LinuxGrblGru English
LinuxGrblGru English
LinuxGrblGru English
1. Installing PlayOnLinux
GrblGru can be installed directly from the command line using wine, but it is generally helpful to
use a frontend for wine when installing Windows programs, which makes configuration easier. For
this I have used PlayOnLinux. The version provided in the Linux Mint repository is not the latest
version, so 4.3.4 was manually installed, see https://www.playonlinux.com/de/
In PlayOnLinux there are 3 places where you can install a Windows program, but they are all the
same. Either under File, or like on the picture at the two places where it says "Install".
A selection of some preconfigured programs will appear.
Because GrblGru is not listed here yet, select "Install a program that is not listed. Then "Next" and
after that you have the choice to install into a new virtual drive, or to update an existing drive or
application. We choose "Install a program in a new virtual drive", which we then give a name.
At the next page set the two checkboxes, because we have to reinstall something and configure
Wine.
As Wine I used the system version 4.0, but it should work with other versions as well. If not, you
can still change it afterwards.
In the next step we choose the 32 bit installation, with 64bit it does not work.
As Windows version you can choose Windows 7, which I think is a good choice. Since GrblGru
also runs under XP, you could also choose XP. I have not tried higher Windows versions.
On the graphics page it is important to uncheck the 2 checkboxes. As screen resolution I have
chosen 120dpi. Depending on your screen resolution it is also useful to leave it at 96dpi, which you
can try if GrblGru is installed. The Wine configuration can also be changed afterwards.
If you leave the checkboxes checked, you will have problems with the menus in GrblGru. But there
is also a conflict: If you leave the checkbox checked at "Allow the window manager to control the
windows", the menus will close as soon as you stay a little bit longer on a menu entry with the
mouse. If you remove the check, the menus will work, but a flag will be set internally and GrblGru
will always stay in the foreground and hide the windows from other programs.
In the installation window you are asked if you still want to install libraries. GrblGru needs at least
DotNet4.0, so it is sufficient to select POL_Install_dotnet40, or higher. Dependencies from older
versions are automatically installed.
I could not install higher than DotNet4.5, but it is not necessary. When installing .Net 3.5 an error
message appears, but you can confirm it.
These steps usually have to be taken only once. New versions of GrblGru can be installed into the
same partition and have all necessary dependencies.
Next you will be asked for the installation file, select GrblGruInstallerVxy.exe here.
I have confirmed all the necessary queries for GrblGru.
After that you can display a shortcut on the desktop.
And already you are almost finished, but only almost :).
In order for GrblGru's tool menu to display the images correctly, the 32bit version of libjpeg62 must
be installed. This can be done with: sudo apt-get install libjpeg62:i386
That's it for now with the installation and you can start GrblGru either via PlayOnLinux, or via the
created link on the desktop. Up to this point you can already work with the software and get
familiar with the simulation.
Next, we get the serial port up and running so that you can run a machine.
3. Set up serial interface
If you are using a Wine version < 2.8, it is probably enough to place a symbolic link to the device
the Arduino is connected to. In my case it is /dev/ttyUSB0 and you have to change to the directory
where PlayOnLinux has stored the wine version and then change to dosdevices, e.g.
cd ~/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/NameDerPartition/dosdevices
For wine versions >= 2.8 you have to open the registry and set a key. But here I did not try if you
have to set the link additionally. It was already set at that time, but it is very likely not needed.
In order to open the Registry, one can select the point "Configure" in the put on partition and call
there in the tab „Wine“ the Registry editor (registry).
Then create a "string" (with the right mouse button) for each interface in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wine\Ports that has the name of the desired interface, e.g.
COM1 and as value the device, including directory, e.g. /dev/ttyUSB0
Now you should be able to address the Arduino Uno, when it is connected to ttyUSB0 under Linux,
in GrblGru with the Com1 interface.
Before you try this, you can use a terminal program to make sure that you can connect to the
Arduino directly under Linux.
As serial terminal program I used "Cutecom", because I had no success with "Putty".