The 'features_preview_3' branch is a part of the LinuxCNC git repository. This
branch is rebased to the LinuxCNC 2.7 branch of 1/5/2016 so it includes all
LinuxCNC 2.7 updates as of that date.
Any other repository (on github or elsewhere) is maintained by the originator.
If you know how to use git, you can checkout, build, and use the LinuxCNC
'features_preview_3' branch as a Run-In-Place (RIP) build. However, it is
much simpler to get a deb from the buildbot.
The last commit by FernV to the LinuxCNC 'features_preview_3' branch was made
2015-11-26 and the debs have expired since no new commits have been made.
I requested the buildbot to rebuild debs and Seb has arranged for debs to
remain active for 180 days now (Thanks Seb!). Debs were built today (2feb16)
Ref:
tom-itx.no-ip.biz:81/~tom-itx/irc/logs/%...-02-02.html#16:05:14
After installing a 'features_preview_3' deb, simulator configs that illustrate
embedding in a gui are available by using the Configuration Selector that
appears when you start LinuxCNC:
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/features_demo/mill.ini
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/features_demo/mill-mm.ini
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/features_demo/lathe.ini
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/features_demo/lathe-mm.ini
Sample Configurations/sim/gmoccapy/features_demo/gmoccapy.ini
To modify a config after installing the 'features_preview_3' deb:
1) Start LinuxCNC and use the 'Configuration Selector' to run one of the
provided simulator configurations, for example:
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/features_demo/mill.ini.
This will create a new configuration directory typically named:
~/linuxcnc/configs/sim.axis.features_demo
2) You should study the sim config ini file in this directory to see the new
ini items required -- the additional items needed are in the [DISPLAY] and
[RS274NGC] sections, namely:
Code:
[DISPLAY]
GLADEVCP = -U --catalog=mill ./myfeatures/features.ui
FEATURES_DIR = ./myfeatures
PROGRAM_PREFIX = ./myfeatures/scripts/
...
[RS274NGC]
SUBROUTINE_PATH = ./myfeatures/lib/
...
3) With the additions show above, your original config directory must have a
subdirectory named './myfeatures' that contains the file named 'features.ui'.
This file can be copied from the simulator config myfeatures directory.
An example session based on modifying an existing config (named ORIG)
based on the sim example in ~/linuxcnc/configs/sim.axis.features_demo:
Code:
$ cd ~/linuxcnc/configs/ORIG/ ;# set working directory to existing config
$ cp ORIG.ini tryit.ini ;# make a copy with a new name (tryit.ini)
$ mkdir ./myfeatures ;# create the required subdirectory
$ mkdir ./myfeatures/lib ;# create subdir for lib files too
$ # copy the sim config features.ui file to the correct place
$ source=~/linuxcnc/configs/sim.axis.features_demo
$ cp $source/myfeatures/features.ui ./myfeatures/features.ui
$ # EDIT tryit.ini to add items for [DISPLAY] and [R274NGC] (see above)
$ linuxcnc tryit.ini ;# try it
Note: If your original configuration has different settings for
[DISPLAY]PROGRAM_PREFIX or [RS274NGC]SUBROUTINE_PATH, you will need to add the
setting for PROGRAM_PREFIX and ./myfeatures/lib as directories in the
SUBROUTINE_PATH specification. For more information, see the RS274NGC section
in
linuxcnc.org/docs/2.7/html/config/ini-config.html
Note: If you use the 'features_preview_3' branch there is no setup script
required and the sim configs should run on any distribution supported by
LinuxCNC.
Note: The setup script provided in some outside repositories uses root
privilege to modify systems files (follow instructions and use at your own
risk) and may not be applicable to all system configurations.
I have been looking at; I have read this entire thread multiple times and have found these links/sources for the latest Features files: