Scheme—Setting up DrScheme at Home

Instructions for DrScheme installation are available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux.

Instructions for Windows Users

  1. Go to the official DrScheme homepage, which is located at http://www.drscheme.org/.
  2. Click on the "Download" link and then click on the "Download PLT Scheme" link.
  3. Windows download form

    Next to "Platform:" you are presented with a drop-down menu. Select the option "Windows (95 and up) x86" if it is not already selected for you by default. Then click on the "Download" button.

  4. On the next page, you will be presented with a list of "Download links". Click on any one of these (preferably on one in the USA) to request the download.
  5. IE Save - Security Warning

    Your browser will pop up a window asking you whether you would like to run or save the file (a screenshot from Internet Explorer is shown, but other browsers will prompt you with something similar). Select "Save" and then select a location to which you would like to save the file. Make sure that this location is something you will remember (such as your Windows Desktop, for instance).

  6. Once the file has finished downloading, go to the location on your computer that you specified in the previous step. Double-click on the file, which will be named something like plt-4.0.2-bin-i386-win32.exe (the numbers 4.0.2 may be different in the file name depending on the version of DrScheme you have downloaded).
  7. If you are presented with any security questions from Windows, select "Run" or "Allow".
  8. You will now be guided through the DrScheme install process. Click on the "Next" button at each step when prompted.
  9. When the install has completed, click on "Finish". If the installation was successful, DrScheme will launch.
  10. You've now completed the installation procedure. To use DrScheme in the future, you can execute it either from the Start menu or from the default download path (C:\Program Files\PLT\DrScheme.exe). Feel free to create shortcuts to the application elsewhere for your own convenience.

Instructions for Macintosh Users

  1. Go to the official DrScheme homepage, which is located at http://www.drscheme.org/.
  2. Click on the "Download" link and then click on the "Download PLT Scheme" link.
  3. Macintosh download form

    Next to "Platform:" you are presented with a drop-down menu. Select the option that corresponds to the operating system installed on your computer (for the newest machines select "Macintosh OS X (Intel)" and for PowerPCs select "Macintosh OS X (PPC)"). Then click on the "Download" button.

  4. On the next page, you will be presented with a list of "Download links". Click on any one of these (preferably on one in the USA) to request the download.
  5. Macintosh download dialogue

    Your browser will pop up a window asking you whether you wish save the file (the screenshot below is from Firefox; other browsers will ask similar questions). Click on "Save File" to begin the download. Depending on how your browser is set up, either the file will be downloaded to a default location or you will be prompted for a location. It isn't important where the file is downloaded, as long as you know where it is.

  6. Macintosh Finder Folder

    Open the disk image file plt-4.0.2-bin-ppc-osx-mac.dmg (the exact name will depend on the current version of DrScheme and the platform you have chosen). You will see a PLT Scheme folder; drag the folder to your Applications folder.

  7. You've now completed the installation procedure. Unload the disk image by clicking on the eject button as seen in the illustration above. You can now move the .dmg file to the Trash. To run DrScheme, use the Finder to go to your Applications folder, then the PLT Scheme folder, and then click on DrScheme. Once it has appeared in the Dock, use ctrl-click to bring up a menu which allows you to keep DrScheme in the Dock, allowing you to launch it from the Dock in future.

Instructions for Linux Users

Note: These instructions have been tested with Ubuntu 8.04. Some variations on these instructions may be needed depending on your version of Linux.

  1. Go to the official DrScheme homepage, which is located at http://www.drscheme.org/.
  2. Click on the "Download" link and then click on the "Download PLT Scheme" link.
  3. Linux Download Form

    Next to "Platform:" you are presented with a drop-down menu. Select the option that corresponds to the version of Linux installed on your computer. Then click on the "Download" button.

  4. On the next page, you will be presented with a list of "Download links". Click on any one of these (preferably on one in the USA) to request the download.
  5. Your browser will pop up a window asking you whether you would like to run or save the file. Select "Save" and then select a location to which you would like to save the file. Make sure that this location is something you will remember (such as your Desktop, for instance).
  6. Once the file has finished downloading, follow the "Installation Instructions" provided on the DrScheme website. These are located underneath the list of "Download links" from Step 4.
  7. You've now completed the installation procedure. You can run DrScheme by selecting Applications > Programming > DrScheme (this will vary depending on your version of Linux).

Materials provided for CS 115 in July 2008 by Terry Anderson.