Linux Made Easy

Mechanical Engineering Useful Software in Linux

2011-09-30T00:30:00.002+01:00

So, as usual, I've no wrote in this space for a long time, but today, as my daughter sleeps like a baby (10 months :P), I've got the time for some writings..
So since my last post, I've acquired a new 13" laptop to replace the good old asus eee 701, I needed a small, fast and good pc for some of my engineering work.
Just in short lines the PC is an Acer Travelmate 8371, and Linux Mint Debian Edition runs very smooth.... only one thing does not work at all, and that is the fingerprint reader, which I don't care at all.. One of the most important things for me in laptops is battery (6 hours) and suspend (all ACPI events works out of the box. Even the intel wireless card work without problems...So I'm very pleased with this little and robust machine...
So, back on the post title.... As I acquired this machine mainly for work, I started filling it up with software that I use on my day to day work (I work for a Portuguese big HVAC contractor, and own my own consulting company), and as you may think, I spend a lot of my time working...
So, starting from the basis...
1 - My desktop, the wood one, is full of interesting stuff, drawings, notes, specifications, catalogs, databooks, material samples, a real mess... so sometimes finding the calculator is hard... so I use the most powerful calculator on Linux... And that is Qcalculate (check the repositories)... Imagine this common situation for me, as manufacturers that I work with around the world all work in different units....
Pressure drop calculation:
- Heat Exchanger - 40kPa
- 3 way valve - 1 bar
- Pipes - 2 mca
etc etc...
So, normally to do this calculation and getting the result in bar, for instance, or you have a good datasheet, or you use qcalculate... just by typing....
"(40kPa+1bar+2mca) to bar" you get the fine answer "1,5960828 bars", note that the mca (column of water meters, very used here) is not one of supplied conversions, but you can program any conversion you want, Qalculate has a big database of units, currency conversion (automatic update of exchange rates), math functions, variables, phisycal constants, etc, etc.... It has capability of solving equations, plot functions, a lot of interesting stuff for you engineers to explore...

2 - So, in the CAD area, I've written a lot about this, but a list of the better ones available native:
- Bricscad (Comercial, Autocad Clone),
- Varicad (3D based, for me its the best CAD software available for Linux)
- Draftsight (free, Autocad Clone, but no Autolisp),
- Ares Commander (the father of Draftsight, comercial, full featured),
- Freecad (very good, sound promissing),
- QCAD (released a new version, looks a lot better and is cheap)
- Medusa4 (free personal version, very good commercial software)
And you have a lot of others, but for some reason to me are not worthy to be in this list, but here is a link to an updated regularly list of CAD software on Linux http://www.tech-edv.co.at/sl.php?058010. I recommend this list, I go there to take a look at the news very often... (thank you)
Remember that I'm writing about software that I really used or use for production purposes, so my opinions are not from a inexperienced person on this type of software.... I've been working with cad software since 1996 :)....

3 - On number 3 we have a non native Linux software, but as they support Linux through wine (and I've bought a license, cough, cough).... I'm talking about SF Pressure Drop 7.0 (7.15 version don't work) a full package software to calculate pressure drop in pipes. It has a full database of pipes, accessories, valves, etc, etc, it also has a full database of fluids (liquids and gases) with all the temperature and pressure properties, states, etc, etc. I also allows you to calculate pumps, reservoirs empty times, economical pipe diameter, etc etc.. It is very complete and deserves a look.
I finish this small review with a screenshot...

4 - I work with a lot of PDF files from OEM's, clients, tables from books, etc, etc, etc... and a lot of times I've to markup those to present to consultants, or simply to note something useful... So I'm talking about PDF annotation and manipulation.
I work with 2 software:
For Annotation I use Xournal (it's on every repository), and it allows me to do something like...

It has a shape recognizer that allow you to do straight lines, and squares, rectangles, circles, etc, etc... Files are saved with .xoj extension, and you can export them to PDF with the annotations, very useful, as it saves a lot of unnecessary printing...
For manipulation I use PDFChain (in repositories also). In the past I used PDFSam, but it is slower to work with due to the interface... So PDFChain allow me to crop, rotate, split and merge PDF's.
5 - On number 5 is Elmer+Gmsh (both on Debian Testing repositories), the software I use to make CFD calculations. I've started using them recently, and as I'm not very familiar, I'll take the option to just talk about the tricks to make them work with DXF files for complex layouts, and the rest of physical and equation stuff you will have to take a look at the software tutorials.... (beside that I'm a lot of rusty in finite element calculation)
So in the first time you draw something on draftsight for instance.... Save it as dxf.... Import it with Gmsh.... Create the mesh... and save mesh as "Mesh - Gmsh MSH (*.msh)" choose version 2 ASCII and "Save All".
Now the trick (that took me a all night to figure this out), open the generated file with a text editor and simply replace the "." (dots) with "," (commas), somehow Elmer mess things up...
Import mesh into Elmer, model the problem, and in the final you can have a result like this...

The above image represents the air speed inside a HVAC plenum, it was just a test, as the problem was not very well formulated, but you can get a idea of what this is capable...
6 - Other software that worth a look (in the repositories)

- Crunchbang - a less powerful calculator the qalculate

- Octave - Matlab Clone

- PSPP - SPSS clone (statistics) - Never tried it

- Electric - Draw electric Schematics (I've tried but I'm a mech engineer... )

So this is it for now.... and as I'm short on time, feel free to follow me on this social networks:
Twitter - @ECA_Engenharia
Identi.ca - @pirolocito
We can have a nice talk on a short spare time... And remember, linux is easy....

#! Crunchbang Statler - Enable Suspend Button on Exit

2011-06-23T03:27:00.001+01:00

A few moons ago, I posted how to create a button for #! for suspend the computer on exit, but in those days, Crunchbang was based on Ubuntu, and the software worked diferent.

In the present time, Crunchbang is debian based, so things change a little

The "Exit" command on the openbox main menu opens several buttons so one can choose, those command are:

Cancel, Logout, Reboot and Shutdown

So suspend is out of the list.... those commands are all commands for gdm-control, but gdm-control for suspend is only possible after doing logout, but I wanted to suspend inside the session, so we have to do the trick in other way...

After taking a look at xfce-power-manager, it has suspend function, and after a litle dbus introspection, I found the correct message (http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-410570.html) for dbus that does the trick once xfce-power-manager api supports freedesktop directives (I'm not an expert on any of these things, I just catched some lines here and there)

dbus-send \
--session \
--dest=org.freedesktop.PowerManagement \
--type=method_call \
--print-reply \
--reply-timeout=2000 \
/org/freedesktop/PowerManagement \
org.freedesktop.PowerManagement.Suspend

So, for our How-to....

1 - on a command line sudo gedit /usr/bin/openbox-logout

2 - Change the file where bold text is the new text to add

-----------------------------------

#!/usr/bin/env python

import pygtk

pygtk.require('2.0')

import gtk

import os

class DoTheLogOut:

# Cancel/exit

def delete_event(self, widget, event, data=None):

gtk.main_quit()

return False

# Logout

def logout(self, widget):

os.system("openbox --exit")

# Reboot

def reboot(self, widget):

os.system("gdm-control --reboot && openbox --exit")

# Shutdown

def shutdown(self, widget):

os.system("gdm-control --shutdown && openbox --exit")

# Suspend

def suspend(self, widget):

os.system("dbus-send --session --dest=org.freedesktop.PowerManagement --type=method_call --print-reply --reply-timeout=2000 /org/freedesktop/PowerManagement org.freedesktop.PowerManagement.Suspend")

def __init__(self):

# Create a new window

self.window = gtk.Window(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)

self.window.set_title("Exit? Choose an option:")

self.window.set_resizable(False)

self.window.set_position(1)

self.window.connect("delete_event", self.delete_event)

self.window.set_border_width(20)

# Create a box to pack widgets into

self.box1 = gtk.HBox(False, 0)

self.window.add(self.box1)

# Create cancel button

self.button1 = gtk.Button("_Cancel")

self.button1.set_border_width(10)

self.button1.connect("clicked", self.delete_event, "Changed me mind :)")

self.box1.pack_start(self.button1, True, True, 0)

self.button1.show()

# Create logout button

self.button2 = gtk.Button("_Log out")

self.button2.set_border_width(10)

self.button2.connect("clicked", self.logout)

self.box1.pack_start(self.button2, True, True, 0)

self.button2.show()

# Create reboot button

self.button3 = gtk.Button("_Reboot")

self.button3.set_border_width(10)

self.button3.connect("clicked", self.reboot)

self.box1.pack_start(self.button3, True, True, 0)

self.button3.show()

# Create shutdown button

self.button4 = gtk.Button("_Shutdown")

self.button4.set_border_width(10)

self.button4.connect("clicked", self.shutdown)

self.box1.pack_start(self.button4, True, True, 0)

self.button4.show()

# Create suspend button

self.button5 = gtk.Button("Sus_pend")

self.button5.set_border_width(10)

self.button5.connect("clicked", self.suspend)

self.box1.pack_start(self.button5, True, True, 0)

self.button5.show()

self.box1.show()

self.window.show()

def main():

gtk.main()

if __name__ == "__main__":

gogogo = DoTheLogOut()

main()

3 - Save the file, and there you go

--------------------

Hope this is any good for anyone, as it is for me... You can always configure xfce-power-manager to suspend when you do some action, as "close lid" "press power button" etc, etc....

Treepad Alternative - Cherrytree

2011-06-03T23:42:00.001+01:00

After a few months I'm back on my writings... My 7 months old daughter take my breath and my time away...

So today I'll be writing about a wonderful project from an Italian programmer, named Giuseppe (aka Giuspen).

As you may notice from the title, Cherrytree is a Treepad alternative, a hierarchical note taking application, and a very good one. It has a lot of advantages comparing to treepad:

1 - It's Open Source and Linux is supported natively
2 - It supports Images, tables and other rich text features
3 - Export to html
4 - Import from treepad and other alike
5 - Syntax highlighting
6 - Save all stuff in a single file
.....

The project is supported by various translators (including me in Portuguese, not completed yet), and others are welcome.

The application runs real fast, can be docked to notification area, and it opens the last saved file. Recently it also allows multiple instances.

Giuspen, has a lot of ideas for making Cherrytree even better. If I could code as good as he, sure I'll give him a boost in Cherrytree, the program I use everyday for taking personal notes, and for work.

Finally one last taught about cherrytree.... What if Debian or Ubuntu packed it in repositories? I believe it would be great for most users that are not aware of this wonderful piece of software.

Moving Desktop Windows users to Linux

2010-11-27T14:01:00.001Z

More than a year ago I wrote a post concerning my personal experience http://linuxmadeasy.blogspot.com/2009/09/linux-for-engineering-pratical-case.html.

I manage our computer systems at work and never tried to convert user Pc's to Linux, instead sometimes I showed them some of the nice stuff and played with them when their windows system crashed, or simply because network printers stopped working.

Since then all item number 7 is ok since we have Bricscad / Ares Commander, and I have moved from OWA to IMAP on my machine, and all my troubles were over.

So about a month ago a Engineer colleague that had Win Vista, said to me... "Can't stand with this Sh#$ anymore, please install Linux here". I've made him a bunch of questions about software he used, and explained that one printer in our office would not work, and all stuff that is different, in the end it was ok for him so we went for it.

Before Linux (Ubuntu 10.04) he could not:

- Print to our 42" HP plotter without problems
- Work one day without rebooting 2 or 3 times
- Start working 1 minute after power-up
- Transfer files to/from his Nokia and Blackberry via bluetooth

After installation when I showed him Nautilus working with tabs (Ctrl+T) and extra panel (F3) it became amazed with a so simple thing that come very handy...

I've had less complaints than ever from him, only thing that went wrong was a day that our Exchange Server went "mad" and he thought it was because of Evolution.

This week I've had two more colleague that want Linux also. Both with XP. I guess it was because they saw a not experienced user doing so well with Linux. Soon both computer will soon boot Ubuntu instead of XP.

This week also I got amazed when I saw him getting drawings out of our plotter. I didn't configured the plotter because I hadn't time. So he did it all by himself. It never happened when he had windows... Even Bluetooth configuration was made by him.

So who could say... More than ever I believe Linux is easier than windows and ready for common users...

DWF Files - A Challenge to You!

2010-10-07T01:38:00.000+01:00

I challenge you to program a Open-Source DWF file viewer!!!

I love Computing and Linux in particular, I even know some C++, Basic, Fortran Pascal, VBasic and Gambas, but beside "Hello World!", I'm rusty, very rusty.....

Yesterday after upgrading my Ubuntu desktop to 10.10 on 5/10/2010 (Establish of Portuguese Republic, National Holiday), I took a look at Ubuntu new software center and went to - Science - Engineering, and as usual, a couple Math programs, a dozen electrical simulators/ designers, etc, etc... So I thought, what the hell.... There are only programs useful for Electrical Engineers.....

Why is that??? Easy, Electrical Engineering courses have a great component of computer science and programming, that why this engineering side has such nice software.....

So, since I'm not one of them (my area is more like machines, pipes, rivets, nuts, bolts, ducts), :) please help us..... I'm not talking for myself, I know there are a lot of Engineers, mechanical, civil, and even Architects that would love to have a DWF file viewer.

As you know Linux now has DWG capable software natively, but as PDF is to DOC files, DWF is to DWG files, and we are missing DWF.....

"Design Web Format (DWF) is a secure file format developed by Autodesk for the efficient distribution and communication of rich design data to anyone who needs to view, review, or print design files." in: Wikipedia

Nowadays it is used by Portuguese Government entities to distribute designs to contractors, note that, at Portugal this is LAW, Decreto-Lei 60/2007 says that PDF should be used for written elements and DWF for drawings (really nice lobby for Autodesk).

But, DWF is an open format based on ISO/IEC 29500-2:2008, and Autodesk provides a Open-Source Toolkit for developers http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=823771. That's Halfway there .....

Do you think you can do it? I believe that are others that can do it too. The first will get the gold...

So, who would be the first to get there??? I'm expecting to see one of this names:

- Evince (I have great confidence in you guys!!!)
- Bricsys (Closed-Source, with a dwg software and project management interactive with Lotus)
- Graebert (Closed-source, also with dwg software, in there ARES beta there was a reference to dwf)
- QCAD (maybe yes, maybe not, I think they are too busy dealing with DWG support first)
- Adobe (Why not??)
- CUPS (They can make print to DWF "cups-dwf" :), the way back sure it will be really simple)
- Inkscape (The experts in vectorial files...)

And don't forget Antitrust (2001) Gary's words "We work hard to stay ahead because we know any kid working in his garage can put us out of business".

I think if you are in one of these teams you would be happy to get there first than the others.... I also believe that it will get your piece of software ahead of the others in a big niche (Engineering and Architecture)...

It is easy, so let's get to work....

Note that I will always be here to do beta testing in a daily basis (it's my job working with those files), and also provide you files to test.....

DWG CAD on Linux - Ares Commander Commercial Release

2010-09-30T00:17:00.001+01:00

Last week I wrote about Ares and Draftsight, and how they where close to go full comercial (Ares only, Draftsight will be free as Mac and Win released versions), so this is it....

So, since 18 Set., what happened here? Let's go back a few days, and:

22 September - I found out that Draftsight for MAC was available for download
28 September - After reporting a bug for ARES, I received an email from Graebert, that says "BTW:
We have released a final version of ARES Commander on Linux yesterday evening.".

So this last 2 days I've been using final version of ARES, so now I'm capable of write something more about than before.

- Interface is really polished, very nice and modern icons
- It has a built in table creator (really usefull)
- I don't remember if Autocad or Bricscad, does this but in hatch window, we have "create hatch for each boundary". How many of you had to delete hatch and create it all over again?
- When in a command, line for example, you don't loose focus on main windows and you can do F3 or F8, for example. This bug is not solved in Bricscad for Linux.
- Plot works really good in Linux. I've been plotting large format drawing for hand drafting. With "DEMO VERSION" watermarked.
- I opened 15 dwg at once without a single hiccup, and changing from one drawing to another brings no problem in performance
- It has a full-screen feature (very usefull for my eee701) on view->Clean Screen, or Ctrl+0 shortcut
- Layout tab is much smaller than in beta version, and you don't need it, so if your screen is small just take it out and use "Model" "Sheet" button on bottom bar
- Real time zoom and pan is somehow slow when very zoomed out, and I haven't figured out why...
- On Beta there was an option for opening DWF (it didn't work), but in final release is not implemented, maybe in the future we will see this (afterall Autodesk has a Open Source SDK for DWF)
- They are releasing packages for every main Linux distribution.

In general is a very polished piece of software and I can say Graebert did some really nice work from Beta to commercial version.

The price of this Software is till the end of October 495€ (with 50% off).

Linux is getting easy, Correction, even more easy.....

DWG Cad on Linux - Draftsight and Ares Commander

2010-09-18T02:45:00.000+01:00

This is the first Linux Made Easy Bilingual Post. I intend to reach a bigger audience in my native language, Portuguese. I hope to get to Brasil, Portugal and some PALOP (African Countries with Portuguese as Official Language). Without further delay, let's get to the post....

Today I found another Linux CAD software that will be out soon, I'm talking about DraftSight. While not available yet in Linux version it's a free alternative to other programs in 2d drawing. According to the manufacturer "Mac OS and Linux support will be available later this year".

A very important feature related to Draftsight is the name of developer - Dassault Systemes - Don't you know them? And if I mention the name SolidWorks? And Catia? Well, we are talking about a major cad dealer. Can this mean that we have competition on CAD software on Linux?

Answering the previous question - YES !

At this time, economical Autocad Linux alternatives were just one - Bricscad, but there is already another one available for download. I'm talking about German Grabert's ARES Commander. Right now to be able to try the software you will need to register as a Beta-Tester to get the download link. After installation you will be able to enjoy a complete 2D cad with DWG support. Actually from the short time that I tried out it looked a bit faster in processing DWG than Bricscad, however it looks very professional, clean looks and practical.

I present you a screenshot of ARES Commander working (This is a real production design's):

At this moment this software is commercial available for OSX, and Linux became a little late. However for what was tried out, it will be a good competitor for Bricscad, Autocad e for certain Draftsight.

It's getting even easier to work on Linux, and with a lot of choices.....

The Links to Software:

DraftSight - http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight
Ares Commander - http://new.graebert.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=105&lang=en

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DWG no Linux - DraftSight e Ares Commander

Este post é o 1º Bilingue do Linux Made Easy. O objectivo é atingir uma maior audiência na minha língua materna, o Português. Espero com isto chegar ao povo Brasileiro, Português e possivelmente aos habitantes dos Palop (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa). Mas, continuando para o artigo em questão...

Hoje tomei conhecimento de mais um software de CAD para Linux que está para ser lançado em breve, estou a falar do DraftSight. Este software, ainda não disponível na versão Linux apresenta-se como uma alternativa gratuita a outros concorrentes no desenho 2D. De acordo com o fabricante "Mac OS and Linux support will be available later this year".

Um factor muito importante neste software é o nome do seu fabricante - Dassault Systemes - Não sabe quem é? Então e se lhe falar no nome Solidworks? E Catia? Bem, estamos a falar de um dos principais fabricantes de software CAD no mundo. Poderá isto significar que até já temos concorrência em programas CAD em Linux?

Respondendo à pergunta anterior - SIM!!!

Neste momento, alternativas económicas a Autocad em Linux, tínhamos 1 - Bricscad, mas existe outra actualmente e já disponível para download. Estou a falar de ARES Commander da Alemã Grabert. Neste momento tirar partido do software terá de se inscrever como Beta-tester para obter o link do download. Após instalar o programa poderá disfrutar de um completo software cad 2d com suporte para DWG. Actualmente do pouco tempo despendido a experimentar este software, pareceu-nos mais rápido no processamento dos ficheiros DWG do que o Bricscad, mas no entanto apresenta um aspecto bastante profissional, limpo e prático.

Apresentamos um screenshot do software a trabalhar (Isto são ficheiros meus de trabalho):

Actualmente este software encontra-se à venda para OSX, tendo atrasado o lançamento em Linux, no entanto, pelo que já vimos, será um concorrente à altura do Bricscad, Autocad e concerteza do Draftsight.

Cada vez está mais fácil trabalhar em Linux, e com possibilidade de escolha...

Os Links para o Software:
DraftSight - http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight
Ares Commander - http://new.graebert.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=105&lang=en

Novell - Who are the mysterious buyers?

2010-09-17T01:07:00.000+01:00

In: www.thevarguy.com

I usually don't do politics nor business assumptions, but this in getting me nervous, and I can't stop thinking about it....

Maybe there are many interests for a lot of companies to buy Novell, but.....

What if, Microsoft is on the run to Novell?!?!?! Novell own Unix, they are somewhat friends, they work together....

It's a strange recipe, what could be the result if they really buy it?

This time I don't have an easy answer, and neither a hard one, I will leave the conversation open.... Please leave your comments....

Biometric Hardware with Linux and GPL violations

2010-09-10T01:33:00.001+01:00

Image from: http://www.gnu.org

Recently at work we installed a biometric access control system. I was not in charge of this buy, but I tried the Windows software that is responsible for data handling and connects to biometric terminals.

Today, we were doing a few more work in our office, and drilling a hole to basement, the worker made bullseye on power cable for biometrics terminals.

So I had the chance to watch one of the biometrics terminal boot. What was my surprise when I see on the small LCD a Penguin and the word LINUX.

Well this product is made by ZK-USA, and consulting their site there is some reference to Linux OS.

I didn't had access to the documentation in box but I can't see anything on their website related to GPL. I'm no specialist at GPL, but I will go deep on this tomorrow, related to the papers that came with the hardware to see if they are violating GPL or not.

On the other side at home I bought a wireless multimedia reader, and with the Manual came the GPL and a address to ask for source code if interested. I have to name that company, because I should, it's the French Dane-Elec. Cheers for them, great product and great attitude.

On a world with more and more embedded system I believe all of us should look deeply to what we are buying, if some of us defend FOSS, so let's do it.

Linux GPL don't ask for much money, is just 0$=0€, why a company that profit a lot from free raw material violate GPL?

At the following sites you can find Lists of companies who violate GPL, and the only reason i see is greed.

ffmpeg Hall of Shame
http://ffmpeg.org/shame.html

GPL Violations
http://gpl-violations.org/

Would you buy stolen goods? It's very easy to verify this before buying, just go for this websites.... And please, participate....

Linux Mint Debian Edition - 1st Impression

2010-09-08T23:22:00.001+01:00

Image retrieved from http://linuxmint.com/

It's been long time since I tried Linux Mint for the 1st time and loved it. Only problem is that it was Ubuntu based.

Well, I love Ubuntu, but it's not 100%, and after my upgrade from 8.04 to 8.10 without a full reinstall that didn't went well, it came down a few points in my consideration. I had one bad night, since i needed the pc fully operational next day (its a work PC).

So I tried everything else on market, but can't handle with anything else than Debian based OS.

Crunchbang was my 1st thought, but is still Ubuntu based and their Debian distro is still Alpha and, ..... well you can understand.

And now, from behind the smoke, comes Linux Mint, with a Debian based and rolling distro...

So without further delay, let's talk about Mint...

1 - Boot Time - Nothing new, fast as hell...
2 - Kernel - 2.6.32 - Same as Ubuntu 10.04
3 - Speed - same as 1
4 - Update Manager - ok, not very intrusive with all the updates and the wonderful Mint level for update, very nice for beginners
5 - My samba share appeared on Nautilus and network
6 - Software: F-spot, Gimp, Thunderbird, Pidgin!!!!!, VLC!!!!!!, MintNanny (it would come very useful for me soon), Giver (file share), root terminal, Openoffice..... Yes, they are better than Ubuntu at choosing packages
7 - Well, everything else, just like regular Mint, very very nice......

I didn't install, but I'm sure it will be easy as Linux usual is....

Ps: I changed the installed background, just because I love this image (available on right click - change desktop background...

Linux DWG - Official Release - Bricscad v10

2010-09-06T19:22:00.000+01:00

It happened today...

Bricsys released the official version of bricscad V10. No long in beta stage is now commercial with version 10.6.3-2 (windows version is 10.4.18-1).

So now Linux users have a CAD software capable of handling DWG file format.

Now there is no excuse to stay with windows just because you need Autocad. Bricscad is a very capable software and in many case can do better.

The basic version starts on 315€ or 395$ wich is a very nice price. Of course not FOSS, but for production is the best know alternative in Linux.

You can download a trial version of Bricscad here http://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/

Here is a nice screenshot:

From Bricscad website:

Bricscad™ V10 for Linux released

Sep 6, 2010BricscadLinuxV10

Gent Belgium and Merrimack NH USA, September 6, 2010 – Bricsys is the first to release a .dwg based CAD software for Linux users. Bricsys NV, the developer of Bricscad, announced today that Bricscad V10 for Linux is now available

Bricscad V10 is the first .dwg based CAD platform available for the Linux Operating System. Bricscad V10, the leading alternative CAD platform for the .dwg file format, continues to offer freedom of choice to the CAD and Engineering community.
The Linux community so far had no access to .dwg based CAD, commonly accepted as the standard CAD file format. With Bricscad V10 for Linux that problem is solved and people don’t have to stick with the Windows OS just because they need .dwg based CAD.
Erik De Keyser, CEO of Bricsys, comments: “We consider Bricscad V10 for Linux as a milestone for our company. Despite doubts of many about the viability of a native Linux based professional CAD product, we are convinced that there is a strong demand for it and a huge potential for applications. Bricsys is the right company to play a leading role in this evolution. For now we want to thank the thousands of Beta testers that helped us to finalize this version.”
Bricscad V10 for Windows is highly appreciated for its rich set of API’s. Today well over 500 Third party application developers are in the process of porting their applications to Bricscad V10 and 155 applications are released. This first release of Bricscad V10 for Linux comes immediately with the complete LISP, DCL and Diesel API’s. Encryption is available for commercial LISP based applications and users can run their LISP routines without any modification. The Bricscad LISP engine is one of the fastest available. Depending on the demand of application developers, Bricsys will extend the set of API’s for the Linux platform.
Initially Bricscad will support three Linux flavors: Fedora 12 or higher, OpenSuse 11.1 or higher and Ubuntu 9.10 or higher. The English version of Bricscad V10 for Linux is available in the Bricsys e-store. The other 15 language versions will be available within days.

Linux Is Fun!!! Second Life....

2010-08-17T15:20:00.000+01:00

I'm not a big fan of Second Life, but today, just for experience I logon to my account created around 1998 :)....

I had read somewhere that Second Life had a Linux client... So it was time to try it...

I've downloaded the client named SecondLife-i686-2.1.0.207030, and after untar it using nothing but just Nautilus, i ran the executable (no need to install).... and....

Now I'm dancing around justo for fun.... Nice Graphics, 3d Hardware ok, Easy...

Try for yourself...

Linux found in Portugal - RHL

2010-08-15T23:09:00.000+01:00

Last Summer while in hollidays in Algarve, I noticed at the supermarket cashier after a reboot that they were using Red Hat Linux.

Well, this is a major Supermarket chain here at Portugal.

So today i had the idea to make some calculations and figure out how much computers with RHL installed just for cashier POS.

Well, consulting their website, at www.continente.pt I found:

40 - Continente Hipermarket - At about 50 cashiers each= 2000 RHL
120 - Modelo Supermarket - At about 10 cashiers each = 1200 RHL

Each one of this shops have other cashier for other brands, Worten (home appliances) Modalfa (clothes), and each one a few more cashiers... Just sum, and sum...

With simple math at Portugal we just found 3500 Linux computers with important position, not just some desktops....

So those people who say that Linux is just about 1% of desktop, how about make some calculations and count the number of computers with Linux? Remember, a router with embebed Linux is a computer!!!!

Abiword - Writing Collaboration

2010-06-23T02:56:00.001+01:00

Can you do this on MSOffice?

Sure you can't..... But you can do it on Windows...

I tried it and it is very easy to use .....

Each colour is a diferent person writing on the same file from diferent computers, at the same time...... UAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU....

Abiword is a standalone word processor, available on Linux, Windows, and Macosx and with more feature than you will ever need....

Find out more at http://www.abisource.com/

# IRC Channel # Freenode # #linuxmadeasy

2010-06-22T17:17:00.000+01:00

Today i created a IRC channel for online chat. Hope to see you there.

Channel is #linuxmadeasy and it stands on FREENODE network.

Fedora 13

2010-05-30T22:10:00.000+01:00

In my search for the perfect desktop for my Asus eee 701, i found Fedora 13...

It has been a few years since i tried Fedora Core. The other night I decided to try it on my Toshiba Laptop, and my mouth was wide open after the live cd boot...

I found out that the system was fast... So 2+2, and i tried it on the asus... Live boot ok, install ok (minus a small detail on 1 step due to 800x480 screen), run smooth.....

The installation method is very easy, and everything is perfect for the newbie.

I love the choice of Simple Scan for scanner developed by Canonical (Ubuntu). (You must love FLOSS)

Afterall Fedora keep thins lean, clean and easy.

After a few tweaks i could get 105Mb of ram usage after boot, yes, with Gnome....

Install this, remove that, and after all i got 1.2 Gb free on harddrive even with 245 Mb of swap, this means a lot of free space...

So, it's a good distro, easy, very stable, with some very nice tools.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

2010-05-05T01:31:00.005+01:00

ell, it's here!

So far so good, for my system, Toshiba A300-1RW i got these improvements:

- Compiz and fglrx now work without problems. (Just Great!!!)
- Suspend, hibernate, etc, etc, now out of the box (2 x Just Great!!!)
- Boot is fast, but not really fast (I upgraded, not fresh install)

What is not so good yet!

- No fn keys yet (no problemo....)

All the rest is great as usual....

I'll leave you with my screenshot with compiz....

Look at it.... So nice..... And it look's very easy ain't it???

Why don't you Linux? 10 Reasons you should!

2010-03-22T22:15:00.000Z

Why???

1 - You can acess Facebook, Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Twitter, etc., etc.!

2 - Yes, you can even play Farmville in Linux!

3 - 99,999% free of Virus!

4 - You can watch videos, ear music, plug your IPhone!

5 - It comes with most of the software you ever need installed!

6 - You dont have to search outside your system for software, every piece of software you install is refered and safe to install!

7 - You can use your USB Pen, External HD, and everything compatible with Windows.

8 - Have new hardware? Just Plug and Play! There is more hardware supported in Linux than in Windows 7 (for certain if you count the number of old periphals that Win7 don't support)!

9 - It's easy to install, see post http://linuxmadeasy.blogspot.com/2009/09/easy-way-to-try-linux.html and you don't need to install to try!

10 - You know a lot of Linux developers, such as: IBM, Intel, HP, Google, Oracle. If they trust and develop Linux, why don't you?

Linux is easy... Believe me....

Bricscad and DWG cad Again

2010-03-22T21:58:00.000Z

I'm posting this to comment on latest release of Bricscad and Alpha release of their cad package for Linux.

This release it's named Alpha 10.3.7, and it continues with great improvement.

Everytime a new release is out, a great number of new features is added and is closer to windows version.

In the next image there is a screenshot of this native version of Bricscad with a drawing that i made for production.

There are some features missing, but for simples drawings it's ready. It's been a few weeks since i dont have the need for boot my Windows virtual machine.

Dwg cad Linux - Bricscad

2010-01-16T13:32:00.001Z

It's happening...

Bricsys is launching a alpha version everyday or so.....

Yesterday it was possible to draw some lines.... And today is already possible to open DWG files....

Amazing speed even on my asus eee with 900 mhz...

Now i'm even more sure that soon it will be running full speed on a lot of computers...

Goodbye windows....

Away reason

2009-12-14T02:22:00.001Z

Dear readers....

I've been away for several reasons. Months were complicated.

I got married, and you know, few weeks before to make things happen, and after i went a week to mexico, so no time to think about computers or work.

Beside since i came back, i've been under heavy stress at work, so no time.

Today i made time. I'm writing from my brand new htc tattoo with android.

Android is a nice piece of software, that i will review soon i make more time.

I'll try to be fast...

#! Crunchbang - Enable Suspend Button on Exit

2009-10-10T00:35:00.001+01:00

If you use Crunchbang you will notice that is not possible on exit to suspend, since there is no button for that.

Crunchbang boots fast, but a suspended computer is instant on.... So here is the recepeit...

Just "sudo gedit /usr/bin/openbox-logout"

and make other button.....

On bold is new stuff for new button

--------------------------------

#!/usr/bin/env python

import pygtk
pygtk.require('2.0')
import gtk
import os

class DoTheLogOut:

    # Cancel/exit
    def delete_event(self, widget, event, data=None):
        gtk.main_quit()
        return False

    # Logout
    def logout(self, widget):
        os.system("openbox --exit")

    # Reboot
    def reboot(self, widget):
        os.system("gdm-control --reboot && openbox --exit")

    # Shutdown
    def shutdown(self, widget):
        os.system("gdm-control --shutdown && openbox --exit")

    # Suspend
    def suspend(self, widget):
        os.system("gnome-power-cmd suspend")
        gtk.main_quit()
        return false

    def __init__(self):
        # Create a new window
        self.window = gtk.Window(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)
        self.window.set_title("Exit? Choose an option:")
        self.window.set_resizable(False)
        self.window.set_position(1)
        self.window.connect("delete_event", self.delete_event)
        self.window.set_border_width(20)

        # Create a box to pack widgets into
        self.box1 = gtk.HBox(False, 0)
        self.window.add(self.box1)

        # Create cancel button
        self.button1 = gtk.Button("_Cancel")
        self.button1.set_border_width(10)
        self.button1.connect("clicked", self.delete_event, "Changed me mind :)")
        self.box1.pack_start(self.button1, True, True, 0)
        self.button1.show()

        # Create logout button
        self.button2 = gtk.Button("_Log out")
        self.button2.set_border_width(10)
        self.button2.connect("clicked", self.logout)
        self.box1.pack_start(self.button2, True, True, 0)
        self.button2.show()

        # Create reboot button
        self.button3 = gtk.Button("_Reboot")
        self.button3.set_border_width(10)
        self.button3.connect("clicked", self.reboot)
        self.box1.pack_start(self.button3, True, True, 0)
        self.button3.show()

        # Create shutdown button
        self.button4 = gtk.Button("_Shutdown")
        self.button4.set_border_width(10)
        self.button4.connect("clicked", self.shutdown)
        self.box1.pack_start(self.button4, True, True, 0)
        self.button4.show()

        # Create suspend button
        self.button5 = gtk.Button("_Suspend")
        self.button5.set_border_width(10)
        self.button5.connect("clicked", self.suspend)
        self.box1.pack_start(self.button5, True, True, 0)
        self.button5.show()

        self.box1.show()
        self.window.show()

def main():
    gtk.main()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    gogogo = DoTheLogOut()
    main()

----------------

Crunchbang is really easy to personalize.... Hope this is usefull for you

Bricscad - Dwg for Linux - News

2009-10-09T00:13:00.000+01:00

From Bricsys website....

Looking for Bricscad™ on Linux?

The Linux world is desperately looking for a strong, affordable DWG-based CAD solution. Bricsys is fully committed to serve the growing Linux community. A native Linux version of the Bricscad V10 technology is in its final stage of development.

This look like good news.... the version 10 of Bricscad is allready out for windows...... Site total redesigned.... It must be close..... Can't wait for it...

Sure my life will be much easier after release.... No more Virtualbox for cad.....

Openbox - A Nice and Lightweight Windows Manager

2009-10-08T23:58:00.000+01:00

Linux has a lot of windows managers, most common are Gnome and Kde. But for low spec computers, those can be a lot of heavy.

You have several alternatives, but today I'll speak about Openbox.

Openbox is the WM of several Linux distros, in my case it came with Crunchbang, but you can use in any distro.

Without further talks, mine looks something like this, after some tweaks and tricks

what do you see?

- Openbox menu to the left - it appears by right clicking the desktop, and in my config by right click on panel
- Conky to the right - conky is a small system monitor. it comes with crunchbang, but it was tweaked....
- Tint2 - A nice and very lightweight panel. It was tweaked from crunchbang original.

In openbox the window manager it is not able to handle icons, however severeal file managers are capable of doing this. In gnome nautilus is the chosen. In open box, since all is lightweight i recomend pcmanfm. In the pcmanfm config you just have to make it able to handle desktop.

Some apps that go very nice with Openbox:

- Mail - claws
- Office - abiword / gnumeric
- Sound and Video - vlc
- Text Editor - leafpad

if you want to try Openbox in Ubuntu, just run this command in terminal, or search for openbox in synaptics:

sudo apt-get install openbox

After install you will have to logout, you will now be presented with GDM. Now choose session, and go for Openbox.

After enter openbox, dont be scared, just right click your desktop to enter menu.

The menu appears without icons, and it is not possible to place icons there.

To get the other bars and tools on openbox in Ubuntu, you have to install those by hand and configure them wich for a novice could be tricky....

So if you wanna try a openbox WM, just install Crunchbang Linux....

Just remember that crunchbang on boot look like this:

But if you like my desktop, i can pack and send all my config files to make it look like first screenshot.

Anything you need to know more just contact me or post a comment

Linux Gaming - Runescape

2009-09-27T13:38:00.003+01:00

Today i've tried Runescape. Maybe you know it, but for me it was a surprise.

The game is made in Java, so it is OS independent and it is possible to play in Linux.

It is a RPG, with nice graphics and MMORPG (i guess it is right). Beside the RPG, also has some Adventure like actions.

You should give it a try if you like these type of games. Register for free and start playing in your browser.

To play:

- Install JAVA - In ubuntu or derivatives - sudo apt-get install sun-java6-plugin
- Go to website http://www.runescape.com/ register and play!!!

One screenshot:

Play it, it has a nice tutorial, and is a lot of easy and fun.

View DWG files in Linux, and other formats....

2009-09-21T23:07:00.002+01:00

It is possible, with native software in Linux, to view DWG files, and other cad formats, such as STEP, STL, IGES and DXF. And all with free software.

Is just easy as 123, goto Varicad Homepage, register in website and goto download page. then just download Varicad viewer for your distro/package manager.

Now you can view your cad drawings. Sure there are some problems with dwg and splines, but it's better than nothing....

Easy, wasn't it?

Puppy Linux 4.3 - A must have for old Pc's, and newer one's to....

2009-09-21T17:04:00.001+01:00

Last weekend a friend of mine, told me he needed help with an old computer a friend gave him. He is a person with few computer knowledge, since it is his 1st pc.

The pc had Windows ME, it is a Celereron 633Mhz with 128Mb, and a hardrive of 4Gb. Off course we had to make ME go for a walk, very old os, no update anymore, etc, etc. We could go for win xp, but not for sale anymore, and piracy its out of the question, of course all other win's were excluded from the beginning due to hardware limitations.

First OS i tried was Xubuntu, but since it has less than 256Mb, i had to install it with alternative iso. It took about 1,5 hours to install it, and when it boot for the 1st time, it was sloooowwww, very sloooowwwww.

I allready knew Puppy, but I had a few troubles with network management since after boot all the option where gone and you know.....

But Puppy Linux 4.3 is diferent, it just took about 10 minutes to install, and voila, is all there..... Damn, it was easy to install.

Live Puppy was fast, but in the hardrive is even faster, because we have a lot of free ram (ok, 100 Megs its not a lot, but is more than 50% of this computer ram).

Puppy has a lot of tools, Seamonkey web browser, Gnumeric, Abiword, Inkscape, Gxine for movies, Aqualung music player, ..... and all things you need... and beautiful looks...

My friend was amazed that a old pc could be that fast.....

He doesnt have internet connection yet, but this week we'll see it fly on the web.

So, i got the wave, and installed it on my asus eeePC 701.... Oh my god, and i tought Crunchbang was fast..... Of course it is a more stripped distro, but for the use I want, its ok.

So, if you dont have a old pc, it is ok for you to try in your Dual core Pc, it is live OS, and due to Kernel version 2.6.30.5 it will sure support it.

100 Visits

2009-09-18T09:31:00.002+01:00

Linux made easy reached 100 Visits since its creation in September 6 2009.

Linux Project Management - OpenProj

2009-09-14T16:47:00.000+01:00

Most used software in windows world for project management, is the well known Microsoft Project. The is allready an alternative for Linux, and Mac OS too, written in Java.

This software is Openproj, it is able to open .mpp files, and save them in XML format so MS Project users could open them.

I've been working in a 180Mb mpp file, and Openproj opened it without any problems.

Openproj has 2 versions:

- Openproj - Free version
- Projects on Demand - Payed version 180$ a year (with support)

I've only tried Openproj, but the prices for extend version are very good.

I give you a screenshot of that 180Mb mpp file I've been working on.

As you can see a very large file, with a lot of information. Openproj is not perfect, but it will.

Another easy to install tool and easy to work, and a lot cheaper in Linux than windows...

Linux Gaming

2009-09-14T15:18:00.000+01:00

Some say that Linux its not for games. Totally wrong.... What happens is due to Linux not being for the masses for the past years, gaming was in 2nd plane. But not anymore.

The creators from getdeb.net, made Playdeb, a repositorie only for games. The instalation of games is as easy as it could be. To install Playdeb, just follow their instructions http://www.playdeb.net/updates/#how_to_install, after that is just choose what game you want to play... Easy....

And afterall you will find very interresting games, such as:

World Of Padman - a 3d FPS

Neverball - 3d floor-tilting game

Urbanterror - FPS

Vdrift - Racing Simulation

So, as you can see games in Linux are now easy to install and easy to play.

Toshiba A300-1RW and Ubuntu 9.04

2009-09-13T16:52:00.001+01:00

My work laptop is a Toshiba Laptop A300-1RW, don't know if this model is world wide used, but it was bought at Portugal.

Beside all hardaware specs, that are no use to refer them, but i'm going to talk about 3 things that dont work so good, and how to correct them.

1 - Bluetooth: This laptop has a H2O Insyde Bios, a bios manufacturer that looks that they just like windows.... I say this because bios upgrades are only available through windows. Bluetooth on and off is only supported in windows. What i mean is that you can only turn Bluetooth on and off using Toshiba software, so if you bluetooth is not ON in Linux, just boot in windows and turn it ON. Then reboot back in Linux... Easy as it gets...

2 - Hotkeys: The keys fn+fx don't work either, because of the bios, of just because linux kernel is not updated, or because it's really a new hardware thing. There are a few programs to use with toshiba laptops, but in the case of my hardware no one supports it. From all the hotkeys in my laptop i needed most was the Brightness one. To by-pass this i used Brightness Applet in panel, just right-click on panel->Add to panel->Brightness applet. Easy, now you can control your brightness

3 - Fan Always on: just add this parameter to your boot kernel definition on /boot/grub/menu.lst, acpi_osi="Linux", so your menu.lst look something like this:

..........

## ## End Default Options ##

title        Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic
uuid        ca8d6106-b54d-4f4c-a27b-aba3584dcc8b
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=ca8d6106-b54d-4f4c-a27b-aba3584dcc8b ro quiet splash acpi_osi="Linux"
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
quiet
...............

Hope this information helps....

Dwg cad in Linux

2009-09-11T10:06:00.000+01:00

Cad has been over the last years one of the most request type of software for the Linux platform.

There are several professional options, but the real good are very expensive. Of course there is no Autocad, no Solidworks, but there are a few similar ones, but not good enough yet for real work.

- Varicad (3D/2D) - Good for 3D but not good enough for DWG
- Briscad (a very old wine version) - see below
- Qcad - DWF only, but not good enough for complex drawings
- .....

As i stated before this is the only application i still use in Windows.

But all of this is about to change......

According to Bricsys, the makers of Bricscad, in Q4 2009 (very soon) a beta release of Bricscad is about to come out. This time not a wine version, but a real native version. http://www.bricsys.com/common/support/forumthread.jsp?id=7102 -> see post #91

I believe that this release will be one of the most important news for Linux World. I'm 100% sure that will be a lot of engineers moving to Linux and leaving windows behind their back. I know, because i'm one of them, all all my team will too.

So while not possible to have 100% of the software native to Linux we continue to use virtualbox to run our cad software, but hope this will not take long....

Soon it will be very easy to draw and open dwg files in Linux.....

Linux For Various Usages and Low Spec's

2009-09-07T23:55:00.000+01:00

All computer users, certainly have one or more laptops in the attic gathering dust. At least I had, a few ones...

Well, this once great machines, are now discontinued but they can still make some kind of special work for us.

All this computers maybe still got an OS, maybe windows 95 or 98, or even XP. Or for older linux lovers maybe some very old Red Hat distro, but that is just no problem, why dont install different flavours of linux in them???

At this this I'm going to start introducing what makes me write this article.

I have a few computers at home, and I don't like to see them without being plugged and doing something, so i have a lot of computer, some older than others but important in my network as well:

      1 - 486DX4 100MHZ, 8 Mb Ram, Hardrive 800Mb, Laptop - Soon, it will have Damn Small Linux for me to have a terminal running with the server.... Easy to be done

      2 - Pentium 3, 500Mhz, 384Mb Ram, Hardrive 10Gb, Desktop - It will be my my NAS, running freeNAS, and serving files for all other computers in the house. FreeNAS doesn't need fast hardware as it dont need monitor neither keyboarb, because it is configurable via ethernet after install, just like a common router. Of course there will be a 500Gb Usb 2.0 for storage.... Just a common linux instalation, I will report all of my steps here when I make it, sure it will be easy....

      3 - Pentium 4, 2Ghz, 1512Mb Ram, Hardrive 40Gb, Desktop - This is acting as server, This is already running Ubuntu 9.04 desktop edition. It has ftp server, ssh server, vnc server. Soon I'll explain how to configure all of this services.... You will see it's easy...

      4 - Now, not an old machine, but with low specs... My Asus eee 701, with no upgrades. I use it for chating and browsing wile in the couch, or for a fast search or even for quick email check. It came with Xandros, and I needed a full OS, not a toy. The 1st distro i tried was Easypeasy, a nice Ubuntu remake, but i ran slow in that days. Next it was time to try eeeBuntu, another Ubuntu remake, same problems. And oneday my computer met the speed of light.... #!Crunchbang Linux it's a minimalist Ubuntu remake from scratch. I went with the Lite edition. It is so lite, that after boot, it only takes about 88Mb of ram, and for a machine with 512Mb this is very good... For a common user it is hard to not see nice icons, to make program configuration in text files, but having Ubuntu on build, all is more easy....

   5 - All my other machines are running Ubuntu 9.04 (two dual core laptops), my work laptop, and my personal Laptop that my wife uses.

Follow links to the distro's to find more about those.....

As you can see is very easy to use "refurbish" computer to make something useful. If you need more help in doing something, mail me, and i will post the HowTo in the blog.

Easy Way to try Linux

2009-09-06T17:25:00.001+01:00

Most people in windows want to try Linux but are afraid of damaging their windows OS.

So, here are 2 recepies to tryout this wonderfull OS.

1 - To try any distro, go to www.distrowatch.com and choose anyone. If you want to burn a CD from the iso you just downloaded, its ok, but i recomend you to go other way....
     - Dowload and run unetbootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ and place a usb pen >1gb so you can use it to get the iso
     - Then you may choose any distro on the listing, and it will start download and place it in the usb of your choice
   - When you restart your computer you must press some key to choose where to boot from, usually F12 or ESC, then you choose the USB
     - If you dont find the key to choose where to boot, you must go to your bios and choose USB to boot 1st than your hard drive

2 - Other way is, limited to Ubuntu is to use WUBI, justo go to http://wubi-installer.org/, download and install as a regular program in windows, and when you restart you may go to Ubuntu without messing up partitions. That's the way i started, so i recommend it.

Now you dont have excuse to don't try Linux. Easy, isn't it?

Linux for Engineering - A pratical case

2009-09-06T02:19:00.001+01:00

One main aspect of people relunctancy on adopting Linux in their offices is the change and the fear to work with something new.

Well, I'm a mechanical engineer, and after using Linux at home for a couple of years, I convinced my boss that i would use Linux in my professional laptop. For him it was ok, because it was also a tryout before we convert all workstations to Linux and our server.

1st Step - Install Ubuntu 9.04, it was no problem at all, because I'd done it before, and it is very simple.

2nd Step - Connection with our Windows Server 2003 file server, no problem at all, just a simple editing of /etc/fstab and adding the line "//X.X.X.X/XXX /media/XXX cifs auto,nounix,username=XXX,password=XXX,iocharset=utf8 0 0". I know parsing username and password in fstab is not the best way to do this, but since I'm the only user in this PC that's ok...

3rd Step - Compatibility with office files, I shouldn't call it a step because for 5 years we are using Openoffice in all Windows Pc's

4th Step - Getting file syncronization to work. This was more tricky, because windows filesystem permission is different, but nothing that 5 minutes reading didn't solve. I used Unison to sync files. Only change that i've needed to make to get the sync to work with win file server was on ~/.unison/profile_name.prf, just add the line "perms=0" and it is all ok to sync with.

5th Step - Connect Evolution to Exchange Server. Easy.... As you know, or not, exchange server as a tool called Online Web Access (OWA), and this is just how Evolution connects to exchange. OWA uses https://server/exchange to permit access with a browser. To get evolution to work with it, just follow Edit->Preferences->Email Accounts->Receive->Server type->Microsoft Exchange then in URL OWA type the address or ip to your exchange server and type your username. Simple isn't it?

6th Step - In our office we are a bunch of engineers, and we do a lot of calculations for our projects. We have a lot of unit conversions and at the same time calculations in diferent units. In windows we use Uconeer to make conversions that works with Wine, but to use a native linux i've been using Qalculate. Much more powerfull as it has calculator and unit conversion integrated. To install it just type "sudo apt-get install qalculate"

7th Step - How to use Autocad like software. This is the only software i dont have native yet. In our office we use Bricscad from Bricsys. This software house is lauching soon, as i hope a version for Linux, but as I'm waiting i have to virtualize a windows machine. For this purpose I'm using Virtualbox. To dont have problem with legal issues with licenses with microsoft i'm using windows 7 RC wich is perfectly legal till next year. When that time comes really hope bricsys get it right.... I've also tried to do this with wine, but it wasn't fast enough due to GDI problems

It's been 4 months since i've booted windows last time. And i have to say i've not been less productive. It only lacks the good cad package native.

Install New Fonts on Ubuntu

2009-09-06T00:32:00.002+01:00

If you are used to windows is very easy to install fonts, you just place it in your c:\windows\fonts folder.
But in Ubuntu, is as easy as it seems. 1st you have to know that a folder or file that start with a dot, for instance “.mozilla” is a hidden file or folder.
To install new fonts you must create a folder named “.fonts” in you home directory. Than simply place the fonts files in it. Simple. You can use all types of fonts.
One good place to start looking for new fonts is www.1001fonts.com.
You may want also to install the fonts that you are used to in Windows. To do this you can do 1 of two things:
1 – The simplest way, open a console (terminal, command line), and type ” sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts”
2 – Go to synaptic package manager and search for ” msttcorefonts”
Now you can write in any font you want.

1st Post

2009-09-05T23:53:00.001+01:00

This is the 1st post of what will be somehow a tutorial to Linux operating system.

Let’s start with some things you must understand.

Kernel – the most basic software to comunicate with the hardware. Alone the kernel is able to make a computer work, but in a low level computing.

Distribution – a distribution is a pack of software, managed to work all together. It has the Kernel, GNU tools, X.org and other basic applications that make a Linux operating system work. Most common distributions are Debian, Suse, Red Hat, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, etc…, etc… see: www.distrowatch.com

GUI – Graphical User Interface, in Linux there are several GUI’s for you to interact with the computer. It is the windows, the menus, and all that you are used to see in a computer interface. In Operating Systems like Windows or Mac OS, you can only choose one, but in Linux there are several to choose from. Most used are Gnome, KDE, XFCE, and others.

Command Line – The CL is a place your you type commands to the OS. It is a very powerfull way to interact with the computer as you can do things in a more low level.

Root user – Root is the administrator of the PC. It gives special power to make certain alterations in the OS.

More soon….