The Definitive Guide to Fractal Awesomeness with J-WildFire!

Transcription

1 Installing Java and J-WildFire - by Martin Flink Copyright 2013 Martin Flink All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. Contact: flinkdimensions at gmail dot com Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 1

2 Getting Started with J-WildFire Fractal ART and Animation Software. - Verifying what version of Java you have installed In this Manual I'll be taking you through the Installation of Java (if you don't have it, or need to update your current version). Then I'll help you Download and install the Freeware Fractal Art and Animation software called J-WildFire, created by Andreas Maschke. By the time you finish reading through this Manual... I'll take you by the hand in the second one and... You'll be able to create Stunning Images in a few minutes just by clicking a couple of buttons. The best part is... You own the images and the copyright is yours... You could even sell these images and make some money that way. Don't think that's possible huh? Fair enough, just read on and let me help you prove it to yourself... J-WildFire runs on Windows, Mac and Linux machines and require Java version 6, minimum, (preferrably version 7 - currently) to be installed on your system... In this part of the course I will be illustrating how to set up a Windows system. If you are on a Mac or Linux machine, further info can easily be obtained via Google for your platform, if you have any questions. To get started just go here: Verify Java Version. Upon arrival the site will check if you have the latest version of Java installed and if not, get you the free download. If you know you don't yet have Java installed you can go here instead: Download Free Java Software. If you have any problems with the automated check etc. or are on Solaris or Linux you can go here: Java Downloads for All Operating Systems. For Mac users: Apple supplies their own version of Java. Use the Software Update feature (available on the Apple menu) to check that you have the most up-to-date version of Java for your Mac. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 2

3 Download Java If you haven't got the latest version installed you'll get a message like this. Click on "Download Java Now". Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 3

4 That brings you to the Download Page... Click on: "Agree and Start your Free Download". Click on Save File... Save the file somewhere suitable on your system... this could be on your desktop or wherever you like. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 4

5 Running the Installer. Once Finished downloading, just Double click on the downloaded file in the Download Manager window, or where you normally save download files. You may have to Confirm that you want to "Run" the installer in order to start the installation. Then follow the instructions to Install. NOTE: You may need to restart (close and re-open) your browser to enable the Java installation in your browser. (Once installed, Java runs both "Stand Alone" and in your Browser when needed). The Setup Progress will display... Followed by a Success Message when finished. This process will not take more than a couple of minutes. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 5

6 Verify that everything is working fine... This step isn't strictly necessary but I'm including the link for this in any case... just in case you have any problems. Also, since the process only takes a couple of seconds, you might as well do it in any case. Just to make sure =o) Click Here! If you have any problems there are some helpful links on that page too. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 6

7 How to Download and Install J-WildFire Now it's time to Download and Install J-WildFire... This is very simple... and updates are even easier to install! Go to Andreas Maschke's Blog: JWildfire downloads Select the topmost file link (the latest version) below the: "Available ZIP files for Java 6 (includes launcher):" heading... To download, just click on the correct link and Save the file to your Hard Disk. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 7

8 Unzip the Zip file. When you unzip the archive you can just direct the files and folders to be created in a suitable folder on your system (or you can Unzip to a temporary directory and copy the files from there afterwards). Below I'm showing you how you can Navigate to for example: "C:\Program Files" and by adding a suitable folder name like "\J-Wildfire" (note the "\" before the name of the folder I want to create and install the files in), to the end of the "Destination path", I'm asking the Unzip program to create the folder called "J-Wildfire" for me and copy all files and folders into it. You can call the J-WildFire folder whatever you like and put it anywhere on your system. (Another option is to first Unzip the J-Wildfire software to a separate "JWF Stuff" folder where you could keep the last few software updates and other resources not directly needed to run the software. Once unzipped all you have to do is copy all files and folders from inside the newly created folder for the version you just unzipped. Then paste these files into a suitable program folder which you can create yourself... then follow along below.) Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 8

9 The J-Wildfire folder is created and files copied into it. Once the files have been unzipped (a few seconds later) we're nearly done! Since the software is not installed in a traditional way (no long winded installation routine)... there is no Start up Icon created, so we'll create a shortcut to the "start.bat" file and put that on the desktop. The file is of the type MS-DOS Batch File N.B. If your system is set up to "Hide file extensions" the file will only show up as "start" since the file extension ".bat" will be hidden! This process may be a bit different if you are using a non-windows system! Please refer to google or your system manuals if you don't know how to get this done. Open your File Manager, "My Computer" or "Explore" on Windows XP (my system) and Navigate to the Folder you just created. To create a Shortcut to J-WildFire, begin by Right Click and Dragging the "start.bat" file (don't let go of the Right Mouse Button!)... Then Drag the icon of the file out of the File Manager onto the Desktop... Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 9

10 Creating the Shortcut. When you have dragged the "start.bat" icon to a suitable location... Let go of the Right Mouse Button! Select the "Create Shortcuts Here" option. The new Shortcut is ready! Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 10

11 The Shortcut. Now you have created a shortcut to the "start.bat" file. This will be the icon we use to start the software. The "start.bat" file is what's called a "batch" file which consist of nothing more than a simple line of text containing instructions which will be run when double clicked. These instructions will start J-WildFire. Instead of having to go to the folder and double clicking on the batch file every time we want to start the software we have just created a "Shortcut" on the desktop that provides a direct link to the file instead. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 11

12 Renaming your shortcut. (Optional) The name "start.bat" isn't very descriptive and the icon might not be the most attractive, so if you like you can change both the name and icon very simply... Start by Right clicking on the shortcut... Selecting "Rename" from the pop up menu allows you to change the name of the shortcut. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 12

13 Change the shortcut name. (Optional) You can then type in for example: "J-WildFire" below the icon to make it a little more obvious what this shortcut is for. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 13

14 Changing Icon for the shortcut. Part 1 (Optional) The icon may not be the most attractive, so if you like you can change it very simply. Start by Right clicking on the shortcut... Selecting "Properties" from the pop up menu allows you to modify the properties of the shortcut. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 14

15 Changing Icon for the shortcut. Part 2 (Optional) When you click on "Change Icon" you'll get a message telling you that start.bat doesn't have any icons contained in it... That's OK, we'll use one of the standard Windows Icons instead. Click "OK". Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 15

16 Changing Icon for the shortcut. Part 3 (Optional) Scroll through the list of icons to find one that you like. I'm picking one with a nice "Arty" feel to it... Select it and click "OK". Then click "OK" again on the "Properties" dialogue to accept your choice and close it. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 16

17 Changing Icon for the shortcut. Finished! (Optional) Now you have a nice icon to use for launching into the Wonderous World of J-WildFire, Fractal ART and Animation. Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 17

18 Double Click your new J-WildFire Icon on the Desktop! Ta da! We're ready to go have some serious FUN! There you go... we're done messing about now... It's time to go and find out how you can become a Serious Artist with just a couple of clicks!!! Double Click on the Icon you just created to start up J-WildFire... Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 18

19 What you'll see when J-WildFire starts The first thing you'll notice when you start J-WildFire is an initial Welcome startup splash Window opening up... This is the Java Environment startup options, with a couple of optional settings.. JWF (What I'll call the software from here on in, when I get tired of typing) is just as happy working in 32bit mode as 64bit (optimal if your OS support it). When you are happy with your settings click on "Start"! Shortly after this window disappears, you'll see the main "Welcome to JWildfire" window open with the main J-WildFire interface behind it... Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 19

20 Meet J-WildFire! Thanks for your patience... I know it may have seemed like a lot of steps to get here but you shouldn't have spent more than 5-10 minutes or so, in total to get here (I'm being generous here...) =o) I'm a bit of a perfectionist git... and I wanted to make sure everyone could get here easily. Now it's time to show you why it was worth it! Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 20

21 Alternative Ways of Starting J-WildFire... In the unlikely event that using the "start.bat" file isn't starting up the software properly, there are alternatives... You can use "j-wildfire-launcher.jar" directly Or you can use the "j-wildfire.jar" file directly. It is located in the "lib" folder, situated inside the folder sffsdfwhich you created earlier for your J- WildFire installation. This method is not recommended except as a temporary workaround to get you going... since you have no control over memory or java setting etc. If you use any of these alternative startup methods you could just create the shortcut as described above for the j-wildfire.jar file instead of the start.bat file... If you do have any trouble, one of the best ways to get help is by joining the Facebook User Group =D Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 21

22 Onwards and Upwards! That concludes this step-by-step J-WildFire (and Java) installation Guide. I hope you enjoyed getting ready... To PLAY and Have FUN =D See you in the next Module and on Facebook! Cheers, Martin Flink 8) Installing Java and J-WildFire.pdf Page 22