Gscreen - a GTK / Glade / Python based screen

andypugh wrote:

Perhaps we should start at the other end. If a professional machinist were to design a GUI, what would it look like?

Sory to highjack your thread cmorley. I created a new thread for Professional machinist GUI

Well I worked as a cnc lathe operator for a while but our Okuma didn't have a video display just 7 segment LEDs
It is a common and valid point that much of linuxcnc has been built from the eye of a programmer rather then a machinist.

With Gscreen I meant to lean more towards a 'normal operator screen' though its more based on a Heidenhain DRO that I used to use.
I am happy to have Gscreen evolve to more industrial style - that was it's purpose.
Even better is that Gscreen is very customisable. Originally I patched TOUCHY for custom glade files but that was rejected.
It has worked out though cause I think Gscreen takes the concept further.

To patch 2.5 for Gscreen would be possible but are you prepared for extra work of having a patched controller?
Each upgrade you must re-patch it. I started Gscreen in 2.5 then moved it to master, when I did that I was free to make many changes, mostly to gladevcp and gremlin.

Gscreen still requires a keyboard for MDI and editing of the Gcode. Numerical Entry can be done on screen.
We may be able to leverage 'onboard' (an on screen keyboard) to eliminate that.

John:
Gscreen allows completely custom screens. If you leverage gladeVCP HAL actions you can freely edit a screen to what ever you want.
If that doesn't get what you want you can use the handler file to make custom functions for regular widgets.
the sample gscreen-gaxis uses mostly HAL actions with just a couple added functions.
You now can even draw an image of a screen and add the widgets on top of it for a REALLY custom look.
Of course the fancier you get the more the work.

There is a wiki page for Gscreen:
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Gscreen#Installation

This will be the docs untill Gscreen is well stabilized.
If there a particular questions please ask here or on the mail list and I will add then to the wiki if needed.

Chris M

I wonder if your boss would like this logo....

Nice, I will make sure he notices.

All,

I want to start playing with Gscreen on a touchscreen, using a computer I use for testing and debugging Gcode. Eventually hope to use it on a knee mill. Currently, I mostly use Touchy and sometimes Axis.

I have Linuxcnc 2.5 already installed on the test computer, and plan to set up a different partition to build and use Gscreen. Is it better to install Linuxcnc from the live CD to the new partition, or install Ubuntu 10.04 and then install LInuxcnc?

Thanks
Karl

I would install 10.04 then use buildbot to get master (Gscreen requires master)

Others may have more experience with the easiest way to get it downloaded and updated.

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for the advice. Using the buildbot sounds like a good way. Unfortunately I didn't see your message until I was into it a ways.

I installed 10.04, used the linuxcnc install script, grabbed master via git, and it all built just fine. Now to work on configuration.

Karl

There are sample configs under sim/gscreen and sim/gscreen_custom.
And info on the wiki and of course ask questions here.

Feedback is welcome too.

Chris M