Installation windows Python x86-32 Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop

Download preparation

This guide should follow Homepage for MS Windows development platform

First: Download these packages, do not unpack them yet.

1. (.exe): wxPython: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#wxpython
2. (.exe): scons: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#scons
3. (.zip): minfx: http://download.gna.org/minfx/
4. (.zip): bmrblib: http://download.gna.org/bmrblib/

take the win32 bit versions.

Install python and necessary packages

I recommend to install a python distribution which is packed with several packages already.

Winpython

You could consider winpython, which includes Ipython, numpy, scipy. matplotlib etc.:
Homepage

Make a folder: C:\WinPython27.
Run the downloaded winpython exe file, and extract to: C:\WinPython27.
Open WinPython Control Panel in ex. C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x
Drag the 4 above mentioned packakes, into the window, and install the packages.
For a command window, use the WinPython Command Prompt found in C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x, which fixes path issues for finding python.

Trick to set variables in cmd

Make a folder own in C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x\scripts and
copy C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x\scripts\env.bat to C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x\scripts\own\pyt32.bat

Modify pyt32.bat from

set WINPYDIR=%~dp0..\python-2.7.5

to include ..\

set WINPYDIR=%~dp0..\..\python-2.7.5

If you have permission to change the Environment Variables in windows, you can add the pyt32.bat to your path.
Right click Computer -> properties -> Advanced system settings -> Environment Variables -> User variables -> Edit: PATH
Add to end of the Variable value:

;C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-2.7.x\scripts\own

In any folder, hold "Shift" and right click, "Open command window here". Write:

pyt32
python

Install Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop

See versions of VS 2012 here.
Take 32 bit compiling, since a horrible imprecision bug has been reported for 64 bit building. See bug #20821.

For 32 bit compiling, you will only need, Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop.
From http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads, download and install: Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows Desktop.
Skip all extra packages install. After install, just exit any program, which opened after install.

Install Subversion checkout of relax

Install a subversion client. For example: http://tortoisesvn.net/

Right click in winpython folder: C:\WinPython27, and select SVN Checkout. Write the path:

svn://svn.gna.org/svn/relax/trunk
svn://svn.gna.org/svn/relax/branches/relax_disp

Build relax

Open the WinPython Command Prompt
Navigate to the SVN checked out relax folder.

cd C:\WinPython27\relax_disp
scons

Or navigate to C:\WinPython27\relax_disp, hold "Shift" and right click, "Open command window here". Write:

pyt32
scons

Modify pyt32.bat

Modify C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-xxx\scripts\own\pyt32.bat, and add to end of file

set PATH=%PATH%;C:\WinPython27\relax_disp

Test installation, by clicking C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-xxx\scripts\cmd.bat, and write

relax
relax -g

Tip - shortcut to cmd.bat

Make shortcut to C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-xxx\scripts\own\pyt32.bat, and modify the shortcut. Set

Start in: %PWD%

You can now copy this shortcut around, which open a command prompt at the current folder, and set the paths correctly.

Install other software

xmgrace - for the plotting results of NMR-relax

relax produces xmgrace "'.agr" files for plotting. There exist two ports for xmgrace to windows QtGrace and GraceGTK.
Download QtGrace, and unpack to C:\WinPython27\qtgrace_windows_binary.
Then copy C:\WinPython27\qtgrace_windows_binary\bin\qtgrace.exe to C:\WinPython27\qtgrace_windows_binary\bin\xmgrace.exe

Modify C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-xxx\scripts\own\pyt32.bat, and add to end of file

set PATH=%PATH%;C:\WinPython27\qtgrace_windows_binary\bin

Test installation, by clicking C:\WinPython27\WinPython-32bit-xxx\scripts\own\pyt32.bat, and write

xmgrace

which should start xmgrace.

Python editor

A good lightweight editor for windows could Pyscripter