diff --git a/doc/installation.rst b/doc/installation.rst
--- a/doc/installation.rst
+++ b/doc/installation.rst
@@ -16,73 +16,118 @@ Installation Instructions
Requirements
------------
-The Virtual Leaf is written with the QT Cross platform application and
+The VirtualLeaf is written with the QT Cross platform application and
UI framework, and can run on Linux, Apple Macintosh and Windows
-machines. To compile the Virtual Leaf you will need to install the QT
-software development kit (SDK) which you can download from the `QT download
-site `_. Whether
-installed globally by a system administrator our locally in your own
-user space, make sure the QT bin directory containing qmake is in your
-execution path.
+machines. To compile the VirtualLeaf from source you will need to
+install the QT software development kit(SDK) which you can download
+from the `QT download site `_.
+Whether installed globally by a system administrator our locally in
+your own user space, make sure the QT bin directory containing qmake
+is in your execution path. Platform specific instructions follow.
All Platforms
-------------
Compilation is effected with make, either the native ``make`` on UNIX
-and MAC systems or the ``mingw32-make`` distributed with the windows
-version of QT. In the Virtual Leaf ``src`` directory you will find a
+and MAC systems or ``mingw32-make`` distributed with the windows
+version of QT. In the VirtualLeaf ``src`` directory you will find a
``Makefile``, the root of a hierarchy of makefiles, that will guide
the compilation and installation of the VirtualLeaf executable, its
default plugins and the tutorial examples. To facilitate cross
-platform compatibility, the makefiles expect an environment variable
-named ``MAKE`` to name the make utility to use. The fallback default
-is 'make.' Platform specific instructions follow.
+platform compatibility, the makefiles use two environment variables:
+``MAKE`` and ``QMAKE`` to name the make and QT-make utility
+respectively. The fallback defaults are ``make`` and
+``qmake``. Platform specific instructions follow.
Linux
-----
-Prepend the QT bin directory to your path, for example::
+So the Makefiles can find ``qmake``, prepend the QT bin directory to
+your execution path, for example::
> PATH=/opt/QT/qt/bin:$PATH
-If you wish to use some other make utility than make, instantiate an
-environment variable named ``MAKE``, for example::
+If you wish to use some other ``make`` or ``qmake`` utilities other
+than the defaults, instantiate environment variables named ``MAKE``
+and ``QMAKE``, for example::
- > export MAKE=gmake.
+ > export MAKE=gmake
+ > export QMAKE=/home/michael/MyQT/qt/bin/qmake
-Go to the ``src`` directory and invoke make, for example::
+To compile the VirtualLeaf, go to the VirtualLeaf ``src`` directory
+and invoke ``make``, for example::
> cd /home/michael/VirtualLeaf/v1.0/src
> make
-When complete, you will find the ``VirtualLeaf`` binary in
-``v1.0/bin`` and the plugins in ``v1.0/bin/models``.
+Once the compilation is complete, you will find the ``VirtualLeaf``
+binary in ``v1.0/bin`` and the plugins in ``v1.0/bin/models``.
Windows
-------
-For convenience sake the libiconv, libxml2 and libz header files and
-libraries are distributed with the Virtual Leaf code, and Virtual Leaf
-will compile correctly with them. If, however, you wish to compile
-with other versions of these libraries, you will need to reassign the
-``LIBZML2DIR``, ``LIBICONVDIR`` and ``LIBZDIR`` variables in all the
-project files.
+For convenience sake, three required development libraries:
+``libiconv``, ``libxml2`` and ``libz`` are distributed with the
+VirtualLeaf code, and the VirtualLeaf will compile correctly with
+them. If, however, you wish to use other versions of these libraries,
+you will need to reassign the ``LIBICONVDIR``, ``LIBZML2DIR`` and
+``LIBZDIR`` variables in all the project files.
+
+As stated earlier, the Makefiles rely on two environment variables:
+``MAKE`` and ``QMAKE``. Since QT executable names are consistent
+across platforms, the ``QMAKE`` default value, ``QMAKE=qmake``, will
+work fine. You will have to create an environment named ``MAKE``
+though.
-After installing QT you should be able to invoke a QT command window
-from the start menu. This shell automatically includes the necessary
-QT folder in your execution PATH. Within this command window, go to the
-Virtual Leaf's src directory,
+To add an environment variable call up the *system tool*, either with a
+left click on the *start menu* then a right click on *My Computer* and
+choosing *properties* from the drop down list, or by choosing *control
+panel* from the *start menu* and then double clicking on the *system
+tool* itself. Once in the *system tool*, choose the *advanced* tab and
+then click the *environment variables* button. The environment
+variables screen is split in two with *User* variables above and *System*
+variables below. Add a new users variable named ``Make`` with the
+value, e.g. ``mingw32-make``. the QT(SDK) contains the *minimum gnu
+for windows* (mingw) compiler; commonly installed in:
+``c:\QT\qt-version\mingw\bin``. Look there for the make utility name.
-In the start menu, right click on My Computer and choose properties
-from the drop down list. In the advanced tab click on environment
-variables. Append the QT
+After installing QT and setting the ``MAKE`` environment variable, you
+should be able to invoke a QT command window from the *start
+menu*. This shell automatically includes the necessary QT folder in
+your execution PATH. Within this command window, go to the VirtualLeaf
+``src`` folder and invoke make, for example::
+
+ > c:\Documents and Settings\michael\VirtualLeaf\v1.0\src
+ > mingw32-make
+
+When complete, you will find the ``VirtualLeaf.exe`` binary in
+``v1.0/bin`` and the plugins in ``v1.0/bin/models``.
MacOS
-----
+Make sure that XCode development environment is installed from
+the MacOSX installations DVDs. Also download and install a recent
+version of Qt as described above (version >4.4).
+Open the Terminal program (in ``/Applications/Utilities/``).
+Unpack the VirtualLeaf source package into your home folder,
+by typing::
+ > cd
+ > tar xzf VirtualLeaf-V1.0.tgz
+
+Now go to the ``src`` directory, set the right options for qmake,
+and invoke make, by typing, for example::
+
+ > cd
+ > cd VirtualLeaf/v1.0/src
+ > export QMAKESPEC=macx-g++; make
+
+When complete, you will find the ``VirtualLeaf`` binary in
+``v1.0/bin`` and the plugins in ``v1.0/bin/models``.
+