Advantages of downloading

We encourage all users to download CAST and run it from a local hard disk.

Even more important is that the interactive and dynamic diagrams that are a core part of CAST are currently not supported by some web browsers and will eventually stop working in others.

Downloading and installing

The public collection of CAST e-books is provided as a compressed 'zip' file. Clicking this link downloads a file called "cast_installer.zip". You should now copy this file from your default Downloads folder to where you want CAST to be installed — your Desktop may be the most convenient place.

How to extract CAST from this file depends on your operating system.

Windows
Right-click the zip file then select the command Extract all from the popup menu that appears. You will be asked where you want CAST installed. This creates a folder called CAST on your hard disk containing all of CAST. (Note that simply double-clicking the zip file will show you the files that are in it, but will not extract them in a form that allows CAST to be used — you must use the Extract all command.)
Macintosh
On a Mac, simply double-click the zip file; CAST will be expanded into a folder called CAST in the same location as the zip file.

In both cases, you will be left with a folder called CAST on your hard disk. The zip file itself can now be deleted.

Java

You will need to install Java support on your computer, both to run the stand-alone version of CAST and also to get access to the interactive diagrams in the browser-based version.You should go to Oracle's main Java web site and make sure that you have the most recent version of Java installed.

Running CAST from a downloaded copy

At the top level of your installed CAST folder, you should see a file called "Start_CAST.jar". If Java support has been installed, double-clicking this file should start the stand-alone version CAST.

If you want to keep using the browser-based version of CAST (not recommended), you can double-click the file called "collection_public.html"; this should show this version of CAST in your default browser. (It will be identical to the window that you are currently viewing unless it is a newer release of CAST).