Test data set and 'Open samples' item in the 'File' menu

[giumas]

It would be nice to have a stand-alone 'test_data' repository with example files to be used for testing. For instance, such a repo could replace url = "file:///Users/andrew/Documents/Compass/Demo files/2_5.hdf5" in hdf5_model\test.py

[jreadey]

There are the files here: https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdf5-json/tree/master/data/hdf5, but I don't think it's possible to reference just one file from a github repo.

How about I include a test file as part of this repo?

From the point of view of users of the binary installer, it would be nice to have the install copy the test file and documentation that instructs them to open the file to verify their installation.

[giumas]

It would be surely a simple effective solution.. A tiny example file might be also added for Esri grid and for whatever future plugin that is file-based.

Could you expand a bit on what you mean with the last sentence? Are you thinking to something like a NSIS installer (for Windows) or simply a tarball with the frozen application, a manual in pdf and a sub-folder with the test data?

[jreadey]

We have py2app dmg binaries for Mac and PyInstaller one-click executables for Windows here: https://www.hdfgroup.org/projects/compass/.
Actually the binaries integrate better with the OS then running from the repo. Try it if you haven't already and you'll see what I mean.

One question I got from someone who ran the dmg-install version was: were to get a file to view? So having at least one file provided by the installer would be useful.

[giumas]

I have already tested both the Window and the Mac binaries (although this latter was crashing as described here: #49). They are very handy when you don't want to deal with dependencies and python installation.

My question was more on whether you want to 'bundle' the test files all in a one-file executable, in a one-folder executable or in an installer that can also be used to add shortcuts to the menu program.

[jreadey]

I think an installer for Windows would be best, but as far as I know pyinstaller.py only creates executables.
This may be worth looking into to create a Windows installer: http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php.

[giumas]

Although famous, I have never created an installer with Inno Setup. I am more familiar with NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page. I believe that it should provide the features that you have in mind. It might be useful try to quickly list the most important.. and see which of the 2 installer creators matches better the query.

[giumas]

After having looked a bit deeper at pyinstaller, I would suggest to simply bundle the test files with the single-file executable.

At run time, the loader unzip the content to a temporary folder (thus is better to add small test files). We could then add to the File menu a call like Open test file folder.

If you add the test_data folder on a develop branch, I will show you in practice what I mean..

[giumas]

@jreadey Did you try the "Open samples ..." item in the BAG Explorer "File" menu? This is what I had in mind when I wrote this:

At run time, the loader unzip the content to a temporary folder (thus is better to add small test files). We could then add to the File menu a call like Open test file folder.

Do you want that I add this feature to HDFCompass class BaseFrame(wx.Frame)or just to class InitFrame(BaseFrame) ?

[giumas]

The test data set is now present. The 'Open samples' item will not be introduced (at least, in the next release).