Miniconda

First download and install Miniconda from https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html. It is important to ensure that you download the Miniconda3 Windows 64-bit version. You may need to check which version of Python is supported by the PCRaster. Here we use py310 64-bit version. It is not mandatory to change the destination folder for Miniconda but we prefer to install it in ‘C:\Miniconda’. Note you need to create the Miniconda folder (see below).

Figure 15: Installation of Miniconda

After Miniconda installation check if the following paths have been added to the system environment. If paths were not added then add the followings to the ‘Path’ in system environment variables

C:\Miniconda\Scripts

C:\Miniconda

C:\Miniconda \Library\bin

To add this path, open control panel and search for ‘edit the system environment variables’ (see below).

Figure 16: Finding the environment variable.

A new window will popup. Click on Environment variables.

Figure 17: Setting the Path variable.

In the System variables tab click on Path and edit it.

Figure 18: Copying the path.

Open command prompt by typing ‘cmd’ in search bar of windows. A command prompt will open. Type ‘conda’ and it will populate the command prompt screen with the following commands.

Figure 19: Checking if conda works.

From the command prompt type ‘activate C:\Miniconda’

To run SPHYv3.1 several packages need to be installed so we need to install the specific version of Python and the other dependent packages. This process takes a bit of time. Type:

conda create --name pcraster -c conda-forge python pcraster spyder matplotlib pandas netCDF4 scipy pyproj

Add additional packages (if needed):

conda install --name pcraster -c conda-forge pandas