How to install/select QtDragon?

I'm running linuxcnc 2.9.4 (which I downloaded from Debian 12 Bookworm PREEMPT-RT ISO ) in VirtualBox in order to try out the various UIs etc. The actual CNC is being driven from a Raspberry Pi. I'm currently running gmoccapy but I'd like to try out the QtDragon UI.

I found some instructions that said I needed to install linuxcnc-uspace-qtvcp but it's not in the debian repo and I didn't want to start adding random sources without knowing what I'm doing. There are also references to modifying .ini files but there are a lot under sim.gmoccapy so it's not clear which one to modify, and in any case, I thought using QtDragon meant not using gmoccapy.

If you want to try it on your actual CNC you first copy all config files for backup and then change one line in the INI file
linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gui/qtdragon.html...started_the_ini_file

Hakan wrote:

If you want to try it on your actual CNC you first copy all config files for backup and then change one line in the INI file

[DISPLAY]
DISPLAY = qtvcp qtdragon


https://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gui/qtdragon.html#_getting_started_the_ini_file

Unfortunately, that doesn't work. It's looking for a configs/qrdragon directory.

Can you clarify something please: How does QtDragon relate to gmoccapy? It's really not clear to me if QtDragon is just a UI skin or if it replaces gmoccapy.

I think you have to create a sim.qtdragon directory. I tried that and copied over the .ini and .hal files from the sim.gmoccapy directory. I also copied the various sub-directories (macros, qtvcp etc.). I can at least start it in qtdragon mode now but it won't run and complains it can't find the sim.qtdragon/qtvcp/screens/qtcnc file.

I founds some comments online that QtDragon is still in the prototype phase and shouldn't be used for production. Is there any truth in this? I was led to believe it was a simple process to switch from gmoccapy to QtDragon but maybe I misunderstood.

[empty]

Aciera wrote: qtdragon replaces gmoccpy.

Thanks. That helps.

Aciera wrote: If you are getting errors it is a good idea to share the exact error messages here so there is less guess work involved for people trying to help.

Sure, I appreciate it but unfortunately that is rather difficult as I've not been able to install the guest additions in order to get copy/paste to work.

The problems are all just missing files. All I'm asking for is a simple way to install QtDragon on top of the .iso from the linuxcnc website. It's not there by default in the Configuration Selector so maybe it isn't released yet. If that's the case, I'm happy to wait.

Aciera wrote: Also note the if you just want to have a look there are simulation configs for QtDragon in the configs directory which should work right out of the box.

Could you tell me where? I've not been able to find them.


(Sorry for weird formatting.Quoting seems to be broken. Every time I post, the quote tags get moved around.)
 

OK found it. Not sure why it wasn't showing before but I now see a section called 'Sample Configurations'. Inside that is sim -> qtdragon ->qtdragon_xyz->qtdragon_metric. Once selected, it asks if you want to copy over the configuration files. Then it starts in qtDragon mode. No need for any manual copying of files. No need to edit any .ini files.