Install Guide

Register

Tracker is an open-source particle tracking application and is free to download and use. A one-time no-cost registration is required prior to downloading the software. To register, go to https://mfix.netl.doe.gov/register and submit your account information. Your application will be manually reviewed and accepted, so please allow for 2-3 business days for your registration to be processed. You will receive a confirmation email when you can login.

OS Support

Tracker is a pure python library. As a result, all operating systems that python and the dependencies can be installed on will run Tracker. Development and testing is performed on the following operating systems:

  • Linux - Ubuntu - CentOS
  • macOS (latest)
  • Windows - Windows 7 - Windows 10

Installation

Using conda

The easiest and recommended way to install Tracker and the dependencies is through the Anaconda Distribution. Download and install Miniconda or Anaconda.

Once Miniconda or Anaconda are installed:

  • Browse to the Tracker Download Page

  • Copy the conda install command. The conda command will look similar to this, but with your own individual username and hexadecimal token:

    conda install Tracker -c https://usr:token@mfix.netl.doe.gov/dist
    
  • Paste the conda install command into your Linux or Mac terminal, or into your Anaconda Prompt on Windows and Execute the install command.

Note

On Windows, to open the Anaconda Prompt, go to the start menu and search For Anaconda Prompt. The Anaconda Prompt sets up the correct environment, adding conda and other commands.

The installation will download other dependencies and Tracker. The process will take a few minutes to complete. Once completed, the application can be started by entering the following command into your Linux or Mac terminal, or into your Anaconda Prompt on Windows:

tracker

From source

If you already have a python environment setup without using Miniconda or Anaconda, Tracker can be installed from source:

  • Browse to the Tracker Download Page

  • Download the tarball, extract, and go into the top level source directory:

    tar xf Tracker-*.tar.gz
    cd Tracker
    
  • install Tracker with:

    python setup.py install
    

Please see the dependencies listed below. Once completed and the dependencies are met, the application can be started by using the following command:

tracker

Note

To build the local documentation, the following libraries are required: - sphinx - sphinx_rtd_theme

Dependencies

If installed using the Using conda above, you can skip this part as the dependencies have already been installed.

The following dependencies need to be satisfied:

  • python >= 3
  • opencv >= 2
  • Qt >= 5
  • a Qt wrapper (PyQt4, PyQt5, or pyside)
  • qtpy
  • numpy
  • scipy
  • matplotlib

Optional dependencies are:

  • psutil (allows for ram and cpu monitoring)
  • pandas (write HDF5 files)

These dependencies can be easily meet by downloading and installing Anaconda. Once Anaconda is installed, install the required modules by opening a console on linux and mac or the Anaconda prompt on windows and executing the following command:

conda install opencv numpy qtpy scipy pyqt psutil matplotlib

Update

To update Tracker, follow the above install instructions

Uninstall

If installed with conda, uninstall by running the following command:

conda uninstall tracker

If installed from source, uninstall by running:

pip uninstall tracker