Download and installing PySwarm

To use PySwarm, you will first need to download and install:

• Python, a programming language needed for PySwarm

• PyCarrara, a plug-in for Carrara

• The latest version of PySwarm

The Python Programming Language

NOTE: If you already have Python installed on your computer, you can skip this section of the guide.

First download Python 2.6.6.

If you are using the 32-bit (not x64) versions of either Carrara 8.1 or 8.5, use this link: http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.6.6/python-2.6.6.msi

If you are using the 64-bit versions of either Carrara 8.1 or 8.5, use this link: http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.6.6/python-2.6.6.amd64.msi

Once it is downloaded, run the installer. This should complete the installation.

NOTE: There are later versions of Python available, but I have not tested whether they work properly with PyCarrara (nor, as I understand, has the developer of PyCarrara).

The PyCarrara Plug-In for Carrara

NOTE: If you already have the PyCarrara V1.0 plug-in installed on your computer, you can skip this section of the guide.

After you have installed Python, you will need to download and install the latest version of the PyCarrara plug-in for Carrara. You can find this on SourceForge at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pycarrara/files/

Choose the file “PyCarrara-Win-1.0.zip” to download.

Once downloaded, save the unzipped contents to a folder. Then make sure you do not have Carrara running.

To install the plug-in (so Carrara can use the PyCarrara features needed by PySwarm), you will need to copy (drag and drop) the following files to your Carrara directories:

• If you are using the 32-bit version of Carrara 8.1 or 8.5 - Copy the contents of the folder “C8_Win32/Extensions” (the files, not the folder) into “C:/Program Files (x86)/DAZ 3D/Carrara 8.1/Extensions” (or wherever you installed Carrara)

• If you are using the 64-bit version of Carrara 8.1 or 8.5 - Copy the contents of the folder “C8_x64/Extensions” (the files, not the folder)  into “C:/Program Files/DAZ 3D/Carrara8.5/Extensions” (or wherever you installed Carrara x64)

The same version of Python and PyCarrara work with both Carrara 8.1 and 8.5. The difference is in whether you are using a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system and Carrara. You can verify PyCarrara is correctly installed by following these steps:

1. Start Carrara
2. Open any Carrara scene (or create a new one)
3. Add or select any object in the scene
4. Go to the "Modifiers" tab and click "+"
5. If "PyModifier" is in the drop-down list of modifiers, then PyCarrara should be installed and working.

Latest Version of the PySwarm Package

The latest version of PySwarm is V0.5.2.

NOTE: If you have already installed V0.5, you only need to download the latest PySwarm Shell. Click HERE to get more on how to do this.

You can download V0.5.2 with the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8V9-txK8F4Mcjk4Tk1UMjZtRGs/edit?usp=sharing

Select “Download” under "File" and then copy the contents of the .ZIP file to a blank folder.

The V0.5.2 package contains the following three files:

• The latest PySwarm script shell, V.0.5.2 ("PySwarm Shell V0.5.2.txt") - A shell or wrapper containing the PySwarm Python script / program, excluding the parameter settings.

• The PySwarm Interface App (PIA), V1.1 ("PIAV11.exe") - The application executable.

• A generic .CAR starter file to test and use with the V0.5 script - "PySwarm V0.5 Test Scene.car"

I do recommend you create a new directory to hold the application files, so they can be easily updated when new versions become available.

Once you have copied these files into your directory, drag and drop the PIA.exe icon to your desktop and/or your taskbar. This will allow you to launch the application directly from there. The application does not need to be registered with WIndows to run. Note that once you have run the application the first time, two new files will appear in the application's directory.

• "Script.pia" - Contains the string that points to the current PySwarm shell needed to generate your PySwarm scripts. 
• "Projects.pia" - Contains the parameter settings for your PySwarm projects.

You should not edit or delete these files, as they contain important settings and information PIA uses related to your projects, and how to generate PySwarm scripts. However, if for any reason they are deleted or corrupted, PIA will recreate them. To get started using PySwarm, I strongly suggest you begin with this wiki page: here.

Latest PySwarm Script Shell

If you are currently using the V0.5 or V0.5.1 package, you only need the latest PySwarm script shell - V0.5.2. 

To install the latest shell, perform these steps.

1. Download the latest shell by clicking on the following link and select "Download" under the "File" menu option.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8V9-txK8F4MMmlDcV85WU9CdnM/edit?usp=sharing

2. Copy the script shell ("PySwarm Shell V0.5.2.txt") into the PySwarm application directory you have set up (where you have PIA).

3. Open PIA.

4. Reset the file pointer by clicking "Browse...", selecting the new script shell file, and clicking "Open."

Select and Open the New Shell

Verify new shell is being used

PySwarm Version History

• 0.3: Initial release (10/25/2013)
• 0.3.1: Bug fix when no camera or focus are used (10/25/2013)
• 0.3.2: Bug fix when using “Attractor” object (10/29/2013)
• 0.4: New features added (11/4/2013)
• 0.4.1: Four bug fixes (11/18/2013)
• 0.4.2: Slight enhancements (12/11/2013)
• 0.5: New features along with the release of PIA V1.0 (12/29/2013)
• 0.5.1: Several bug fixes (1/2/2014)