Configuring Your Web Browswer to Run Dataplot From the Handbook

Before Dataplot can be run from the Handbook, both the web server and the web browser must be configured to run Dataplot. We provide the configuration information for several of the most common platforms and browsers. For other platforms and browsers, it should be possible to do something similar.

1. Configuring the web server
2. Configuring the Netscape version 4.x browser under Unix
3. Configuring the Netscape version 3.x browser under Unix
4. Configuring the Netscape version 4.x browser under Windows 95/98/NT
5. Configuring the Internet Explorer version 5.0 browser under Windows 95/98/NT
6. Configuring the Netscape 4.x, 6.x, and 7.x browsers under Windows 2000/XP
7. Configuring the Internet Explorer 5.0/6.0 browser under Windows 2000/XP
8. Configuring the Firefox 1.0 browser under Windows 2000/XP

We recommend that you test the Dataplot GUI running independently of the handbook before testing it with the handbook.

Specifically, you need to define a mime type for "dp" extensions. The Dataplot macros in the handbook are activated by accessing files that have a "dp" extension.

The specifics of how to do this vary depending on what web server software your site runs. However, the general idea is the same. For example, if you have a local machine running the Apache web server, go to the directory (the directory name may vary on your system):

/local/httpd/conf

mime.types

application/x-dataplot       dp

This step will typically need to be performed by your local system administrator who should be knowledgeable in setting up new application types for the server.

1. Click on the "Edit" menu
2. Click on the "Preferences" menu
3. Click on the arrow head to the left of the "Navigator" menu
4. Click on the "Applications" menu
5. Click on New
6. Add the following:
   Description: Dataplot GUI
   MIME Type: x-dataplot
   Suffixes: dp
   

   Application: /usr/local/bin/xdp -right %s > /dev/null 2>&1
   

   Then click OK to activate the type.

1. Click on the "Options" menu
2. Click on the "General Options" menu
3. Click on the "Helpers" menu
4. Click on New
5. Add the following:
   Description: Dataplot GUI
   MIME Type: x-dataplot
   Suffixes: dp
   

   Application: /usr/local/bin/xdp -right %s > /dev/null 2>&1
   

   Then click OK to activate the type.

1. Click on the "Edit" menu
2. Click on the "Preferences" menu
3. Click on the arrow head to the left of the "Navigator" menu
4. Click on the "Applications" menu
5. Click on New
6. Add the following:
   Description: Dataplot GUI
   MIME Type: x-dataplot
   Suffixes: dp
   

   Application: C:\DATAPLOT\DP.BAT "%1"
   

   Then click OK to activate the type.

The file DP.BAT is a batch file that comes with Dataplot installation.

Note: For Windows platforms, Dataplot was upgraded 11/2002 to use an Install Shield installation. The default location for Dataplot was moved from

C:\DATAPLOT

C:\Program Files\NIST\DATAPLOT

If you only run the Internet Explorer browser, then for version 5 of the Internet Explorer browser under Windows 95/98/NT platforms, do the following:

1. Open the Windows Explorer program. Under the "View" menu, select "Options". Note that you can also open the "Control Panel" icon and select "View" and then "Options".
2. Under "Options", select "File Types".
3. Click on "New Type".
4. Add the following from this menu:
   Description of type: Dataplot GUI
   Associated extension: DP
   Content Type (MIME): x-dataplot
   Default extension for Content Type: .DP
   For Action, select "New"
   

   Add the following from the Action Menu:
   Actions:
   open
   Application used to perform action:
   C:\DATAPLOT\DP.BAT "%1"
   Deselect (i.e., click until no check mark in box) the "Confirm Open After Download"
   Select "OK" for the Action menu
   

   Select "OK" for the new type menu
   

The file DP.BAT is a batch file that comes with Dataplot installation.

Note: For Windows platforms, Dataplot was upgraded 11/2002 to use an Install Shield installation. The default location for Dataplot was moved from

C:\DATAPLOT

C:\Program Files\NIST\DATAPLOT

1. If you tried to create a definition using the Tools menu of Windows Explorer, delete this first.
2. Go to one of the case studies and select the "Work This Example Yourself" entry. From there, initiate the first Dataplot macro (i.e., the link in the left-hand column of the table).
3. This should bring up the "File Download" menu. Do the following with this menu:
   1. Uncheck the "Always ask before opening" option.
   2. Click "Open"
4. This should bring up the "Open With" menu. Do the following with this menu:
   1. Click on the file browser (i.e., the "...") and go to the directory "C:\Program Files\NIST\DATAPLOT". If you have an older Dataplot installation that installed Dataplot in C:\DATAPLOT, go to that directory instead. Select the file "DP.BAT" from the Dataplot directory.
   2. Check the "Always use this program to open files of this type" button.
   3. Click OK.
5. When you click on the next Dataplot macro, it should run Dataplot without bringing up any Windows menus. If you do get the "Open With" menu, uncheck the "Always ask before opening" button and then click OK.

The file DP.BAT is a batch file that comes with the Dataplot installation.

If you would like to configure both the Internet Explorer and the Netscape browser, we recommend configuring Netscape first and then configuring Internet Explorer.

For Windows 2000 or Windows XP, do the following:

1. Open the Windows Explorer.
2. Select the "Tools" menu.
3. Select the "Folders Options".
4. Select "Files Types".
5. Click on "New":
   • Enter "DP" for the file extension.
   • Click the "<<Advanced" button and then select "DATAPLOT GUI" from the associated files list.
6. When you click on the next Dataplot macro, it may bring up a Windows menus. If you get the "Open With" menu, uncheck the "Always ask before opening" button and then click OK.

1. Initiate one of the Dataplot macros in the "Work this Example Yourself" page.
2. You should see a dialog appear prompting you for the application to use to open the file.
3. Select "Other".
4. Use the file browser to navigate to the folder where you have installed Dataplot on your Windows system (this will typically be
   "C:\Program Files\NIST\DATAPLOT" or "C:\DATAPLOT").
5. Firefox does not list ".BAT" files, so you need to manually type in DP.BAT for the application.
6. The next time you initiate a Dataplot macro, you may be prompted as to whether you want to "Open" or "Save" the file. Check the "Do this automatically for files like this from now on" box. Subsequent Dataplot macros should then run automatically.