Downloading and Installing
note:This slide rule was once shareware, but it is now 100% freeware. There is no limited trial version, no license key or fee required.
Share it with your friends, whatever. Just don't sell it.
Jump straight to the actual downloads
The installation instructions are divided into the the following steps:
1. Pre-install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE™) 5.0 or higher
(Skip this step and the next one if the JRE™ 5.0 or higher is already installed)
The JRE™ is a well known third-party software system from Sun Microsystems, upon which the Griffenfly Rule is built. It isn't bundled in the product because it's quite a bit larger (around 16 M ). This environment is very useful to have, enabling all kinds of other applications. It's free and the install is simple and well documented.
Get it here.
2. Check that the Java Runtime Environment (JRE™) 5.0 is installed
- On Microsoft Windows™ Platforms
- Activate Start Menu/Settings/Control Panel/Java/About
- If this can't be found, it wasn't installed.
- If the first line isn't "Version 1.5.0 ..." or greater, you'll need a more recent version.
- (Yes, that's 1.5.0, discard the first "1." to get the documented version.)
- On any platform with a command interpreter shell
- (this works fine with the Windows™ command prompt.)
- Run the shell as the user that intends to run the slide rule.
- In the shell, type
java -version
- Verify that the first line of the printout ("java version..") is 1.5... or greater.
3. Download the Griffenfly Universal SlideRule
Once the JRE™ is installed, pick an installation type from the list below, and download it to your computer.
- Build 144 Executable Installation Program ( Microsoft Windows™ only )
gusr_setup_144.exe 876 KB
- Build 144 Tar Archive ( for any platform with the
tar command )
gusr_144.tar 882 KB
4. Install
In these instructions, the build numbers on the files will be written _nnn, so, for instance, if the instructions refer to gusr_setup_nnn.exe, it means to use your downloaded file with a similar name, for instance gusr_setup_136.exe.
- It is fine to install overtop of an existing installation. This will not harm your collection of virtual slide rules.
-
- Installing from the Executable Installation Program
- Run the downloaded
gusr_setup_nnn.exe program by clicking it in any file browser window.
- The installer will prompt you for the installation directory.
- The installer will give you the usual options for Start Menu entries and desktop icons.
- You will have the option of launching the slide rule directly from the installer.
- Keep
gusr_setup_nnn.exe, in case you need to re-install.
- Installing from the Tar Archive
- Using a shell or command prompt:
- Create a new, empty directory to hold the installation,
- Place the downloaded
gusr_nnn.tar file in this directory.
- In this new directory, issue the command
tar -xvf gusr_nnn.tar
- Keep
gusr_nnn.tar, in case you need to re-install.
5. Run
- If you installed from the Executable Installation Program
- Just click on the "Universal SlideRule" desktop icon or Start Menu item. You can also directly run the executable
gusr.exe found in your installation directory.
- If you installed from the Tar Archive
- Open a command shell
- Go to the installation directory
- Run the script
gusr
- You can create a script or icon which performs these commands, but no tutorials will be provided here.
|
