a window because you will see a Windows "command
-prompt", which usually looks like this::
+Unless you use some sort of integrated development environment, you will end
+up *typing* Windows commands into what is variously referred to as a 
+"DOS window" or "Command prompt window".  Usually you can create such a window
+from your Start menu; under Windows 7 the menu selection is 
+:menuselection:`Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt`; 
+under Windows 8 right click the Windows Icon or type Command Prompt at 
+the Start Menu.  You should be able to recognize when you have started 
+such a window because you will see a Windows 
+"command prompt", which usually looks like this::

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

Sorry, I wasn't entirely clear.  Lines that you've changed should be wrapped at
<80 characters, but lines that you haven't changed should be left as is.  If you
have to, you can leave a very short line in the middle of a paragraph, and if
it's really bad, the committer can reflow the paragraph at commit time.

For instance, this paragraph could be left like this:

@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@
 *typing* Windows commands into what is variously referred to as a "DOS window"
 or "Command prompt window".  Usually you can create such a window from your
 Start menu; under Windows 7 the menu selection is :menuselection:`Start -->
-Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt`.  You should be able to recognize
+Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt`; under Windows 8 right click the
+Windows Icon or type Command Prompt at the Start Menu.  You should be able to
+recognize
 when you have started such a window because you will see a Windows "command
 prompt", which usually looks like this::

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Done.

 
    C:\>
 
 The letter may be different, and there might be other things after it, so you
 might just as easily see something like::
 
    D:\YourName\Projects\Python>
 
 depending on how your computer has been set up and what else you have recently
 done with it.  Once you have started such a window, you are well on the way to
@@ skipping 72 matching lines @@
 will probably tell you where it is installed; the usual location is something
 like ``C:\Python33``.  Otherwise you will be reduced to a search of your whole
 disk ... use :menuselection:`Tools --> Find` or hit the :guilabel:`Search`
 button and look for "python.exe".  Supposing you discover that Python is
 installed in the ``C:\Python33`` directory (the default at the time of writing),
 you should make sure that entering the command ::
 
    c:\Python33\python
 
 starts up the interpreter as above (and don't forget you'll need a "CTRL-Z" and
 an "Enter" to get out of it). Once you have verified the directory, you can

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

This comment about needing Ctrl-Z to exit the interpreter isn't quite right
anymore, there is now exit() and quit().  Since this looks like a reminder of a
previous notice, that previous notice could stand to be removed (or reworded) as
well.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Done.

 add it to the system path to make it easier to start Python by just running
 the ``python`` command. This is currently an option in the installer as of
 CPython 3.3.
 
-More information about environment variables can be found on the
-:ref:`Using Python on Windows <setting-envvars>` page.
+More information about environment variables and path can be found 

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

The added "and path" doesn't sound right to me, but I can't put my finger on
what's wrong with it.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

I've decided to take the directions for environment variables out.

+:ref:`below <setting-envvars>` .
 
 How do I make Python scripts executable?
 ----------------------------------------
 
 On Windows, the standard Python installer already associates the .py
 extension with a file type (Python.File) and gives that file type an open
 command that runs the interpreter (``D:\Program Files\Python\python.exe "%1"
 %*``).  This is enough to make scripts executable from the command prompt as
 'foo.py'.  If you'd rather be able to execute the script by simple typing 'foo'
 with no extension you need to add .py to the PATHEXT environment variable.
@@ skipping 183 matching lines @@
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
 Sometimes, when you download the documentation package to a Windows machine
 using a web browser, the file extension of the saved file ends up being .EXE.
 This is a mistake; the extension should be .TGZ.
 
 Simply rename the downloaded file to have the .TGZ extension, and WinZip will be
 able to handle it.  (If your copy of WinZip doesn't, get a newer one from
 http://www.winzip.com.)
 
+.. sectionauthor:: Kathleen Weaver <kathleen@kweaver.org>
+.. moved from using windows
+
+.. _setting-envvars:
+
+How do I Change Environment Settings?

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

I still think we're better off linking to an outside tutorial instead of trying
to teach this one ourselves.

+-------------------------------------
+
+To change environment variables in Windows 7 and 8, you must use the
+built-in dialog.  There is an alternative method that works for prior 

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

This isn't true, `set` and `setx` work just as well on 7+.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Okay, it doesn't work on some of my machines. However, two of those machines
have been in an restricted environment, and they have added oddly ever since. 
It does work on this machine, which is Windows 8 and it hasn't been exposed
<grin>

+versions which is described later.
+
+Using the built-in dialog for changing environment variables:
+
+   Windows XP: Right-click the icon for your machine
+   (usually located on your Desktop and called "My Computer") and choose
+   :menuselection:`Properties` there.  Then, open the :guilabel:`Advanced` tab
+   and click the :guilabel:`Environment Variables` button.
+
+   In short, your path is:
+
+       :menuselection:`My Computer
+       --> Properties
+       --> Advanced

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

This also works for 7, except "My Computer" is just "Computer" and "Advanced" is
"Advanced System Settings" in the left side menu.  I'm pretty sure it also works
on 8, but I've only tried it once and don't remember for certain.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

It does work, but the method for Windows 7 is shorter, and even shorter for
Windows 8.

On 2014/03/15 05:13:58, Zach Ware wrote:

+       --> Environment Variables`
+
+   Windows 7: Right-click the Windows Icon, choose :menuselection:`Contol Panel`.

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

What do you mean by "Windows Icon"? Is that the Start Menu button (that hasn't
said 'start' since Vista)?  If I right click on it in 7, I only get "Properties"
and "Open Windows Explorer".

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Yes, there is a Windows Icon on Windows 7 that takes you to the start menu. 
That Icon went away on Windows 8 and came back on Windows 8.1  

You click on it for Windows 7 (my mistake) and right click on it for Windows 8.

This is the shortest path to get there from the desktop.

On 2014/03/15 05:13:58, Zach Ware wrote:

+   Then click :guilabel:`System` and click the :guilabel:`Advanced system settings` 
+   and click the :guilabel:`Environment Variables` button.   
+ 
+   In short, your path is:
+
+        :menuselection:`Control Panel
+        --> System
+        --> Advanced system settings
+        --> Environment Variables`
+
+   Windows 8: Right-click the Windows Icon, choose

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

Same question about Windows Icon, though I haven't tested on 8.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Right click is correct.  Clicking takes you to the start menu.  

+   :menuselection:`System` and click the :guilabel:`Advanced system settings`
+   and click the :guilabel:`Environment Variables` button. 
+   (Windows 8 skips the control panel)  
+ 
+   In short, your path is:
+
+        :menuselection:`System
+        --> Advanced system settings
+        --> Environment Variables`
+
+In this dialog, you can add or modify User and System variables. To change
+System variables, you need non-restricted access to your machine
+(i.e. Administrator rights).
+
+Another way of adding variables to your environment in versions prior to
+Windows 7 and 8 is using the :command:`set`

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

This is still true for 7 and 8.

[kathweaver, 2014/03/18 02:27:06]

Put it back, I tried it on an "unaffected" machine.

+command::
+
+    set PYTHONPATH=%PYTHONPATH%;C:\My_python_lib
+
+To make this setting permanent, you could add the corresponding command line
+to your :file:`autoexec.bat`. :program:`msconfig` is a graphical interface to
+this file.

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

This paragraph should be removed entirely.  It is no longer recommended to use
autoexec.bat, and msconfig has nothing to do with setting environment variables.
 Instead, we should mention `setx`, which will make the changes in the registry.

+
+Viewing environment variables in all Windows versions 8.1 and below can also

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

No need to specify "8.1 and below", since that's all of them (and unlikely to
change for any version of Windows that Python works with).

+be done more straight-forward: The command prompt will expand strings wrapped

[Zach Ware, 2014/03/15 05:13:58]

Even more straightforward than `echo %var%` is to use `set` without an =
character.  `set` will list all currently set variables, `set abc` will list all
variables that start with "abc" (e.g., `set path` shows PATH and PATHEXT, `set
py` should show all variables that Python cares about).

+into percent signs automatically::
+
+    echo %PATH%
+
+Consult :command:`set /?` for details on this behaviour.
+
+.. seealso::
+
+   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100843
+      Environment variables in Windows NT
+
+   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310519
+      How To Manage Environment Variables in Windows XP
+
+   http://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/~louis/software/faq/q1.html
+      Setting Environment variables, Louis J. Farrugia
+