When installing a 'stand-alone' release of iFit, you only
need to install the Matlab Compiler Runtime (free), available
below. There is NO other dependency. The package contains
everything required. The stand-alone package is distributed for Linux, Windows and Mac OSX systems. See below to
download the required stand-alone
package.
The stand-alone version provides full
iFit functionality at no cost. You can execute any
script (list of commands) using iFit and Matlab functions.
However, you can not define new functions.
Refer to the
'stand-alone'
release of iFit page for more
information on the features and limitations.
iFit can be transparently used from Python/NumPy. In principle, this is better suited for users not wanting to use Matlab, preferring the Python language. You will need to install Python and NumPy. We recommend the Python(x,y) for Windows, Anaconda, or Enthought Canopy for all systems. Refer to our PyFit help page.
In case you wish to use iFit in order to perform iterative/optimised McStas/McXtrace neutron Monte-Carlo ray-tracing simulations, you obviously need to install these packages. Refer to our McStas help page.
In case you wish to perform lattice dynamics computations to estimate the phonon dispersion relations in solid state materials, you will need to install at least the ASE. Please read the Models/Phonons and our Phonons Tutorial.
We prefer
Linux systems, such as Ubuntu, when
handling large data sets, and performing McStas optimizations, so that we
fully use multi-core systems (e.g. though threads and MPI). You may
use our ILL/CS
Live DVD ready-to-run system with Phonons, McStas and iFit
(standalone) all pre-installed. Source code |
Requires a Matlab license to run [ Download zip, 44 Mb, Changes ] |
 Linux |
64
bits: Debian: [MCR then iFit] or use Debian repository (see below). Other: Use the MCR bin installer and zip archives. |
 Windows |
64 bits: Use the MCR installer then the iFit installer. |
 Mac OSX
|
64
bits: Use the iFit.app, which includes
the MCR (no need to install it separately). Use
Ctrl-click/Open to allow the application the first time. |
 ISO/USB |
For all computers and virtual machines. Get
it HERE. Either write to USB with dd if=iso of=usbkey bs=1m or burn a DVD or use from a virtual machine (e.g. VirtualBox) |
Install the Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR 7.13 R2010a) for your
system if it has not been installed previously. This is not
required if you only wish to upgrade iFit.
An easy way to install packages it to make use of the mccode.org repository. Use e.g. for Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial:
% cd /etc/apt/sources.list.dor for Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty/Debian 8 Jessie
% sudo wget http://packages.mccode.org/debian/mccode-xenial.list% sudo wget http://packages.mccode.org/debian/mccode.listthen:% sudo apt-get update
% sudo apt-get install ifit mcrinstaller libxp6This can also be done from e.g. Synaptic (menu Settings/repositories) and Ubuntu Software Center (menu Edit/Software Sources) ; tab Other Software/Add... Then select packages ifit and mcrinstaller and install them.
If you use the Debian package installers (.deb), nothing else is required. Double click the deb packages (MCR, then iFit) and wait. Then you can start iFit from the Dash or from menu Applications/Education/iFit. Drag-n-drop of data files is possible on the iFit launcher, as well as on operator icons from /usr/local/ifit/.
You can also install the packages manually by directly accessing our Deb repository, get the Debian packages, e.g. ifit-x.y and mcrinstaller, then (fix the file names):
% sudo dpkg -i ifit-x.y-amd64.deb mcrinstaller-7.13.debIf you do not have Matlab, the installer will ask you if you wish to use iFit as a replacement, then will automatically create a link:
% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/matlab
We recommend to install the MCR in /opt/MATLAB (requires administrative privileges).
chmod u+x MCRINstaller.bin
sudo ./MCRInstaller.binPrefer the /opt/MATLAB location.
Then install the iFit stand-alone package where-ever you wish (/usr/local/ifit is recommended). Launch ifit from there.
If you have not installed the MCR in /opt/MATLAB, you need to define the MCRROOT environment variable to its location prior to starting iFit :
export MCRROOT=/opt/MATLAB/MATLAB_Compiler_Runtime/v713/
ifitIf you do not have Matlab and wish to use iFit as a replacement, create a link:
% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/ifit
% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/matlab
The prepared iFit App contains the Matlab Runtime which does not need to be installed separately.
To Open the iFit App the first time and pass the authentication step, press the left Ctrl key and click the iFit icon (after extraction from the ZIP). Then select the Open button.
You can also place the iFit directory in /Applications or /usr/local/ifit, and create links, especially if you do not have Matlab and wish to use iFit as a replacement:
% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/ifitRecent MacOSX systems (El capitan, Sierra) provide a Java 7 or 8 version, whereas the standalone requires a Java 6. Install the Java 6 from here, then install iFit standalone.
% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/matlab
Install the MCR by double-clicking the corresponding MCRInstaller.exe. The install location defaults to C:\Program Files\MATLAB. Then use the iFit installer.
To launch iFit, click on the 'ifit' icon in the installation directory. You can also drag-n-drop files on the iFit icon to directly import data files and plot them (Linux and Windows systems). This also works when using the operators short cuts included in the iFit standalone directory (under Linux).
It is possible to use an ISO distribution containing iFit, Phonons and McStas, all pre-installed.
Install e.g. VirtualBox or an other virtual machine software (e.g. VMware Fusion or Player, Parallels, ...). Then create a new virtual machine. Make sure you prepare a virtual hard disk at least 20 Gb in size. If you wish to perform Phonon or neutron ray-tracing McCode calculations, allocate many cores and a lot of memory. Attach the ISO as a boot disk, and start the virtual machine. This way you use the host computer without any risk to interfere with the physical system. However, the data you generate is temporary, so make sure you get it back (on USB, through email or network) before switching off the virtual machine, or all will be lost. There is an 'Install' icon on the Desktop in case you wish to install the distribution into the virtual machine hard disk. There is no need to create a new partition. Just use the entire disk as installation target. All remains within the virtual machine, without interaction with he host computer. See below.
Even though many computers do not have anymore DVD slots, you may still use a DVD on some machines. Use right-click on the ISO file and select "Burn disk" (on Windows and Debian/Ubuntu), or Disk Utility (on Mac OSX, Image menu). Then restart your computer and select the DVD as booting media (usually Esc, F1 or F12 key, or Alt/EFI menu on MacOSX). This way you use the host computer without any risk to interfere with the physical system. However, the data you generate is temporary, so make sure you get it back (on USB, through email or network) before switching off the virtual machine, or all will be lost. There is an 'Install' icon on the Desktop in case you wish to install the distribution physically on your machine. You will probably need to create a new partition. See below.
You may write the ISO file into a USB key (8 Gb or more). Then use e.g. Rufus (for Windows) or use the command dd if=iso of=usbkey bs=1m (for Linux and MacOSX). The USB key should then be bootable. Then restart your computer and select the USB key as booting media (usually Esc, F1, F2 or F12 key, or Alt/EFI menu on MacOSX, or install rEFInd). There is an 'Install' icon on the Desktop in case you wish to install the distribution physically on your machine. You will probably need to create a new partition. See below.
Once you have started the ISO distribution, there is an Install icon on the Desktop. When clicked, you are proposed to install the system on your hard disk. Follow the instructions. A new partition will most probably be created on your disk. Have a look at the dedicated Tutorial.
Warning: we do not take any responsibility in case you loose data or make your computer un-bootable.
You just need to copy the iFit directory somewhere, say in /path/to.
For our users who love challenges and command lines, this may be achieved e.g. with
- Extract first the iFit archive if needed.
- Just drag-drop the iFit directory in the target location that suits you.
% unzip iFit.zipStart Matlab by clicking on its icon or typing the matlab command in a terminal.
% cp -r iFit /path/to
% matlabIn order to use iFit, you need to import all its methods into Matlab each time you start it (this may be automated from the startup.m file).
>> addpath(genpath('/path/to/iFit'))This can also be done from the Matlab menu File/Set Path.../Add with subfolders... then enter the iFit location, and Save. That's all !
A list of fixed bugs and release history is recorded in the Changes page.
>> mex -setup % select compilerWhen mex is not configured, you may install any C compiler of: gcc, ifc, pgcc, clang/llvm, tcc.
[1] Microsoft Windows VS2008
>> addpath(genpath('/location/to/iFit')) % install iFit
>> iLoad compile % reload importer methods and recompile looktxt, cbf_uncompress and cif2hkl
>> iLoad compile
>> iLoad compilefrom the Matlab prompt. The C compiler to use may have to be specified with the command '>> mex -setup'. Send me the newly compiled looktxt MeX file in a tar.gz/zip archive, so that I update/add it to the distribution.
>> ifittest
which will test, in a few minutes, all the examples given in this
documentation and report failures. In principle all should go right.
Refer to the iFit Help in
case of trouble.