[Python-bugs-list] [Bug #110822] TCL_LIBRARY variable for win32 (PR#130)

noreply@sourceforge.net noreply@sourceforge.net
Sun, 6 Aug 2000 10:11:17 -0700


Bug #110822, was updated on 2000-Aug-01 14:10
Here is a current snapshot of the bug.

Project: Python
Category: Tkinter
Status: Open
Resolution: None
Bug Group: Feature Request
Priority: 4
Summary: TCL_LIBRARY variable for win32 (PR#130)

Details: Jitterbug-Id: 130
Submitted-By: grant.griffin@alliedsignal.com
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 15:26:44 -0500 (EST)
Version: 1.5.2
OS: Windows NT 4.0


I would like to suggest that the "TCL_LIBRARY" variable be automatically set by
the Win32 installer program.  Currently, this is a manual process.  It can be
frustrating for the user because when he tries to run a Tkinter program, it says
"cannot find tcl80.dll...".  (I was able to figure out the solution here only by
digging through comp.lang.python in Deja.)

Therefore, I recommend the installer be changed as follows:

1) Do TCL installation before Python, not after.
2) Somehow figure out what the value of TCL_LIBRARY should be as a function of
the directory that the user had installed TCL in.
3) Automatically write the proper value of TCL_LIBRARY into the Windows
registry.

Alternatively, you could just add a prompt like "In order to use TCL with
Python, you must set the 'TCL_LIBRARY' environment variable to point to the
directory where tcl80.dll is installed."

Anyway, thanks, guys--keep up the GREAT work!

-Grant


====================================================================
Audit trail:
Tue Nov 16 13:58:27 1999	guido	changed notes
Tue Nov 16 13:58:27 1999	guido	moved from incoming to request

Follow-Ups:

Date: 2000-Aug-01 14:10
By: none

Comment:
From: Guido van Rossum <guido@CNRI.Reston.VA.US>
Subject: Re: [Python-bugs-list] TCL_LIBRARY variable for win32 (PR#130)
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 15:35:20 -0500

> I would like to suggest that the "TCL_LIBRARY" variable be automatically set by
> the Win32 installer program.  Currently, this is a manual process.  It can be
> frustrating for the user because when he tries to run a Tkinter program, it says
> "cannot find tcl80.dll...".  (I was able to figure out the solution here only by
> digging through comp.lang.python in Deja.)
> 
> Therefore, I recommend the installer be changed as follows:
> 
> 1) Do TCL installation before Python, not after.
> 2) Somehow figure out what the value of TCL_LIBRARY should be as a function of
> the directory that the user had installed TCL in.
> 3) Automatically write the proper value of TCL_LIBRARY into the Windows
> registry.
> 
> Alternatively, you could just add a prompt like "In order to use TCL with
> Python, you must set the 'TCL_LIBRARY' environment variable to point to the
> directory where tcl80.dll is installed."
> 
> Anyway, thanks, guys--keep up the GREAT work!

Thanks for the suggestion.  The problem is that on Windows 95/98, the
environment is not kept in the registry!  Editing autoexec.bat has
been suggested but is too error-prone.

But we will definitely revisit this problem again with the next
release (not due until late 2000); the best solution we can think of
is to integrate the Tcl files in the Python installation instead of
running the Tcl installer; this way we can be sure that Tcl is always
in the same directory as Python.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)

-------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2000-Aug-01 14:10
By: none

Comment:
We will try to fgix this for Python 1.6.
-------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2000-Aug-06 10:11
By: twouters

Comment:
Partly (or completely ?) resolved by including Tcl/Tk in the Python Installer for Windows.

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For detailed info, follow this link:
http://sourceforge.net/bugs/?func=detailbug&bug_id=110822&group_id=5470