These instructions are for the new Custom Block only, not for the legacy R or legacy Python blocks. For these blocks, please see the instructions at Setting up legacy R and Python blocks

Custom Block

When installing or upgrading R, Python, or Docker executables and images, always shut down Omniscope, perform the installation or upgrade, and then start up Omniscope again. Never change your R and Python environment while Omniscope is running.

Docker

Omniscope supports Docker containers. Docker containers are isolated environments with a pre-installed configuration which makes working with Custom Blocks a bliss. These containers are available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. 

Not all Windows versions are supported, please check https://www.docker.com/ if your system is supported. If it is, we highly recommend using it as it will make your life much easier. With Docker containers, you do not need to install anything (except for Docker itself), Omniscope takes care of everything, and your Custom Blocks will just work. 

For more information please go here: https://help.visokio.com/a/solutions/articles/42000089057. If you choose to use Docker containers, you do not have to read this article any further.

Python

Please note that only Python 3 is supported. Also, Omniscope needs a Python package called Pandas in a version that is 2.0 or higher. It will install it itself, but if it is already installed on your system, and especially if that version is below 2.0, you will need to remove it. To do so, you can execute the following command:

python3 -m pip uninstall pandas

In order for this block to execute Python based scripts, recent Python installations are required.

In case Python was installed in a custom location that cannot be automatically discovered by Omniscope, it is possible to set the path to the executable manually in the admin area. 

After installing Python, you need to restart Omniscope for the changes to take effect.

Windows

Python can be downloaded from the Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/.

Linux

On debian distributions, or distributions supporting apt-get, copy and paste the following line into the command line and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install python3 python3-pip

For systems that do not support apt-get, please open the package manager and look for an available python version. Alternatively python can be built from sources. The sources and help can be found on the Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/.

Mac OS X

Standard installation:

Python can  be downloaded from the Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/.

Homebrew installation:

Python can also be installed via Homebrew which can be  installed from the website https://brew.sh/. In order to  install python open the Terminal, copy and paste the relevant line into the command line and press Enter:

brew install python3

R

In order for this block to execute R based scripts, recent R installations are required. Omniscope supports R from version 3.4.4 onwards, but it is always recommended to install the newest version.

In case R was installed in a custom location that cannot be automatically discovered by Omniscope, it is possible to set the path to the executable manually in the admin area. 

After installing R, you need to restart Omniscope for the changes to take effect.

Windows

R can be downloaded from: https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/.

Linux

Linux users need to make sure the development package for libcurl and ssl/openssl is installed.

For Ubuntu, open the terminal, copy and paste the following line into the command line and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install r-base libcurl4-openssl-dev openssl libssl-dev

Mac OS X

R can be downloaded and installed from https://cran.r-project.org/bin/macosx/

Troubleshooting for Mac OS X:

In case you have troubles installing packages, do the following:

Make sure you have the newest version of XCode installed via the Apple Appstore.

Open the Terminal, copy and paste the relevant lines into the command line and press Enter.

First, make sure that you don’t have any old GFortran compilers left on your system by removing any old installation with the following command:

sudo rm -r /usr/local/gfortran /usr/local/bin/gfortran

Then, download and install the newest GFortran compiler from this website:

https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/GFortranBinaries#MacOS

Reinstall R.