Installing the program

To run DIETERpy, you need to have a functioning installation of Python and GAMS.

The following instructions describe in detail how to install Python, how to create a conda environment, how to install the Python API for GAMS, finally how to install DIETERpy and its dependencies.

Installation of GAMS

If not already done, install first GAMS using the installation files from the GAMS Website. GAMS is a proprietary software that requires a working license. If you do not have one, you can request a Free Demo License which will enable you to run a very basic version of DIETER. For questions regarding the installation and licensing of GAMS, we refer to the information provided by GAMS.

Installation of Python

The easiest and most convenient way to install Python is to install Anaconda (or Miniconda). Download the latest version from their website and install it.

During the installation of Anaconda on Windows, you will be asked to specify several options. We recommend you to choose the following ones so that DIETERpy will run smoothly:

  • Install Anaconda to a custom directory (such as C:/Anaconda or D:/Anaconda) and do not install it in the default folder, because this might increase the log-in and log-out out time;

  • Do not use C:/Programs/ or C:/Program Files/ because this will require admin rights (recommended for permission restricted computers);

  • During the installation, select “advanced option” and check both boxes (despite not recommended by the application). This will add this Conda Python Installation to the path and enables it as default python.

Create a new Conda environment

An conda environment is an isolated Python space. Different environments can contain different Python packages of different versions. In order to have reproducible and stable “working space”, it is useful to create a new environment for DIETERpy.

Warning

Before creating the new environment, you need first to check which Python version is supported by your current GAMS version. To do so, you can either go the the GAMS Documentation and see which Python version is supported by your GAMS version or navigate to your GAMS directory (e.g. C:/GAMS/win64/26.1). Within that folder, go to apifiles/Python/ and see which Python versions are supported (e.g. the existence of the folders api_26, api_34, and api_36 means that Python 2.6, 3.4, and 3.6 are supported).

Anaconda offers different ways to create a new environment:

1. Anaconda Navigator

Start the Anaconda Navigator and go on Environments and then create. Choose a name, tick the box next to Python and choose a Python version compatible with your GAMS installation (see box above).

2. Console

Open a console (Anaconda Prompt, CMD, PowerShell, Windows Terminal) and create a new conda environment with the name yourenvname and the exemplary Python version X.X (we recommend 3.6) with the following command:

$ conda create -n yourenvname python=X.X

Do not forget to change the version to the version supported by your GAMS installation.

Note

To verify the successful creation of your environment, type conda info --envs in your console.

For further information on how to edit and delete conda environments, we refer to the conda documentation.

Installation of the GAMS Python API

DIETERpy relies on the Python API that is provided by GAMS. Before installing and using DIETERpy, you need first manually install it.

First, navigate to the correct folder in your GAMS installation such as C:/GAMS/win64/26.1/apifiles/Python/api_36. The last part, api_36 depends on the Python version you have installed in the step above.

You can use your console and type:

$ cd C:/GAMS/win64/26.1/apifiles/Python/api_36

In that folder, activate your conda environment which you just have created:

$ conda activate yourenvname

Then execute the following command:

$ python setup.py install

That will install the necessary GAMS-Python API files in your Python environment. For more details on the installation of the API, please consult the documentation provided by GAMS.

Installation of DIETERpy

Now, your are ready to install DIETERpy. Make sure you have activated the correct environment:

$ conda activate yourenvname

You can install DIETERpy easily from PyPI:

$ pip install dieterpy

Installing DIETERpy from PyPI ensures that all necessary linked packages are downloaded and installed.

Note

You can uninstall DIETERpy, while having activated the yourenvname environment, simply by executing $ pip uninstall dieterpy in the console.