Hello, I'm using Pd Vanilla on Windows 10 64-bit, and I'm having trouble installing and running externals, specifically Gem. I tried installing Gem into C:\Program Files (x86)\pd\extra, and I also tried installing it into C:\Program Files\pd-0.48-1test2-ia64\extra. Both times I created a path for the Gem folder within those "extra" folders under Edit < Preferences < Path, and I added each .dll file as a library to load on startup at Edit < Preferences < Startup. The result is that when I open Pd, it says that all the libraries can't be loaded, and then when I try to make a [gemwin] object in a new patch, it cannot create most of the necessary objects. What am I doing wrong? Is it because I'm running 64 bit Windows? How can I make it work?

@jeffgrips I have it running with vanilla in Windows7.... but it was hard...... and it's a long story....
I cannot see any reason that it would not work for widows10.
I have not found any other easier better solution.
(((SEE below though for the fact that the -lib needs to be declared...!
That could be your only problem? But I doubt it..!!! )))

I used the 64-bit GEM from here (0.94-test3.zip)..... https://github.com/avilleret/Gem/releases/

I unzipped it and put it in a folder (which I called "dot") on my desktop.

Because I am using many different versions of Pure Data I left it there, and I start Pd with a shortcut that also points to the GEM folder and loads it as a library (It has to be loaded at startup as a library...... and that could be why you don't have it working.... but probably not...).
This is the contents of the line "target" in the shortcut.......

"C:\Users\David\Desktop\Pd Vanilla\pd-0.47-1.msw\pd\bin\pd.exe" -lib C:\Users\David\Desktop\dot\0.94-test3/Gem -font-size 10 -font-face "Consolas"

Be careful with forward / backward slashes.

I am pretty sure that I tipped the contents of the "QT" folder out into the "0.94-test3 folder" where gem.dll is (from within the "QT" folder inside "0.94-test3").
If you find some .dlls are missing then post back with a list, and I can upload them....... but you might not have the correct C++ redistributables from Microsoft.

But if you want to start Pd normally by double-clicking a patch then you will need to declare the library in Pd.. edit....preferences.... startup......
If you have GEM in the extra folder you should only need to put "-lib Gem" where you see that I have put "-noautopatch".......

The gem abstractions could not be found though (the "parts of Gem... .like [pix_image] pix_video] [gemwin] etc. worked fine) I copied the contents of the Gem folder from "extended" into a folder on the desktop called "GemAbstr" and set a path to it in Pd preferences.
I removed gem.dll from that folder (no conflicts....!).
The abstractions now create, but the help files for embedded objects cannot be found (different "search" for embedded objects) so I have to open my "GemAbstr" folder and open them manually.

Everything works. All the patches from https://puredata.info/downloads/extended-view-toolkit create and run correctly. The camera on my computer even works (I had never had it working before).
And it works with Spout.

If you go this route then I wish you good luck.......

@zerino has confirmed that it can work with widows10........ https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/11450/pix-and-geometric-objects-not-being-loaded-in-pd-vanilla/7
........and resolved the "help" file problem.....

For the time being you are lucky that you are using Windows.
This solution is not available for other systems.
David.

@whale-av Thank you for this documentation! I use windows very rarely, but will remember this post when i do so!!