A "How To" Guide for the WCT Reader

How Do I Install the Words Close Together Search Engine?

What is the WCT Reader?
The WCT Reader is a Windows-based program that enables you to read, browse, and search in any text content that has been indexed using Words Close Together technology. Early releases focus on collections of English language text of up to 3,200,000 words each. Examples that are available for download today include over 14,000 classical books from Project Gutenberg.
Will the WCT Reader work on my computer?
Most personal computers today have over the minimum 256 megabytes of available RAM (random access memory). The current version of the WCT Reader is built for use with Windows XP or Windows Vista (TM Microsoft). The WCT Reader uses components of the Microsoft Internet browser, so Internet Explorer 6.0 or later must be installed on your computer. Bad news and good news ... Bad news: If your computer has either Windows XP or Windows Vista as its operating system, Internet Explorer is probably already there, taking up room on your computer, even though you prefer Opera or Mozilla FireFox. Good news: If your computer has either Windows XP or Windows Vista as its operating system, Internet Explorer is probably already there, ready to make the WCT Reader work for you.

We have heard of instances in which an Apple computer with some form of crossover support was used to run the WCT Reader. To set that up requires bypassing the normal installation methods for both the Reader and Internet Explorer. An Apple computer is not recommended as a base, except for the most dedicated computer geek. Sorry about that; the Apple is a sweet piece of machinery, but we are not ready to go there yet.

The Internet server-based version of the WCT Reader of course works on any computer that can support full browsing on the Internet -- Apple, variations of Unix, Windows, IBM mainframe, or whatever.
Where can I download the latest version of the WCT Reader?

A basic download with the essentials -- WCT Reader, "How To" Guide, and support files -- is offered at WCTSE.com, our download site.

The WCT Reader and the How To guide are updated frequently. In order to encourage you to get the latest version frequently, we offer an extended download with samples at WordsCloseTogether.com, our descriptive and explanatory site.

How do I start the download?

The method is the same, whether you download from the descriptive site or the download site. Let's illustrate with the latter. Suppose you surf to wctse.com, the download site. Pages change over time, but Screen 1 might look something like this:
In the above illustration, you would simply click on the blue highlighted word Download in the second paragraph.

The sequence below may be interrupted at some point by your Windows security system asking permission to download. If that should happen, check that the package is digitally signed by Marpex Inc., then okay the download.

Next you are shown Screen 2:
Each download comes as an "MSI" package. "MSI" stands for Microsoft Installation, a system that sets up the program and support files in the right places on a Windows XP or Vista personal computer. Click on the Save File button. Depending on your computer, the next dialog might look like Screen 3:
What happens when you click on the Open button depends on whether the WCT Reader has been installed on this computer before.
What happens if an older copy of the WCT Reader is already on my computer?
If the WCT Reader has NOT been previously installed, you can skip this section and the next two illustrations. If a re-installation is needed, you are shown Screen 4:
Just click on the Remove option and click on each of the Next buttons that is presented, then in Screen 5 below, click on Finish.
Go back for a moment to Screen 3, if it is still available, and click again on Open. If Screen 3 is gone, there should be a WCTReader.MSI button on your desktop that you can click to start you into a fresh installation. The icon looks like this:

How do I do a fresh installation of the WCT Reader?
With either a first-time installation or after removal of an earlier version, you should be shown Screen 6:
Click on Next, and you are shown Screen 7:

There are several advantages to accepting screen 7 as it is, with destination folder C:\Program Files\Marpex\. Click Next for screen 7, again on Next in the next display, and then on Finish in the final display. You have successfully installed the WCT Reader and its companion files on your personal computer.

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