Installing Python development environment is not very straightforward if you have a standard UC windows desktop. Follow this instruction to work around the restrictions for non-admin users.
From Software Center, select Anaconda and git to install
Open Windows Explorer. Find where your user folder is
When installed, start Anaconda Prompt
Enter this command: conda create --prefix YOUR_USER_FOLDER\envs
Enter this command: conda activate YOUR_USER_FOLDER\envs
Notice the prompt changes from (base) to (c:\users\...\envs)
Enter this command: conda install numpy matplotlib jupyterlab pandas
This will start to install lots of things. Answer "Yes". Towards the end of installation, it will ask Admin password. You can skip that part. Choose cancel or No to close that dialog.
Open Anaconda Navigator and check Environments. You should see "envs".
From Anaconda Prompt, if you enter "where python", it should locate python.exe under your envs folder.
Google and download PyCharm Community Edition.
Try to install, and you will be "welcomed" by this dialog. Click No.
Thanks God, you can install PyCharm somewhere other than the default Program Files (where you need Admin privilege)
By default, it will advise you to install in AppData\Local under your user folder. It's good, but copy the path to notepad, BEFORE you click "Next"/
Tick all boxes. I forgot to tick ".py", which is easy to fix later.
From this point, just keep going. It should install ok.
After installation, open Anaconda Navigator, go to File>Preferences. There are two things. Select "envs" to be your Default conda environment, and set PyCharm CE Path. Use the Path you copied during PyCharm installation you did above.
PyCharm, by default, will try to create a new environment for every new project.
I think it's most sensible for a research student to stick to the same environment (instead of creating a new env for each project). As PyCharm doesn't know our Conda environment, let's configure it.
Go to Conda Environment.
There is a bug in this dialog. You need to set Conda Executable first. conda.exe is at C:\Program Files\Anaconda3\Scripts\conda.exe
If you don't do this, you won't be able to proceed. See below.
Then click ... for Interpreter and select python.exe in your envs folder.
When it is all set, your dialog should look like below. Tick "Make available to all projects"
Click OK to finalize.
If you didn't set conda executable first, your dialog will show this error, and won't let you to move on. You can change Interpreter to New Virtenv, then you can get the conda executable field back.
Now you have everything ready for this project. Click "Create" to start your first PyCharm project.
