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Windows Guide for Route Planner

This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of using Route Planner on Windows systems, including installation, troubleshooting, and compatibility information.

Table of Contents

Installation Options

Choose the method that works best for you. For most users, we recommend Option A.

All Windows packages and executables are automatically built and published using our GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline - ensuring quality and security.

Option A: 🎯 Bundled Package (Recommended for Everyone)

✅ Easiest installation - Works out of the box!

  1. 📥 Download: Get RoutePlanner-Bundled.zip from GitHub Releases
  2. 📂 Extract: Unzip anywhere on your computer (e.g., Desktop, Documents)
  3. 🚀 Run: Double-click RoutePlanner.exe to start immediately

✅ Why choose this option:

  • No setup required - works immediately after download
  • No administrator rights needed - run from any folder
  • All dependencies included - Visual C++ libraries bundled automatically
  • Portable - copy the folder anywhere, including USB drives

Option B: 🏢 Professional Installer (For Business/Admin Users)

🔧 Traditional Windows installer experience

  1. 📥 Download: Get RoutePlanner-Setup.exe from GitHub Releases
  2. ⚙️ Install: Run the installer (requires administrator privileges)
  3. 🚀 Launch: Find Route Planner in Start Menu or Desktop shortcut

✅ Why choose this option:

  • Start Menu integration - appears in all programs
  • Desktop shortcut - convenient access
  • Automatic updates - integrated with Windows update system
  • Professional uninstaller - clean removal via Control Panel

Option C: ⚡ Portable Executable (Advanced Users)

⚠️ Requires manual setup - only if Options A & B don't work

  1. 📥 Download Dependencies: Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable first
  2. 📥 Download App: Get RoutePlanner-Portable.zip from GitHub Releases
  3. 📂 Extract: Unzip anywhere on your computer
  4. 🚀 Run: Double-click RoutePlanner.exe

⚠️ Note: This option requires manual dependency management and is only recommended if you need minimal file size or have specific technical requirements.

Option D: Python Installation (Developer-Friendly)

Recommended for developers or if you encounter any issues with the executable

  1. 🐍 Install Python: Download from python.org (Python 3.8+)
    • ✅ Check "Add Python to PATH" during installation
  2. 💻 Open Command Prompt: Press Win + R, type cmd, press Enter
  3. 📦 Install Route Planner: Type and press Enter: 
    pip install route-planner
  4. 🚀 Run: Type and press Enter: 
    route-planner

✅ Benefits of Python Installation:

  • Works on all Windows versions (7, 8, 10, 11)
  • No additional dependencies required
  • Automatic updates via pip install --upgrade route-planner
  • Better long-term compatibility

System Requirements

Windows (Executable)

  • Windows 7 or newer (64-bit recommended)
  • 4GB RAM minimum
  • 100MB+ free disk space
  • Internet connection for map data
  • Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (included in Bundled/Installer packages)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Application won't start" or DLL errors:

  1. Download and install Visual C++ Redistributable
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Try running the application again

"Windows Defender blocks executable":

  1. Right-click the executable
  2. Select "Properties"
  3. Check "Unblock" if available
  4. Click "Apply"

"Application is slow to start":

  • Normal for first launch (initializing cache)
  • Subsequent launches should be faster

Runtime Problems

"Windows Defender blocks executable"

  • Common with unsigned executables
  • Add to Windows Defender exclusions
  • Try right-clicking and selecting "Run as administrator"

"Application fails to start"

  • Verify Visual C++ Redistributable is installed
  • Check antivirus software isn't blocking the executable
  • Try running in compatibility mode for Windows 10

"Missing DLL" errors

  • Install Visual C++ Redistributable
  • Ensure you're using a 64-bit Windows version
  • Try the Bundled Package which includes all dependencies

Compatibility Information

Route Planner has been extensively tested on Windows systems with a compatibility score of 97.2%.

Component Status Notes
Windows Batch File ✅ PASS Line endings fixed, proper error handling in place
Python Launcher ✅ PASS Properly detects and handles Windows platform
Path Handling ✅ PASS Properly handles Windows paths with appropriate path separator
Platform Script Detection ✅ PASS Correctly identifies .bat files for Windows execution
File Paths in Code ⚠️ WARNING Some Unix-style paths found, but mostly in dependencies
Windows Execution ✅ PASS Comprehensive testing completed successfully
Virtual Environment ✅ PASS venv and pip modules work correctly
Requirements ✅ PASS All dependencies are Windows-compatible

Visual C++ Redistributable

Why It's Needed

The Route Planner Windows executable requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable due to dependencies on native extensions that are compiled with Microsoft Visual C++.

Potential Issues

Without the Visual C++ Redistributable, you may encounter an error like:

Unhandled exception: unimplemented function ucrtbase.dll.crealf called in 64-bit code

Solutions

  1. Use the Bundled Package (Recommended): Includes VCRedist and automatic setup
  2. Use the Installer: Automatically handles VCRedist installation
  3. Manual Installation: Download from Microsoft: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

Getting Help

If you continue to experience issues:

  1. Check the GitHub Issues for similar problems
  2. Create a new issue with detailed information about your system and the error
  3. Try the Python installation method as an alternative

Enjoy using Route Planner! 🎉