Windows setup (need your help)

Hi All:
Could really use your help. I've installed RepRap host 0.8.1 and have done the following things.

1) Downloaded and installed java3d 1_5_0 from sun.
2) manually placed files rxtxserial. dll and rxtxparalle. dll in the java program folder "bin"
3) manually placed files rxtxcomms.jar and j3d-org-java3d-all.jar and reprap. jar in the folder java/lib/ext

when I double click the rerap host MS-dos batch file icon, a black box quickly appears and vanishes.

Am I on the right (way of thinking) track? or have I missed a file and step?

Thank you for responding.

Richard,

Welcome to RepRap!

Please run the .bat file from a command shell, so you can see the error message it is generating. Then tell us what that message is, so we can help you further :-)

(1) Clicking on: Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

should get you a shell (command) window. In that window:

(2) cd to the directory containing your unzipped reprap package files (the place where the reprap-host.bat file is). For example,

cd c:\reprap-host-0.8.1

if you unzipped it at the root of your C: drive.

(3) Type reprap-host.bat to run the .bat file.

(4) Write down exactly what error messages you see. The write (or cut and paste) the message(s) you saw in a message here in the forums.

(5) Await help and advice from whoever feels like offering it!

Jonathan

Hmmm, also I just noticed:

> 3) manually placed files rxtxcomms.jar and j3d-org-java3d-all.jar
> and reprap. jar in the folder java/lib/ext

You are not supposed to move reprap.jar around, leave it where it is after being unzipped.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan:
Well I did as you said and here is what I got back from command promp.

>java - Xmx384M - jar Reprap.jar 'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

And yes I also replaced the reprap.jar file back to it's oringinal folder with the host file and rebooted my system before going into command promp, I was just trying differant things when I placed it into the java lib/ext folder.

Hope this could help you, and I do appreciate the help.

Richard,

You need to add java to you path, such that when typing "java" in the command line, Windows "knows" where to find it. Try to do the following:
- Find out where the java.exe file is located (likely in the java program folder "bin")
- Before you start the file, type in the command line first:

set path="path to java.exe";%path%

Use the quotes!
If this works, add this as the first line to you bat file

Hope this helps;
Joost

Richard, you make everithing right, but you have no JRE (Java Runtime Environment) properly installed. It can easy happen, if you interrupt JRE installation process - even if you mistakenly reinstall JRE over working JRE and interupt this process.
Other (less probable) possibiblity you have Microsoft Java Virtual Machine installed instead of Sun one.

Richard,

This is the method I used and it is working for me.
Don't get flustered, just take things one step at a time.

Here is a start at a step by step install of reprap-host-0.8.1 for windows

Step by step install for Windows XP
Install jre1.5.11
Double click jre-1_5_0_11-windows-i586-p.exe [download.java.net]
Jre1.5.11/lib/ext contains
dnsns.jar,
localedata.jar,
sunjce_provider.jar,
sunpkcs11.jar

Install Java3d
Double click java3d-1_5_0-windows-i586.exe [java3d.dev.java.net]
Creates java3d folder in your java folder
Adds j3dutils.jar,
vecmath.jar,
j3dcore.jar
to Jre1.5.11/lib/ext

Install j3d-org-java3d-all.jar [reprap.svn.sourceforge.net]
Note the pc changes the file extension to .zip this is wrong after you download the file rename the file to .jar do not try to unzip this file. Place the file along with all the others in Jre1.5.11/lib/ext

get rxtxcomm.jar
From [www.rxtx.org]
Download rxtx-2.1-7-bins-r2.zip (Final)
Unzip the file
Move rxtxcomm.jar into Jre1.5.11/lib/ext
Move copies of rxtxserial.dll and rxtx parallel.dll into both \jre1.5.0_11\lib\i386 and \jre1.5.0_11\lib\ext.
*note On my system having a copy of rxtxserial.dll and rxtx parallel.dll in \jre1.5.0_11\lib\i386 is not necessary, but at least one person has needed it to get things working. 7/15/07


Download reprap-host-0.8.1.zip [sourceforge.net]
Extract the zip to a convenient place (I used c: )
Double click on reprap-host.bat
If all has gone well you should have the main reprap window open on your screen.

What if it doesn

Hi All:
Thank you all for taking the time to help out a "newbee" It's people like you who make things enjoyable.

Here's what I have been up too tonight. Thinking I must have messed things up on the download side, I went back to Java.net looking for the jre 1.5.0.11 i586.exe download but could not find it, insted there is a new jre-6-windows-i586.exe well, now what I asked myself, will this work okay?

So I downloaded the jre-6 and when that was done got offline.
saved my files (.rxtx and .jar) I had put into old java to a new C: folder.
Defragmented my hard drive (could help I thought)
rebooted my system and installed the jre-6-windows-i586.exe
Put back all the files to jre/bin and jre/lib/ext in the new java
looked to make sure java 3d-1.5.0 was still in the java directory (yes)
tried to open the reprap host file.

No luck!
command promp now shows an error of "unable to access jarfile reprap.jar"

Well, there you have it good people, I do believe I'm getting there (I can dream anyways) Thanks for all your help, I guess if I can locate the old 1.5.0.11 jre I'll do this again.

> command promp now shows an error of "unable to access jarfile reprap.jar"

Is there a file called reprap.jar in the same directory as the reprap-host.bat file? There should be. I think you moved it out of there earlier, for some unknown reason, and it did not get put back? You may want to try unzipping the reprap-host-0.8.1.zip file again?

On the positive side, this sounds like you have some version of java installed now, at least :-)

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan;
I'll give that a shot and get back with you.
Thanks.

Hi Jonathan:

Unzipped the reprap 0.8.1 again and no luck getting the thing to run. I sure am glad I didn't buy those stepper motors yet :-)

Richard,

Go to user forums, software, RepRap Under Windows
Go to about the 13th post. it is the same info as I posted earlier, but the links work. you should be using 1.5.X others have a had trouble with 1.6 (6).
Remove everything that you have done previously and follow the steps.

Best,
Dan

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2007 11:24AM by Dan P..

Richard,

You still get a message saying "unable to access jar file reprap.jar" ? That's the entire message? And reprap.jar is in lower case?? Not Reprap.jar with the first "R" in upper case?? Strange.

I've installed this software on multiple Windows PCs and have never seen this sort of problem. If you bring up a command window, cd into the directory containing the Reprap.jar file, and type in

java -Xmx384M -jar Reprap.jar

what exactly happens? Let us know the specific message or messages you see, in full. If necessary, capture the screen and attach the image file with your message.

Also try

java -version

and let us know what that says. Maybe also type

dir

in there and tell us what that says, so we can see exactly what files you have unzipped, and

ver

so we can see exactly which version of Windows you are running!

Also, I am attaching a .bat file called test-reprap-host.bat which does some of these things "automatically". Download it to the same place as reprap-host.bat and Reprap,jar and run it in there (in a command window), and let me know what it outputs.

Thanks,

Jonathan

test-reprap-host.bat

richardHi All:

Downloaded and ran the attached file Jonathan and below is the command promp message (can we use html in this forum space?) although it was typed by me,it is correct with upper and lower case displayed in the command promp window.

Dan, I have tried using the open link at "RepRap under Windows" and when you install the file it is listed as java3d-1_5_0-windows-i586.exe I know what you will say Dan (N0, it's the link above that) but I tell you that both links preceeding "j3d-org-java3d-all.jar" are the same address.

I hope you guys can bare with me, and many thanks to all of you for helping.

C:\reprap-host-0.8.1\reprap-host-0.8.1>java -xmx384M -jar Reprap.jar
Exception in thread "RepRap" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/vecmath/Tuple
3d
at org.reprap.main.createAndShowGUI
at org.reprap.main.access$2400
at org.reprap.main$23.run
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumponeEventForFilters
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run

Richard my bad.

Take another look the link should point to the correct place now.
instructions are a little different.

Let me know if you have any other problems.

Hi All:
No problem Dan, I was getting a little flustered with the whole thing but I do appreciate all the support.

I have found my problem running the reprap on jre-1.6.0

Seems XP service pack 2 will block some files it sees as coming from a unknown source, even files from sun.

Here's what I did.
1) I moved all the .rxtx and .DLL files I had placed in jre/bin and jre/lib/ext to a known safe folder on my C:/
2) I then uninstalled the java3d-1.5.0 from jre-1.6.0 (this file was blocked by XP)
3) I defragmented my C:/ and rebooted my system.
4) I reinstalled or overwrite the jre-1.6.0
5) I reinstalled java3d but with java3d-1.5.1 (select this file and view properties to unblock)
6) I moved the .rxtx and DLL files back to jre/bin and jre/lib/ext

Double click the reprap host.bat and "BOOM" we are off and running.
I suggest to others that before installing any files they view properties of all files and unblock those they find.

You guys have been great, I hope my problem and resolution will help someother newbee, and I want to say I'm sorry for starting a new thread before looking closer at exsisting threads.
Best to you all
Richard

> Exception in thread "RepRap" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/vecmath/Tuple3d

This means a class from the Java3D library that the Reprap software uses was not found. Looks like vecmath.jar is not where it is supposed to be.

> 5) I reinstalled java3d but with java3d-1.5.1 (select this file and view
> properties to unblock)
> 6) I moved the .rxtx and DLL files back to jre/bin and jre/lib/ext
>
> Double click the reprap host.bat and "BOOM" we are off and running.
> I suggest to others that before installing any files they view properties
> of all files and unblock those they find.

I'm glad you're running the software... I wish I knew what you mean about XP SP2 "blocking" files though! Blocking from whom in what way? What does the file properties dialog box look like when you see a "blocked" file, and how do you "unblock" it? I'm running Win XP Home SP2 here and I see no such file property.

This "blocking and unblocking" is apparently not Microsoft's normal terminology in describing its filesystems and file properties :-)

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan:
I'm gonna give this a shot at posting a pic in this forum of the screen capture of the properties dialog box. If this doesn't work, just cut and paste the http address into your internet search field.
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/richmix584/PROP.jpg
[members.aol.com]

Thanks. I've *never* seen that in that dialog. Of course, that's mostly because I use Firefox or wget rather than IE to download files with :-)

It seems there's a policy you can use to disable that particular piece of MS "security":

----------------------------------------
run gpedit.msc
Goto: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager
Enable: Do not preserve zone information in file attachments

Will only take effect on new files.
----------------------------------------

The above is a quote from [episteme.arstechnica.com]

Jonathan

Hi All:
Disableing that MS function would make life a little easier Jonathan. Had it not been for your "test-reprap-host.bat" I would still be unaware of that function, I looked over your file before running and well, one thing lead to another.

I have been playing with the reprap software to get a feel for the program and have come upon another small problem and could use yours or anybodys help. I've placed a screen capture here if you would please look at it and give me your opinion as to what this message is trying to tell me. So far everything seems to be working just fine aside from this exception.

Let me try that again folks, if this fails just cut and paste the http into your web brouser.
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/richmix584/REPRAP.jpg

Richard wrote:

> Disableing that MS function would make life a little
> easier Jonathan. Had it not been for your
> "test-reprap-host.bat" I would still be unaware of that function, ...

I agree. However, I'm a bit reluctant to include disabling security policy as part of our normal Windows install instructions, because then if someone does something silly and infects their PC, they will then blame me/us/RepRap for instructing them to disable that policy :-(

My gut feeling for now is to leave it; if others are bitten by this problem in the same way you were, we'll have to come up with some sort of better plan to deal with it. I may also make test-reprap-host.bat (or some variation on it) be the official replacement for reprap-host.bat in the next host software package release.

The null pointer exception you are seeing during building looks like a real host software bug, or maybe a faulty STL file. Which STL file are you building when it occurs? Does it happen even for small simple STL files? For all STL files?

Jonathan

Jonathon,
I think I have come across this problem in the dim and distant past and there is another workaround. If I remember correctly the fact that file has been downloaded is stored in an alternate stream in the file. It is a little known fact that NTFS files can have multiple streams of data. 99.9% of all programs use the first stream and ignore any others. There is a free utility somewhere that let's you list and delete the other streams. Sorry to be so vague but my memory is not what it used to be.

---

[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Hi Jonathan:
Most reprap .stl files I have tried so far seem fine, except for X motor bracket which gives me the same screen message I posted in my last message. The object that can be seen in the screen cature is an incomplete hollow cone I drew up to test on reprap, I have a feeling that the problem is me and how I may be orienting the object on the Z plane. I have not tried re-orienting objects in reprap just yet.

How does reprap deal with objects that may have appendages that need external support?

Thanks

Hi All:
Well, after trying three differant orintations on the build surface, the X motor bracket finally completed it,s build cycle. Maybe the reprap screen promp should read "Change the object oreintation on the build plane DUMB ASS"

Sometimes I get ahead of myself and ask questions before exploring all my options first. Sorry about that folks, ignore the man behind the curtain so to speak.

Thanks

I don't think the code should throw null pointer exceptions if you mis-orient an object; there probably is a real bug in there. But I'm glad you've found a way around it for your current needs!

> How does reprap deal with objects that may have appendages
> that need external support?

Adrian is working on a support extruder and the code to support it at the moment.

With a single extruder, you can't build objects that require support material.

Jonathan