Downloading and running the "Cross sections calculator" application

Windows

1. If you do not already have the (free) IDL Virtual Machine on your computer you should download it. Go to http://www.rsinc.com/download/chooseplatform.asp?urlProductCode=13 and follow the instructions.

2. Obtain the file “vm_xsecs.zip” and unzip it to “C:\”. This will create the folder “C:\vm_xsecs” which has 5 files in it. Move the shortcut file "Cross sections calculator" to the desktop.

3. Determine where the IDL executable file “idlrt.exe” is located.

· If you chose the default folder when you downloaded the IDL Virtual Machine, “idlrt.exe” will be in the correct folder and no further action is required.

· If “idlrt.exe” is located in the folder “C:\RSI\IDL60\bin\bin.x86\”, no further action is required.

· If “idlrt.exe” is not in the folder “C:\RSI\IDL60\bin\bin.x86\”, the "Cross sections calculator" shortcut file must be edited. To edit the shortcut proceed as follows:

• Right click on the shortcut
• Select “Properties”
• In the “target” box, replace the path “C:\RSI\IDL60\bin\bin.x86\” with the correct path to the file “idlrt.exe”
• In the “Start in” box, replace the path “C:\RSI\IDL60\bin\bin.x86\” with the correct path to the file “idlrt.exe”
• Click on “OK”

4. To run the "Cross sections calculator" application, double click on the Desktop shortcut. Click “click to continue” to continue (!).The help file is in pdf format and to read it the application needs to know the name and location of your pdf reader. Go to the “pdf reader” menu item to define your pdf reader. To look at the help file go to the menu item “Information” and select “Program description”.