For best results we recommend that you install ECT on a computer running Microsoft Windows (2000 or above). Many of the current components require or are better supported on this. However, some of the components should work on other platforms (though this has not necessarily been tested). Our recommended Java installation is the Sun Java SDK 1.4.2, but we have encountered no problems with using Sun Java JDK 1.5. You should make sure that Java WebStart is installed - this will either be automatically installed with the SDK, or in some (older?) SDKs you will find a webstart installer in the SDK directories.
There are two methods for downloading, installing and ECT. These are:
For most users, the recommended approach is to download and install a binary release. Two different binary releases are available:
Note that, for users who are familiar with CVS, Java and Ant technologies, it is possible to obtain and build ECT source code. You should read the Building ECT document for further instructions on how to do this.
Download either of these zip files and unzip them to a directory on your file system.ECT consists of a number of different graphical interfaces which all share the same software infrastructure, and include the Graph Editor, the Display Editor, the Physical Configuration Manager and the Scripter. See the ECT Overview for an introduction to the purpose of each of these interfaces. However, most users will want to start with the Graph Editor, as this is the most general purpose and tested interface in the ECT system.
There are two methods to start up the graph editor, the choice of which is dependent upon whether you wish to work with some of the more experimental features of ECT. User who only wish to use the graph editor or display editor should use method 1 below - this is the recommended method for most users, and only requires the minimal version of ECT referred to above. It launches a number of features (such as installation and container management) that are not accessable through method 2 below. However, users who wish to use the Scripter or the ECT procesing integration should use method 2 below, which launches a simpler version of ECT. This method requires the full release of ECT referred to above. Note that it is intended that experimental features of ECT will be migrated from method 2 to method 1 at an appropriate point in their development.