Pronterface for Ubuntu

I am trying to get Pronterface to run under Ubuntu 12.04.
I have followed different sets of instructions from Wiki, YouTube etc and none of them give a result
(I know how it should run as I also use Windoze)
So - Question - What is the full and proper procedure for this please?

dennis

Hi Dennis!

Have you tried these instructions yet?

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RS-Online Ormerod #263, Kossel mini with Minitronics, Prusa i3 MK2

First, what do you mean by noe giving a result? What actually happens?

I have Pronterface installed on Linux Mint (same as Ubuntu), I unzipped the Printrun.zip files that I found on Github website and then there is a setup.py file to run (in terminal) and install all the dependencies you need. You could also do it manually as it is all listed on the wiki if I remember correctly.

I have exclusively been using Pronterface in the paste month as I find the web interface pretty limited. It works very well in Linux.

You also want Slic3r installed which works equally well (no setup script to run, just run Slic3r in the /bin folder, unless you want to see you part in 3D from slic3r) and you may also need to install RepetierHost if you want to manipulate your STL/Gcodes, for this you need to run installDependencies.debian in the zip folder as there are a lot of dependencies needed.

Hi 3D-ES,

I have loaded these bits OK, and got to github eventually.

I then need to do a pip and this generates error messages (so fast i dont know what they are)

When I run pronterface only half of the controlas are on it, it is clearly only half there.

I will try again.
Thanks

Dennis

I don't understand what you are saying here:

Quote

I then need to do a pip and this generates error messages (so fast i dont know what they are)

but the error messages part sounds like something I have seen on Windows...

When I tried to executed the Pronterface.py file it flashed a black window,
I could not read the error message until I started it from the command line:

WX is not installed. This program requires WX to run.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./pronterface.py", line 24, in 
    import wx
ImportError: No module named wx

The problem: I had not installed the python dependencies (helper packages)

I have tested Pronterface on my Linux Mint machine, it works when I do this:

# Install the python dependencies:
$ sudo apt-get install python-serial python-wxgtk2.8 python-pyglet python-tk

# Download the software archive from the repository:
$ wget github.com/reprappro/Software/archive/master.zip

# Extract the software to the home folder:
$ unzip master.zip -d ~

# Rename the created Pronterface folder:
$ mv ~/Software-master ~/Pronterface

# Start the program:
$ ~/Pronterface/pronterface.py

Pronterface is started, looks OK, and can connect to the printer.
I have not used it for printing, so I could be missing something...!

The program should start when you doubleclick pronterface.py,
if it does not, I would like to know what happens on your PC

Edit: For USB printing you need to gedit ~/Pronterface/printcore.py

Add a # to the beginning of line 300:

Default setting, makes your printer stutter:

        self.clear = False

New setting, makes your printer operate smooth:

#        self.clear = False

I don't see any custom buttons right under the yellow grid at the moment,
if you mean this with "only half of the controlas are on it" then I'll dig deeper

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2014 02:59AM by 3D-ES.

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RS-Online Ormerod #263, Kossel mini with Minitronics, Prusa i3 MK2

Please see attached, I suspect your problem is what I have illustrated in attachment;

I get only half of the controls if I run pronterface.py as a link from a different folder (for example from the desktop): pronterface cannot find all the files it needs to display;

If I start from folder or create a launcher (instead of a link) then all is fine.

So make sure the .py if run from its folder.

Hi 3D-ES,
Thanks for the info, I have progresses a little.
It still wont run in Ubuntu, it cant find the USB prort for one thing, and the work panel is very short on controls (like M503, position etc).

I have tried many methods now, and dont get errors in building, but either I dont set it up right or there is some other trip hazard that is getting me.

Regards
dennis

You say "It can't find the USB port"

Do you mean that you don't see the device /dev/ttyACM0 in the list?
Or do you get a permission denied error when you try to open the port?

When I remove myself from the "dialout" group I get the following error message:
could not open port /dev/ttyACM0: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/dev/ttyACM0'

If your error message is the same, try this:

$ sudo usermod -a -G dialout $(whoami)

After using this command you will need to logout,
the new group will be activated on the next login.

My work panel is also empty, I never use those commands.
you can add commands you like by pressing the '+' button.

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RS-Online Ormerod #263, Kossel mini with Minitronics, Prusa i3 MK2

Hi 3D-ES
Many thanks to toy and other for your help.
Pronterface is running under Ubuntu 12.04


However
I am baffled by the difference in panel layout beween the Windoze version (which has many control buttons like M503, position etc)
and the linux version which has very few buttons, albiet enough to run.

Is this right???

Dennis

Aha, found it: you need to copy the file ~/Pronterface/.pronsolerc to ~/

When asked for it, replace the existing file, that is the old one without the buttons.
This is a hidden file, you might need to enable "show hidden files" in your file browser.

Edit: Or paste this in your terminal

$ cp ~/Pronterface/.pronsolerc ~/

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2014 07:01PM by 3D-ES.

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RS-Online Ormerod #263, Kossel mini with Minitronics, Prusa i3 MK2

Hi Arnauld31,
My printrun-master directory does not include the folders Css, php, Repetierhost of Slic3r.
there are a few other minor differences.

Did you load those folders separatley (particularly Slic3r) or were they in the build??

The missing button issue is all due to the contents of prontsolerc. The windows version has (text commands for) more buttons.
Now I know this it is not an issue

The only funny now on Ubuntu 12.04 is when I sudo pip install -r requirements_prontserve.txt
I get to the github site, It cannot find some of the files and it asks me for hostname and password??
I enter my github one and it rejects it
What on earth is this about??
Many thanks
Dennis

Hi 3D-ES
Thanks, Those problems are now solved - Phew

I can lay plastic but cant find Slic3r on board anywhere.
Maybe I have to load it separatley

Regards

Dennis

Yes, download Slic3r and install our profiles, as described here: [www.reprappro.com]

Can you outline the exact steps you took to install Pronterface? I'm still not sure exactly what the problem was, and how you resolved it!

Ian
RepRapPro tech support

Hi Ian,
The first installation issue comes from instructions on kiliment github
For Ubuntu is tells you to

1) sudo apt-get install python-serial python-wxgtk2.8 python-pyglet python-tornado python-setuptools python-libxml2 python-gobject avahi-daemon libavahi-compat-libdnssd1

2) pip install -r requirements_prontserve.txt

The right hand side of 1) is masked by the webpage
When doing 2) the first set of errors are 'file not found or recognised' types; the second set are that it wants an https username and password - none I tried work.
I have proceeded regardless of this - but I dont know what, if anything is missing

The other (resoved) issue is the different button layout between the windows and the ubuntu versions. Thankfully someone in the forum pointed out that they are defined in a hidden pronsolerc file in home.

I am slowly getting there thanks to you and others - I do appreciate your efforts. (I can lay plastic)

It you want a private brekdown of issues on RS 343 then I will be glad to provide this
Regards
Dennis

I'm not sure why you used the instructions from there, rather than the instructions that are linked in 'commissioning'? I did wonder what 'pip' was!

Our instructions: [www.reprappro.com]
"Advanced – For Windows/Mac/Linux – download the zip file from our Github repository [github.com], installation instructions [github.com]. This is slightly modified version of Pronterface, enhanced for the Duet"

Clicking on the first link gets you our version of Pronterface (click 'Download ZIP' on the right hand side)
Clicking the second link takes you to the 'Install dependencies' part, where all you need is:

sudo apt-get install python-serial python-wxgtk2.8 python-pyglet python-tk

It looks like your version doesn't install python-tk.

There is a potential problem with not being a member of the 'dialout' group, covered here (from our Mendel instructions): [www.reprappro.com]
But I was waiting to see if the Duet actually needed this. Unable to test myself - my test machine is already set up like this!

Ian
RepRapPro tech support

Quote
droftarts
There is a potential problem with not being a member of the 'dialout' group, covered here (from our Mendel instructions): [www.reprappro.com]
But I was waiting to see if the Duet actually needed this. Unable to test myself - my test machine is already set up like this!

That is probably useful for Duet users.

I have installed Ubuntu 13.10 in VirtualBox,
the user is not a member of 'dialout' by default.

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RS-Online Ormerod #263, Kossel mini with Minitronics, Prusa i3 MK2

Thanks 3D-ES, I'll add it.

Ian
RepRapPro tech support