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Introduction to working with Data in Python

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Setup

Overview

Time: 0 min
Objectives

  • Install Anaconda

  • Download the python jupyter notebook file

  • Open jupyter notebooks

To participate in this workshop, you will need to have the Anaconda distribution of Python installed on your computer, or you may use Anaconda on the UIC virtual labs to launch Jupyter notebooks. You will also need to download the code file used for this workshop. See instructions below for these steps.

Code Files

Workshop Code:

Please download the following code to follow along with the workshop:
Python numpy pandas

Software setup

We will be using Jupyter notebook for this workshop. We install the Anaconda navigator. Anaconda is an open source distribution, which provides the easiest way to code in python, especially for data science.

Python

Python is a popular language for research computing, and great for general-purpose programming as well. Installing all of its research packages individually can be a bit difficult, so we recommend Anaconda, an all-in-one installer.

Regardless of how you choose to install it, please make sure you install Python version 3.x (e.g., 3.6 is fine).

We will teach Python using the Jupyter Notebook, a programming environment that runs in a web browser (Jupyter Notebook will be installed by Anaconda). For this to work you will need a reasonably up-to-date browser. The current versions of the Chrome, Safari and Firefox browsers are all supported (some older browsers, including Internet Explorer version 9 and below, are not).

  1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual#download-section with your web browser.
  2. Download the Anaconda for Windows installer with Python 3. (If you are not sure which version to choose, you probably want the 64-bit Graphical Installer Anaconda3-...-Windows-x86_64.exe)
  3. Install Python 3 by running the Anaconda Installer, using all of the defaults for installation except make sure to check Add Anaconda to my PATH environment variable.

Video Tutorial

  1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual#download-section with your web browser.
  2. Download the Anaconda Installer with Python 3 for macOS (you can either use the Graphical or the Command Line Installer).
  3. Install Python 3 by running the Anaconda Installer using all of the defaults for installation.

Video Tutorial

  1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual#download-section with your web browser.
  2. Download the Anaconda Installer with Python 3 for Linux.
    (The installation requires using the shell. If you aren't comfortable doing the installation yourself stop here and request help at the workshop.)
  3. Open a terminal window and navigate to the directory where the executable is downloaded (e.g., `cd ~/Downloads`).
  4. Type 
    bash Anaconda3-
    and then press Tab to autocomplete the full file name. The name of file you just downloaded should appear.
  5. Press Enter (or Return depending on your keyboard). You will follow the text-only prompts. To move through the text, press Spacebar. Type yes and press enter to approve the license. Press Enter (or Return) to approve the default location for the files. Type yes and press Enter (or Return) to prepend Anaconda to your PATH (this makes the Anaconda distribution the default Python).
  6. Close the terminal window.

Virtual Lab

If you would prefer not to install the software for this workshop on your computer, you may use the Virtual lab service run by Technology Services. This allows you to use a virtual machine either from your web browser or from a desktop app installed on your computer. Overall you may have a better experience using it from the desktop app, but the browswer should suffice for most workshops.

See browser instructions here
See desktop instructions here

Launching Jupyter on Anaconda

We can use Anaconda Navigator to access Jupyter and other tools(pyCharm etc) provided in Anaconda.

For Windows Users:

  1. Click Start
  2. Search and select Anaconda Navigator from the menu.
  3. Once the Navigator opens up. Select Jupyter Notebook from the tools available.
  4. Jupyter will open up on a new tab in the browser.
  5. Navigate to the required destination.
  6. Click on new - > Notebook
  7. The script file opens up.

For Mac Users:

  1. Click Launchpad and select Anaconda Navigator. Or, use Cmd+Space to open Spotlight Search and type “Navigator” to open the program.
  2. Once the Navigator opens up. Select Jupyter Notebook from the tools available.
  3. Jupyter will open up on a new tab in the browser.
  4. Navigate to the required destination.
  5. Click on new - > Notebook
  6. The script file opens up.

Key Points

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