Adding to PATH | AnalysisPrograms.exe

Adding AP.exe to `PATH`

The PATH variable is a system wide variable (known as en environment variable) that any program can access. The PATH variable contains a list of folders that your computer can check when it searches for programs to run.

When AP's folder is added to PATH you or any program on your computer can run AnalysisPrograms.exe without knowing where AP is actually installed.

So instead of needing this:

> C:\Users\Anthony\AP\AnalysisPrograms.exe

You can instead write:

> AnalysisPrograms.exe

Setup using the installer script

The automatic installer will automatically add AP to PATH for you.

If you don't want this to happen use the -DontAddToPath switch when installing.

Add to `PATH` manually

Find where AP is installed on your computer. This will be a directory (folder) where AnalysisPrograms.exe resides.
Open your System Environment Variables. You can type some of Edit environment variables for your account in the Start Menu search box to find the settings.
Choose Environment Variables... in the windows that popped up
In the user variables section, find the Path variable, select it, and then hit the Edit button
Add the directory from step 1 to the end
- Ensure a semi-colon (;) delimits the new directory from the previous ones, if you're using an older version of Windows
Then click OK or close all windows.
You will have to restart any programs for which you want to see the new value

Find where AP is installed on your computer. This will be a directory (folder) where AnalysisPrograms.exe resides.
Open or create your ~/.profile file
Add the following line to the end:
```
PATH=$PATH:<REPLACE-ME>
```
where you replace the <REPLACE-ME> with the directory from step 1.
Close and save the file
Run the same command in your current shell (PATH=$PATH:<REPLACE-ME>) to see the change take effect immediately (or restart your shell).

Find where AP is installed on your computer. This will be a directory (folder) where AnalysisPrograms.exe resides.
Open or create your ~/.profile file
Add the following line to the end:
```
PATH=$PATH:<REPLACE-ME>
```
where you replace the <REPLACE-ME> with the directory from step 1.
Close and save the file
Run the same command in your current shell (PATH=$PATH:<REPLACE-ME>) to see the change take effect immediately (or restart your shell).

Aliasing AnalysisPrograms.exe to AP

AnalysisPrograms.exe is a long name. Tiring to type, prone to errors. It also isn't a good name for a cross-platform program; on Linux and Mac OS it is simply AnalysisPrograms.

To make it easier for people to experiment with and use AP we aliased (gave another name) to AnalysisPrograms.exe. We chose AP.

So instead of needing this:

> C:\Users\Anthony\AP\AnalysisPrograms.exe

You can instead write (assuming AnalysisPrograms.exe is on PATH):

> AP

Setup an alias using the installer script

If you have installed AP using the automatic installer then this alias has already been set up for you!

Setup an alias manually

This is advanced content.

Find the AP installation directory
Create a symbolic link
- Windows: <INSTALL-DIR>\AP.exe and <INSTALL-DIR>\_AnalysisPrograms.exe
- Linux/Mac: <INSTALL-DIR>/AP and <INSTALL-DIR>/_AnalysisPrograms

You'll need to ensure <INSTALL-DIR> in on PATH.

Adding AP.exe to PATH