Last updated: Monday 8th
March 2010, 11:36 PT, AD
ConTEXT for Python
Introduction
Once you've mastered how to create and
run a simple Python program using Notepad, you're
now ready to learn how to use a more sophisticated editor such as ConTEXT.
ConTEXT was designed for use with a number of programming languages including
Python. ConTEXT has a number of features to help you develop your Python
programs including powerful syntax highlighting.
The following screen shots show the same
Python program with (ConTEXT) and without (Notepad) syntax highlighting. Notice
that with syntax highlighting, Python keywords, comments, literal text etc are
displayed in different colours or fonts, which makes it much easier for
programmers to find errors in their program code. Not only can you edit Python
programs using ConTEXT, but you can also execute (run) them from within
ConTEXT.
This web page explains how to download,
install and run the text editor ConTEXT for editing and running Python
programs.
How to Install
and Run ConTEXT
1. Go to the ConTEXT web site
In the address box of your Internet
browser, type in the following:
2. Download and
Install the ConTEXT software
At the time of writing this document the
current version of the ConTEXT editor software is version 0.97.5.You should
always download the latest version of the software as it will contain the
latest features and bug fixes.
Click on the 'Download' link on ConTEXT's
home page, which is located at the top of the page. You should then
see the following screen:
Click on the first DOWNLOAD link…
Click on the Open button.
Click on the Next
> button.
Click on the Next
> button.
Click on the Next
> button.
Click on the Next
> button.
Click on the Next
> button.
Click on the Install
button.
When installation is complete, the
ConTEXT software will automatically execute, and you will see the following
screen:
You may access the ReadMe.txt and
History.txt files at any time, but for now, close these files by clicking twice
on the lower close button (marked with a x) in the top right hand corner
of the screen.
Your ConTEXT screen will now look like
this:
3. Setting up
ConTEXT for Python programs
For ConTEXT to be able to locate the
Python interpreter and automatically invoke it on your programs, you have to
enter the correct settings. This only needs to be done once. Proceed as
follows:
Click on the Options menu and select Environment
Options:
From the Environment Options window, click on the Execute Keys tab:
To add a user execute key (a key set up
to execute your Python programs), click on the Add button:
In the Extension edit window, type in py then press the OK button.
You will now see the following screen.
Click on F9 to see this screen:
Enter the text for the Execute: and Parameters: text boxes:
Then click on the Apply button, then the OK button.
ConTEXT is now set up to edit and run
your Python programs.
The procedure outlined above set up the
keyboard key labeled F9 to execute files with the extension py (i.e. Python programs) using the Python interpreter in interactive mode
(requiring Ctrl-Z to quit), using the saved the file name and path.
4. Creating a new
Python program in ConTEXT
Select New from the File menu:
You will then be presented with a blank
editor window:
Type in your Python statements:
Save your file as a Python program file:
Select a folder to save your new file
from the Save in: text box, and make sure you select Python files for the file type
from the list of types available from clicking the down arrow button on the
right of the Save as type: text box.
To run the program, simply press the key
on your keyboard labeled F9, or click on the user execute key 1 (the first of
the four buttons which has a picture of a human head on it).
Press Ctrl-Z to exit Python and get back
to the ConTEXT editor.
5. Opening and
running an existing program file
Select Open from the File menu:
Select the file to open:
After selecting the file and clicking the
Open button, the file is displayed in the editor window:
To run the program, simply press the key
on your keyboard labeled F9, or click on the user execute key 1 (the first of
the four buttons which has a picture of a human head on it).
Press Ctrl-Z to exit Python and get back
to the ConTEXT editor.
6. Setting up
ConTEXT for Python Help
When Python is installed, a compiled HTML
help file named Python23.chm is placed in folder C:\Python23\Doc.
This file can be accessed directly by
clicking on the Start button in the lower left hand corner of the desktop:
Start -> Programs -> Python2.3.4
-> Python manuals
or
In Explorer, double click on: C:\Python23\Doc\Python23.chm
You can also set up ConTEXT so that this
help system file will be executed when key F1 is pressed when you are editing a
Python program within the ConTEXT environment:
Proceed as follows:
From the Options menu, select Environment
Options then click on the Miscellaneous tab:
In the Help files box (see above) click
on Python, then click on the Edit button.
From the Open window (see below) click on
the drop down arrow button on the right of the 'Files of type:' text box and
select
'HTML help files (*.chm)'.
Locate Python23.chm in the
C:\Python23\Doc folder using the drop down arrow button to the right of the
'Look in:' text box:
Click on Python23.chm to transfer it to
the File name: text box, then click on the Open button:
You will be returned to the following
screen showing the connection between Python file type and its Help file:
Important: You
must click on the Apply button to save these changes.