Difference between revisions of "Downloading & Installing"

Latest revision as of 03:19, 9 February 2023

Overview[edit]

Now available for download. . . OpenRocket 2022.02 has been released.

OpenRocket 2022.02 is now available for Windows, macOS and Linux. The easiest way to get OpenRocket up and running is to download and install one of the packaged installers. The Packaged Installers come with everything needed, including the correct version of Java; you will not need to install, update or downgrade Java on your device to run them.

For security reasons, download files for all available versions and releases of OpenRocket are now on, and should only be downloaded from the official OpenRocket website here:

https://openrocket.info/

OpenRocket 2022 Pre-Installation Procedures[edit]

A few users have reported difficulties with installing new versions of OpenRocket, and some of these relate to pre-installation procedures. Before beginning the installation of OpenRocket, the following actions should be undertaken.

Close All Instances of OpenRocket[edit]

By default, all 2022 releases of OpenRocket install to the same location on your device; these releases even share preference and use files with version 15.03. Because of this, if OpenRocket is open when you attempt to install an updated release, the installation may not update all of the files needed for OpenRocket to function correctly.

Before installing an update, you MUST close all open instances of OpenRocket.

Uninstall Prior OpenRocket Releases[edit]

As described above, by default, all 2022 releases of OpenRocket install to the same location on your device. Although not expressly required, it is suggested that all previously installed 2022 OpenRocket releases be uninstalled before installing the updated release. This is not required, but is suggested to ensure the proper function of OpenRocket.

OpenRocket 2022 After-Installation Checks[edit]

Verify the Installed Release Number[edit]

A few users have reported that new installations of OpenRocket are not functioning correctly, only to find out that the wrong beta release was installed. After your installation is complete, and before doing anything else, verify that you actually installed the current release of OpenRocket by undertaking the following steps:

Step	What You Should See
1	If the release number shown in both images below is not OpenRocket Version 2022.02, then you have installed the wrong release of the OpenRocket. Uninstall that release, download the new release, and try again.
Splash Screen
Help → About
2	If the circled icons shown in the image below are different that yours, then you have installed the wrong beta release of OpenRocket. Uninstall that release, download the new beta release, and try again.
Component Icons
File Menu Icons

Check Settings[edit]

If everything looks good there, let's check settings.

Setting	What You Should Do
Off-screen Rendering	Some users have reported that the rocket shown in the design window is not full-size. This can occur if the off-screen rendering setting is not correct for your device. Using the Three-stage rocket example packaged with OpenRocket, this is what the problem looks like:
Too small
Correct size

Solution	In most instances, the solution is changing a setting in your preferences. You can find that setting here: Edit → Preferences → Graphics. And, you toggle the Use Off-screen Rendering setting. If it's off, then you turn it on. If it's on, then you turn it off. After changing this setting, you must exit and restart OpenRocket for the change to take effect.

	Experience has shown that those who use Apple Silicon Macs should uncheck this box, and those who use Windows should check this box. But, your OS platform may differ. If this does not correct the issue, contact development.

← Go to Frequently Asked Questions

Go to Tips and Tricks →

↑ Go to Component Details

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 <div style="float: left;">[[Introduction|&larr; Introduction]]</div>
 <div style="float: right;">[[Getting Started|Getting Started &rarr;]]</div>
-[[User's Guide|&uarr; Back to Contents]]
+[[Main Page|&uarr; Back to Main Page]]
 </div>
-{{UserGuideHelp}}
-==2. Downloading & Installing==
 __TOC__
-<div style="float: left;background-color:#FFF7D0;border:1px solid #333;margin:1rem 1rem 1rem 0;padding:1rem;width:12rem;"><p>OpenRocket 15.03 requires '''Java Version 6''' or better to run (but does not run with java versions greater than '''Java Version 8''').</p><p>At this writing (Nov 2020) these versions of Java are <i>very</i> old, and considered insecure.</div>
+== Overview ==
-OpenRocket is a Java application, which means that you need to have [http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp Java] installed on your computer before you can use it. You can check which version of Java is installed on your computer by clicking [http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre&try=1 here]. If Java is not installed, that page should provide you with a link to download and install the latest version for your operating system. If that page tells you that you do not have a supported plugin, then you can still determine your Java version (on both Linux OS and Windows) from the command line:
+<font size="5"; color="red">''Now available for download. . .''  </font> <font size=5>OpenRocket '''''2022.02''''' has been released.</font>
-<pre>java -version</pre>
-If you see information about a specific version of Java listed on the first line of the output after that command, then you have Java installed. Otherwise the output should tell you which packages contain Java for your particular distribution of Linux. Some operating systems come with Java pre-installed, while others don't. The installation processes for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux are shown below.
-== General ==
+OpenRocket ''2022.02'' is now available for Windows, macOS and Linux. <u>The easiest way to get OpenRocket up and running is to download and install one of the packaged installers</u>. The Packaged Installers come with everything needed, including the <b>''correct''</b> version of Java; '''you ''will not'' need to install, update or downgrade Java on your device to run them.'''
-In general, OpenRocket is installed by following these three steps:
+For security reasons, ''download files for <font color="red">'''all available versions and releases'''</font color> of OpenRocket '''are now on, and should only be downloaded from the official OpenRocket website'' here:'''
-# Make sure you have the correct version of Java, and [http://www.java.com/getjava/ install or upgrade] if not.
+:[https://openrocket.info/ <span style="color:blue"><b>https://openrocket.info/</b>]
-# [https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/releases/download/release-15.03/OpenRocket-15.03.jar Download] the OpenRocket application.
-# Open the application and use it. On most operating systems you can just double-click the icon for the OpenRocket file which was downloaded, no further installation is required.
-== Windows Users ==
+== OpenRocket 2022 Pre-Installation Procedures ==
-Windows does '''not''' come with any sort of Java pre-installed. However, it's quite likely that Java has already been installed as part of another application, and you can check this by using [http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre&try=1 this page]. If you don't have Java installed, you will need to [http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp download] and install it before continuing. OpenRocket requires at least Java version 6 but will not work with any version higher than 8.
-Once you have Java, installing OpenRocket on any version of Windows is simple:
+A few users have reported difficulties with installing new versions of OpenRocket, and some of these relate to pre-installation procedures. Before beginning the installation of OpenRocket, the following actions should be undertaken.
-# [https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/releases/download/release-15.03/OpenRocket-15.03.jar Download] OpenRocket to the folder of your choice.
-# Double click the file to start the program.
-That's it! If you didn't save the OpenRocket file to your Desktop, you can place a shortcut there by right-clicking on the OpenRocket file, mousing over "Send to" and clicking "Desktop (create shortcut)".
+=== Close All Instances of OpenRocket ===
-== Mac OS X Users ==
+By default, all 2022 releases of OpenRocket install to the same location on your device; these releases even share preference and use files with version 15.03. Because of this, if OpenRocket is open when you attempt to install an updated release, the installation may not update all of the files needed for OpenRocket to function correctly.
-If your computer runs OS X 10.7.2 or older version, then it receives Java updates from Apple.  Apple sends out Java with system updates, so it should already be installed.  A common complication with Mac users is that most Macs have both Java 5 and Java 6 installed, and Java 5 is used by default. If you try to use OpenRocket and get an error, then you probably still have Java 5 set as the default.
-To set Java 6 as the default:
+''Before installing an update'', you '''MUST''' close all open instances of OpenRocket.
-# Open the Utilities folder (Finder -> Go -> Utilities). [[File:FinderOpenUtilities.png|none|300px]]
-# Open the Java Preferences Application (double-click Java Preferences.app). [[File:UtilitiesJavaPreferences.png|none|300px]]
-# In the bottom section of the window that opens, drag Java 6 to top of list. [[File:JavaApplicationPreferences.png|none|300px]]
-If your Mac runs OS X 10.7.3 (Lion) or later version, then the updates are delivered directly by Oracle and you should not encounter any problems.
+=== Uninstall Prior OpenRocket Releases ===
-For more information on software versions and updates, visit [https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_mac.xml Java on Mac OS X] page of the Oracle official web site.
+As described above, by default, all 2022 releases of OpenRocket install to the same location on your device. Although not expressly required, it is suggested that all previously installed 2022 OpenRocket releases be uninstalled before installing the updated release. This is not required, but is suggested to ensure the proper function of OpenRocket.
-== Linux Users ==
+== OpenRocket 2022 After-Installation Checks ==
-=== AppImage ===
+=== Verify the Installed Release Number ===
-An AppImage, containing the application itself and all needed dependencies, is available at [https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/releases/tag/release-15.03 the OpenRocket 15.03 Release page]
+A few users have reported that new installations of OpenRocket are not functioning correctly, only to find out that the wrong beta release was installed. After your installation is complete, and before doing anything else, verify that you actually installed the current release of OpenRocket by undertaking the following steps:
-You can download it, make it executable, and run it.  You will need to have the FUSE filesystem installed; most distributions have it installed by default.
+<table class="left">
+  <tr>
+    <th>Step</th>
+    <th>What You Should See</th>
+  </tr>
+    <th>1</th>
+    <td><p>If the release number shown in <i><b>both</b></i> images below is not <b>OpenRocket <font color="red">Version 2022.02</font color></b>, <i>then you have installed the wrong release of the OpenRocket</i>. Uninstall that release, download the new release, and try again.</p></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Splash Screen</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:2022.03.Splash_Screen.png|left|frameless|640 px|center]]'''</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Help &rarr; About</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:2022.02.Help_Screen.png|left|frameless|384 px|center]]'''</td>
+   </tr>
+    <th>2</th>
+    <td><p>If the circled <i><b>icons</b></i> shown in the image below <b>are different that yours</b>, <i>then you have installed the wrong beta release of OpenRocket</i>. Uninstall that release, download the new beta release, and try again.</p></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Component Icons</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:03.03.01.Components.png|left|frameless|720 px|center]]'''</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>File Menu Icons</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:03.04.02.File_Menu.png|left|frameless|512 px|center]]'''</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
-This is the preferred way to obtain OpenRocket for Linux at this time, as it requires an old version of Java (Java 8) which is not installed by default in most distributions.
+=== Check Settings ===
-=== Ubuntu/Debian Repository ===
+<p>If everything looks good there, let's check settings.
-''Note that if you install OpenRocket from a repository as in the following instructions, it will likely not work since it requires an older version of Java than is commonly distributed today.  Our next release is targeting newer versions of Java, and hopefully this will become a useful approach to installing again at that time.''
+<table class="left">
+  <tr>
+    <th>Setting</th>
+    <th>What You Should Do</th>
+  </tr>
+    <th>Off-screen Rendering</th>
+    <td><p>Some users have reported that the rocket shown in the design window is not full-size. This can occur if the off-screen rendering setting is not correct for your device. Using the <i>Three-stage rocket</i> example packaged with OpenRocket, this is what the problem looks like:</p></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Too small</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:2022.02.Off_Screen.png|left|frameless|512 px|center]]'''</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Correct size</td>
+    <td>'''[[File:2022.01.Off_Screen.png|left|frameless|512 px|center]]'''</td>
+   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td></td>
+    <td><br></td>
+   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Solution</td>
+    <td>In most instances, the solution is changing a setting in your preferences. You can find that setting here: Edit &rarr; Preferences &rarr; Graphics. And, you toggle the ''Use Off-screen Rendering'' setting.  '''If it's off, then you turn it on'''. '''If it's on, then you turn it off'''. After changing this setting, you ''<b>must</b> exit and restart OpenRocket for the change to take effect''.</td>
+   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td></td>
+    <td>'''[[File:OR.Download-Install.Check_Settings.Rendering.03.Box_Check.04.png|left|frameless|720 px|center]]'''</td>
+   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td></td>
+    <td>Experience has shown that those who use Apple Silicon Macs should uncheck this box, and those who use Windows should check this box. But, your OS platform may differ. If this does not correct the issue, contact development.</td>
+   </tr>
+</table>
-If you are running a recent version of Ubuntu or Debian, then OpenRocket can be easily installed using the Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic (etc.). Please note that the version in the distribution repository ''may not be the latest version''. Alternatively you may install OpenRocket from the command line:
+<br>
-<pre>sudo apt-get install openrocket</pre>
-or
+----
-<pre>sudo apt install openrocket</pre>
-To start OpenRocket, simply select it from the Applications menu.
-=== Official Version ===
-# [https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/releases/download/release-15.03/OpenRocket-15.03.jar Download] the OpenRocket application.
-# Copy it to a convenient folder.
-# Make the .jar file executable (right-click on .jar file, select "Properties", go to the Permissions tab and check the "Allow executing file as program" box).
-# Start OpenRocket by either double-clicking the .jar file, or right-clicking the .jar file, and selecting "Open with Sun Java6 Runtime".
-If the default is set to open with the Archive Manager, then right-click, select "Open with other application", then select "Open with Sun Java6 Runtime", and check the box to make that the default. In future, it should be possible to just double-click to start OpenRocket.
-Alternatively you may start OpenRocket from the command line:
-<pre>java -jar OpenRocket-15.03.jar</pre>
-Or, if you are not currently in the same directory as the .jar file, replace '/path/to/' by the appropriate path on your system:
-<pre>java -jar /path/to/OpenRocket-15.03.jar</pre>
-----
 <div style="text-align: center;">
-<div style="float: left;">[[Introduction|&larr; Introduction]]</div>
+<div style="float: left;">&larr; [[FAQ|Go to Frequently Asked Questions]]</div>
-<div style="float: right;">[[Getting Started|Getting Started &rarr;]]</div>
+<div style="float: right;">[[Tips|Go to Tips and Tricks &rarr;]]</div>
-[[User's Guide|&uarr; Back to Contents]]
+[[Component Details|&uarr; Go to Component Details]]
 </div>