DraftSight new CAD program also for Linux install problem

[wedgetail]

Accidentally found out about DraftSight, rpm download from here.  I know about not installing from outside repo. Should run in KDE and I will dedicate whatever pclos system will run this in case it is what I think it is, a light version of AutoCAD which I was used to before getting into Linux. The program is 2D and this will suit me fine.  I have 2D facility in my VariCAD heavy dude  3D program but its 2D is not sitting right with me and lately the layer control is 'back to front' for me.

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/

I have downloaded about 100 MB rpm file and tried to install it on my KDE-mini, the install does get under way but then I get lots of error messages. Here is a snippet:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# rpm -ivh /media/DELTA-10/111125-DraftSight_CAD/DraftSight.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:dassault-systemes-draft########################################### [100%]
Set application as default for the user=nobody
mkdir: cannot create directory `//.local': Permission denied
touch: cannot touch `//.local/share/applications//mimeapps.list': No such file or directory
/usr/bin/xdg-mime: line 607: //.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new: No such file or directory
grep: //.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new: No such file or directory
/usr/bin/xdg-mime: line 609: //.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new: No such file or directory
/usr/bin/xdg-mime: line 611: //.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new: No such file or directory
mv: cannot stat `//.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new': No such file or directory
Set application as default for the user=gert
Set application as default for the user=gert2
Set application as default for the user=nobody
mkdir: cannot create directory `//.local': Permission denied
touch: cannot touch `//.local/share/applications//mimeapps.list': No such file or directory
/usr/bin/xdg-mime: line 607: //.local/share/applications/defaults.list.new: No such file or directory

I am not sure the program whilst free will qualify for inclusion in a packet request as a very simple registration is eventually needed after 30 day free trial.

Is anybody else interested in giving this a go to see if it is only my install or what I might have done wrong.  

Edit:
I have rpm tools installed, which I forgot.  I have just before having to leave it, checked the rpm install and the answer is that the DraftSight is installed.

Looks like a bit of work cleaning it out now when I get back.  

[Archie]

Try LibreCAD. I've sent the SRPM upstream to Texstar for evaluation and consideration.

Installing RPMS, especially RPMS, from outside sources can really break your system. These packages are built with libraries that are installed on the server of the packager AND may not be available on our distro.

Besides, a Package Suggest had already been put forward but I am not sure if any of the packagers are doing it.

Regards.

[wedgetail]

Archie
Thank you, much appreciated. You are right it has been suggested quite some time ago. Wonder where my thoughts wer at 2 AM not finding this.

I am taking a coffee break right now and done a quick SEARCH on Forum of DraftSight , gee whizz I don't even remember my own posts any longer  .  Anyway it shows that there has been quite a bit of interest.

What I did get from that the search is that the program AutoCAD like and that makes me more interested.  Further a number of PCLOS people have installed it and seemed to run fine.  This leaves a good chance. One user in particular that I noted used same install method as I did:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,87472.msg737799.html#msg737799

What I do not see here is what system it is running on.  As I mentioned I will set aside DE that will run this program and never upgrade it as long as DraftSight runs  No I will not run it through Wine in case somebody should suggest that, personal preference, wine has been educational but a big waste of time for me.

Ector
If you happen to come by, what system did you run DraftSight on?

[wedgetail]

I got off to an embarrassing start with this topic, what did I think about not doing a SEARCH on Forum for DraftSight.  I would have found valuable information and also that I had been posting about DraftSight myself  

A little background
Well perhaps something good came out of it. As I am a VariCAD user I have been working in 3D which is fine for some things and very fascinating too.  As I am also involved with electronics a small team is getting under way with some very experienced people from my past.  One thing we have in common was the use of 2D drawings, an instrumentation system we set up when we worked for a paper mill.  Countless hours went into this and the result we have certain things hammered into our brains but it was all based on AutoCad-Lite.

VariCAD does have quite a good 2D system but as anything new this happens to have a different philosophy and difference is just enough to be rather frustrating in use when you know how easy it used to be. This is why the need for an AutoCad LT clone would be more than welcome in Linux. I am on the difficult path jumping ship to Linux, which I can allow myself now I am retired. This does make it precarious for the electronics team where the chief operator is not going to change.  So I am looking forward to see what DraftSight can offer, as a project now is under way, file exchanges have been reviewed and while 2D VariCad would have worked, with some frustration on my part, something AutoCAD LT would be a breeze.

Personally wine is not on for me I feel the mix is too much of a complication. Since I have AutoCAD LT this has been a hard decision but I feel it needed to be made, and I would have battled on with VariCAD 2D. I did know about Qcad but it was also discarded at the time, I think a problem with handling .dwg files.

Some more findings
The Forum search using "DraftSight" produced a handful of hits which I decided to look close at because at least 5 people said they had it running.  Then in a topic Just-19 mentioned it appeared to run but throwing up a number of errors.  

I decided to Google:  error while loading shared libraries: libFXExport.so.1
I picked an ArchLinux response ( about the only one matching closely) and in here I found some more details that made me wonder if my system would run despite all the errors I was getting.

1.. There was an indication that DraftSight had installed, rpm tools told me as well as an attempt at re-install said already installed.

2.. updated database, ran locate DraftSight an got an idea of where program located

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# updatedb
[root@localhost gert]# locate DraftSight
/home/gert/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/111125-DraftSight_CAD_AutoCad_LT.glk.desktop
/home/gert/Documents/111125-DraftSight.glk
/opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight
/opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight.bin
[root@localhost gert]#
3.. Unfortunately I picked the *.bin file as my run file, this sets you back. My last attempt was to just run "the other file" I was dreaming a bit and initially thought here comes the error lines again. While pondering my next step, the programs started running.

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[root@localhost gert]# /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified

4.. I had run the following command and in my case the first 30 lines of response was "not found" (listing available on request  ) followed by a lot of lines that looked ok.

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# ldd /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight.bin
        linux-gate.so.1 =>  (0xffffe000)
        libFXExport.so.1 => not found
        libFXRenderBase.so.1 => not found
..
..etc

At this stage I was just about giving up when I decided to run the none *.bin file above:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight

Edit: I am not sure but I think I had to start with root privileges, which has caused me some headache along the way from a file management point only, as far as I can see. (Did not have time to sort out how I was going to use the program if I would settle on its use.)

Ok, it seems the system is running on my fully updated KDE-mini, I have not had time to check importation of a *.dxf yet but since it now may not be needed as we should be able to exchange *.dwg files we/I are/am in business I hope   Fingers crossed.

Will do some checking over the weekend if I can find time.

[Archie]

You can set the PATH env on your .bashrc to include /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/ or even just create a .desktop to point at the binary.

The command should be "/opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight.bin run". Is that what you did?

Did you check LibreCAD from my first reply on this thread?

Anyway, I'm glad that you got yourself all sorted out. Do keep an eye on the DraftSight forum as well for any important announcements.

I'm just being paranoid, I guess. But that's because Texstar want us that way. LOL 

[wedgetail]

Archie
Thanks for the tip about the path, will come in handy, I keep forgetting these simple little helpful bits when I am in a hurry.

I had just done this dependency check

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# ldd /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight.bin
When I decided to "run" the program, so this is exactly what I did, and my grey hair headed upwards seeing all those errors (I still have a bit of hair despite being in computing for years and electronics),

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight.bin
My last resort was:

[root@localhost gert]# /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight

no .bin this gets you going, not with real confidence having seen the result of ldd.

About LibreCAD this site was under maintenance and not available yesterday, I need some really good incentive to get into yet another CAD program. One such could be a slicker looking presentation.

I have just had a very very quick look again and now I can access the site.  It does look interesting but I am not sure which one of the files should be given the try.  I will keep my ears to the ground but right now I will carry on with DraftSight.

I would not say I am sorted out   my own impression is that I blundered into getting something running. I would like if somebody with more knowledge would check out the install of DraftSight.   

Having it as a repo option would be great but as I understand I am not so sure it is that free that the company will agree to let it be packaged by PCLOS.  If that was the case I think it would already have been in the repo.

[wedgetail]

Been some weeks since I have used DraftSight and QCad (in repo) must say I like QCad and would recommend it to anyone new to CAD but there is no 3D at all.  If you intend later to get into 3D keep in mind that perhaps starting with something else.

I have now established that DraftSight is very AutoCAD LT like in the areas where I need it so I will be concentrating more on that for a while.  When I started up today I forgot that my initial work with DraftSight was as su root priv. I started the program as 'user' and registered, which is giving and email address and respond to an email sent to this address. Did not encounter any problems, it was close to immediate and I was again running the program.

As my learning work was all sitting under /root I have set up a user directory and transferred the drawings here, and chown'd all files.

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# chown gert:gert draw-ds/*.*
[root@localhost gert]#


Code: [Select]

[gert@localhost ~]$ ls -la draw-ds/*.*
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  12113 Nov 18 16:34 draw-ds/111118-TV-Outlet_plate_template_Bill_test.dxf
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert   5652 Nov 18 16:31 draw-ds/111118-TV-Outlet_plate_template.dwb
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  36108 Nov 20 11:00 draw-ds/111120-VariCAD_WSB351101.dwb
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  31072 Nov 26 01:31 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_01.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  31264 Nov 26 23:49 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_01_recover_2011-11-26.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  28356 Nov 26 20:37 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_02.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  28356 Nov 26 20:37 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_03.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  29156 Nov 27 17:18 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_04_Backdoor_drain.bak
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  31875 Nov 27 19:43 draw-ds/111126-Gert_Learning_04_Backdoor_drain.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  30427 Dec  4 10:09 draw-ds/111204-DuinoMite.dwg
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert  12779 Nov 26 23:50 draw-ds/DraftSight_20111126235008.zip
-rwxrwxr-x 1 gert gert  98919 Nov 19 11:01 draw-ds/WSB351101.bak*
-rw-rw-r-- 1 gert gert 107312 Nov 27 00:13 draw-ds/WSB351101.dxf
[gert@localhost ~]$

I have tested these files and they run as expected.

When started from konsole, I see following, I do not understand what this means but system seems to run fine.:

Code: [Select]

[gert@localhost ~]$ /opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/DraftSight
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFileInfo::absolutePath: Constructed with empty filename
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified
QMdiArea::removeSubWindow: widget is not child of any window inside QMdiArea
QMdiArea::removeSubWindow: widget is not child of any window inside QMdiArea


The PATH to the exe file has been added in .bashrc

PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin:/opt/VariCAD/bin:/opt/dassault-systemes/draftsight/bin/

Edit: Adding that attempting to log out as user after changing the PATH failed and I ended up having to re-boot.  After that DraftSight works fine from normal user starting from Konsole. Having registered the nag screen has also gone.   

[djohnston]

QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified

Same problem, different app. See last two posts here.

[Archie]

Just an idea ... seeing that the app is in /opt ... the same folder as VirtualBox.

Have you tried creating a group and adding yourself in that group and getting all privileges assigned to that group? Maybe that's worth a try.

[wedgetail]

djohnston
Read your link item and I understand this is a Qt problem and that one day it will probably automatically flow through corrected. I will just sit tight and just use the system for my experimentation and learning. I understand this is a beta program too.

Archie
Since it is working, I am concerned about the time I may be spending, I have some other microprocessor stuff I should be working upon so I will leave this DraftSight problem for the time being.  If started from menu the problem is not noticed by the user either.  

Who knows perhaps the program may turn up in repo too with the problem gone  

[menotu]

Posted by Andrew - 4-Jan-2012 (webupd8)

LibreCAD 1.0.0 Released

LibreCAD, a 2D CAD drawing tool has reached version 1.0 more than a year of work. LibreCAD, previously known as CADuntu, works natively on Mac OSX, Windows and Linux and is based on the community edition of QCad.

Among the changes between QCad Community Edition and LibreCAD are: up to date Qt4 based user interface (QCAD Community Edition uses Qt3), plug-in system, autosaving and better reading of DXF files. Also, QCAD Community Edition is officially only available for Linux (and QCAD itself is cross-platform, but it's not free), while LibreCAD is cross-platform.

With this release, LibreCAD is finally considered stable, but it still needs a lot of work, so don't expect it to compete with professional applications like AutoCAD.  Further more, LibreCAD doesn't come with documentation - it initially included QCAD's documentation but it had to be removed because it wasn't published under GPL.

Also, the application doesn't support .dwg files yet. There was some work on this, but it hasn't been implemented because of some license issues with LibreDWG.

Full article


LibreCAD

[wedgetail]

menotu
Thanks, a bit of information in your post that I did not know.  For me the need to handle .dwg files is required for exchange with the group being set up.  Also not sure if the interchange is 100% compatible, need to look at that now I have got my normal user and registration set up.   Followed your link and some how also ended up looking at:

http://www.webupd8.org/2010/09/bricscad-first-dwg-based-cad-software.html

Since it mentions VariCAD and the .DWG support I have placed the link here for my own record as I will see if I can get time to look at this in the coming year. It is a heavy dude program and not free but it is running Linux.  

[Archie]

@wedgetail, I'm just glad that you're getting your stuff all sorted out ... take it slow and surely. I'm sure that's already part of your plan.

[wedgetail]

I am putting a bit of life into this thread again despite struggling to get time to play with linux.  I wanted to check some AutoCAD drawings I made many years ago. Schematic layout of the power points in my house. It has been some months since I ran DraftSight, the AutoCAD Lite similar package. I have one of my installs almost set aside to run just that. When I tried to start I was curtly told that the application had expired or was not registered. Hmmmmm, it was registered last it worked, in a KDE 4.6.5 environment.

I had the original rpm and was thinking about installing this in a test system, but KDE32 in KDE 4.8.3 environment. Well I did that but unfortunately I was in the wrong system, I really don't want to experiment with DraftSight in that system. 

I notice that the application now sits in Synaptic.

My question is.  If I uninstall via Synaptic is that "proper" when it was not installed with Synaptic?   

[kjpetrie]

Yes, I think so. When an RPM is installed it is added to the RPM database, which is what Synaptic uses to keep track of packages. Synaptic will call it a "locally installed or obsolete" package.

Of course, there's no guarantee installing from outside the repo hasn't done something to your system, or that an outside package won't claim and remove files which don't belong to it when removed. That's all part of the risk. In fact, even some packages in the repo (those built by closed-source suppliers like Adobe or No-machines) can't be guaranteed to uninstall cleanly. It's all about building packages to work correctly with pclos and, obviously, that can't be done if it's not built specifically for pclos.

You can only hope.