December 6, 2014

================

 

The files in this directory are for installing the latest version 3.0.0 of AstroImageJ on Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems. The files are complete and do not require a previous installation of ImageJ or AstroImageJ.

 

If you have already installed version 2.0 of AIJ, simply use the update option on the AIJ toolbar 'Help' menu to upgrade to 3.0.0.  The user will need write permission to the directory where the software is installed. 

 

For more information and help, please see the AstroImageJ user forum on nabble:

 

http://astroimagej.1065399.n5.nabble.com/

 

Once you have installed this version, use the Update feature under the Help menu to install the latest changes.

 

 

Windows Installation

====================

 

Download and unzip one of the following installation files. unzip the file to a location the user will have write access to the AstroImageJ directory.

 

If you have Java already installed on your system (32-bit or 64-bit), download the following version of AstroImageJ that does not include Java embedded in installation.

 

AstroImageJ_3.0.0_20141206_windows.zip

 

To install AstroImageJ on a 64-bit Windows machine, install the following file which includes the Java 7 64-bit runtime environment (jre).

 

AstroImageJ_v3.0.0_20141206_windows_java7_x64.zip

 

To install AstroImageJ on a 32-bit Windows machine, install the following file which includes the Java 7 32-bit runtime environment (jre).

 

AstroImageJ_v3.0.0_20141206_windows_java7_x32.zip

 

 

Additional notes about installation on Windows with 64-bit Java

===============================================================

 

Many problems have been reported by Windows users attempting to run AstroImageJ with 32-bit Java. These problems are likely due to the very limited memory space available for running AIJ under 32-bit Java. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to run AIJ under a Windows 64-bit OS and 64-bit Java. To run AIJ with 64-bit Java use the x64 installation file mentioned above. If you prefer to install AIJ and use the system installed 64-bit Java runtime environment (jre), extra steps are required during installation since AIJ defaults to 32-bit Java, even if 64-bit Java has been installed on the computer.

 

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL AIJ TO USE SYSTEM INSTALLED 64-bit JAVA:

(these steps are not required when installing AstroImageJ_v3.0.0_20141206_windows_java7_x64.zip)

 

You likely already have 32-bit Java installed on your Windows computer, but you may need to install 64-bit Java. The two can coexist on the same machine. Download and install from here as needed:

 

http://www.java.com/en/download/manual_java7.jsp

 

NOTE: record the path name to the 64-bit Java installation directory. You will need it below.

 

To install AIJ, download AstroImageJ_3.0.0_20141206_windows.zip from the AIJ website. Unzip the downloaded file into the directory of your choice (example: C:\Program Files\AstroImageJ). NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE WRITE ACCESS TO THE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY FOR AIJ TO RUN PROPERLY. CHOOSE AN INSTALLATION DIRECTORY FOR WHICH YOUR USER ACCOUNT HAS WRITE ACCESS. If you are not running as administrator, install AIJ in a directory that you have write access to, such as "Documents" or "Desktop".

 

Using the above example, the installation directory will be C:\Program Files\AstroImageJ. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your installation directory.

 

Run AIJ by double-clicking AstroImageJ.exe. Do not open AIJ by double-clicking ij.jar.

 

If a warning is displayed stating "The publisher could not be verified...", deselect "Always ask before opening this file" and click "Run".

 

A message will open stating "The program will now be auto-configured". Click "OK". Another window will open stating that a configuration file named "AstroImageJ.cfg" has been created in your installation directory. Click "OK". AIJ will now open (probably in 32-bit mode).

 

Close AIJ.

 

Navigate to your installation directory and open the newly created AstroImageJ.cfg file with a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad or Wordpad. The text file should contain 3 lines similar to the ones shown below:

 

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

.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin\javaw.exe

-Xmx640m -cp ij.jar ij.ImageJ

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

 

The single "dot" is the first line. The second line points to your 32-bit Java installation. Using the path name to the 64-bit Java installation directory recorded above, modify the second line to point to the 64-bit Java installation. For the default installation location, you probably just need to remove " (x86)" on the second line. For this example, the new config file will contain the following 3 lines:

 

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

.

C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\javaw.exe

-Xmx640m -cp ij.jar ij.ImageJ

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

 

Save the new text back to the file AstroImageJ.cfg.

 

Reopen AIJ by double-clicking AstroImageJ.exe again.

 

On the AstroImageJ toolbar, left-click in the area below the icons and verify that AIJ is now running 64-bit Java.

 

AIJ will still be using only 640 MB of memory. You should increase the amount of memory allocated to AIJ using AIJ_Toolbar->Edit->Options->Memory & Threads. Enter the amount of memory in MB that you want allocated to AIJ. It is recommended to NOT exceed 2/3 of the physical memory installed in your system. For example, if your machine has 8 GB of memory, enter a memory size up to ~5500 MB. Click "OK" and close AIJ.

 

Reopen AIJ and you will now be running in 64-bit mode with the new memory setting. Click on the toolbar below the icons to verify that both settings are now being used. If your new memory setting is not being retained, or if you get an error message when you try to set the memory size, make sure you have installed AIJ in a location for which you have write access.

 

Finally, upgrade to the latest version of AIJ by using the built-in update feature. Go to AIJ_Toolbar->Help->Update AstroImageJ. The "Upgrade To:" box will default to the latest version of AIJ. Click "OK" and three files will be downloaded and installed in the proper location in the installation directory structure (again, you need write access to the installation directory). After the files have been installed, AIJ will automatically close.

 

Restart AIJ one more time and you will finally be running the updated version of AIJ under 64-bit Java and with the memory size you specified.

 

DONE!

 

NOTE: from now on, you will only need to double-click AstroImageJ.exe or a file with an extension associated with AstroImageJ.exe (see below) to open AIJ with all the new settings. Right click on AstroImageJ.exe and select 'Pin to taskbar' if you desire a link to start AIJ to be accessible directly from the taskbar.

 

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

 

TROUBLESHOOTING (most of the tips here are adapted from the ImageJ website):

 

* AIJ does not start.

  -> Delete the AstroImageJ.cfg file in the AIJ installation directory.

     Repeat the above procedure to switch to 64-bit Java.

 

* Cannot increase memory in Edit>Options>Memory & Threads.

  -> Install AIJ in a directory that you have write access to,

     such as "Documents" or "Desktop".

 

* AIJ displays blank windows or windows filled with garbage.

  -> Update video card driver or try running the nVidia_Fix.java plugin from:

       http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/plugins/nvidia-fix/index.html

 

* Multiple copies of AIJ are started when I open images by

         double clicking on them.

  -> Enable "Run single instance listener" in Edit>Options>Misc.

 

* File extensions cannot be associated with AstroImageJ.exe.

  -> Download the "Default Programs Editor" utility from:

 

      http://defaultprogramseditor.com

 

      and use it to make the associations.

 

      Step-by-step instructions for using "Default Programs Editor.exe"

      to create file extension associations:

     

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

 

      (1)  double click on "Default Programs Editor.exe" to open it

 

      (2)  click "File Type Settings"

 

      (3)  click "Context Menu"

 

      (4)  in the search box type the file type (.fits for example) you want

             to associate with AstroImageJ

             (by now you would have likely tried to associate the file type

             using built in windows tools, so it should be available in the

             list. If not, you may need to try using the windows tool first

             and assign the file type to any available program.)

 

      (5)  click "Next"

 

      (6)  click "Edit Selected Command..."

 

      (7)  click "Browse" and navigate to AstroImageJ.exe in your

             installation directory

 

      (8)  select AstroImageJ.exe and click "Open"

 

      (9)  click "Next"

 

      (10) click "Save Context Menu"

 

      (11) click "OK"

 

      (12) click "Close"