FreePCB and Windows XP

[Ian Bell]

I have recently tried using FeePCB on a Windows XP professional PC
(before that I ran it using wine under Linux). Using it as a regular
user (not admin) has problems. FreePCB defaults to creating all projects
in C:\ProgramFiles\FreePCB\Projects but of course a regular user is not
allowed to create files in this directory. Unfortunately, the Project
Options dialog does not allow you to browse to another directory to
create the project, instead you have to type the complete path in by
hand which is somewhat tedious when it is something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\UsrName\My Documents\MyPCBs

Similarly, when I create a new footprint, I cannot store it in the
default location (for the same reason as before) but at least this time
the dialog does allow you to browse to an alternate directory. Then,
when you want to select parts from the standard and your own libraries,
you have to waste time navigating to each one.

So, I can get round these problems but they are a bit of a pain. I could
solve them by setting up an admin account but I should not have to do
that. I am sorely tempted to copy the standard libraries to my own lib
directory and select everything from there.;

What does everyone else do?

Cheers

Ian

 

[Ian Bell]

I have recently tried using FeePCB on a Windows XP professional PC
(before that I ran it using wine under Linux). Using it as a regular
user (not admin) has problems. FreePCB defaults to creating all projects
in C:\ProgramFiles\FreePCB\Projects but of course a regular user is not
allowed to create files in this directory. Unfortunately, the Project
Options dialog does not allow you to browse to another directory to
create the project, instead you have to type the complete path in by
hand which is somewhat tedious when it is something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\UsrName\My Documents\MyPCBs

Similarly, when I create a new footprint, I cannot store it in the
default location (for the same reason as before) but at least this time
the dialog does allow you to browse to an alternate directory. Then,
when you want to select parts from the standard and your own libraries,
you have to waste time navigating to each one.

So, I can get round these problems but they are a bit of a pain. I could
solve them by setting up an admin account but I should not have to do
that. I am sorely tempted to copy the standard libraries to my own lib
directory and select everything from there.;

What does everyone else do?

Cheers

Ian

I just found one possible solution. I just copied the entire FreePCB
folder into my Documents directory and ran FreePCB from there. All the
paths are now relative to that instance of the FreePCB folder.

Cheers
Ian

 

[Joerg]

I just found one possible solution. I just copied the entire FreePCB
folder into my Documents directory and ran FreePCB from there. All the
paths are now relative to that instance of the FreePCB folder.

That's still clumsy for CAD software. I could not work with something
like that because there are lots of client directories which must be
kept strictly separated. No overlap whatsoever.

 

[Martin Riddle]

I have recently tried using FeePCB on a Windows XP professional PC
(before that I ran it using wine under Linux). Using it as a regular
user (not admin) has problems. FreePCB defaults to creating all
projects in C:\ProgramFiles\FreePCB\Projects but of course a regular
user is not allowed to create files in this directory. Unfortunately,
the Project Options dialog does not allow you to browse to another
directory to create the project, instead you have to type the complete
path in by hand which is somewhat tedious when it is something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\UsrName\My Documents\MyPCBs

Similarly, when I create a new footprint, I cannot store it in the
default location (for the same reason as before) but at least this
time the dialog does allow you to browse to an alternate directory.
Then, when you want to select parts from the standard and your own
libraries, you have to waste time navigating to each one.

So, I can get round these problems but they are a bit of a pain. I
could solve them by setting up an admin account but I should not have
to do that. I am sorely tempted to copy the standard libraries to my
own lib directory and select everything from there.;

What does everyone else do?

Cheers

Ian

One of two solutions for this ( as John stated, clumsy bug).
Give the Directory User permissions.
Create a short cut to the Users MyDocuments in the freepcb project
directory.

I'd just give the directory User rights this way anyone can access it.
Typically you’re the only user anyway.

BTW, Eagle allows you to select a default directory to browse for all
its file types.

Cheers

 

[Ian Bell]

For Windows XP there is an admin tool that will allow an Administrator to
set the permissions for a directory by account or group. Read up on
CACLS.EXE on Microsoft.com. It may also be built in to the Performance and
Maintenance:Administrative Tools accessible from the Control Panel. When
you install a program, you don't have to put it in \Program Files. You can
install it in a directory in your Desktop, for instance.

Ken Fowler, KO6NO

Yes, that's what I have done in the end, I just copied the whole thing
to my documents folder and run it from there.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Ian Bell]

Try using an NTFS junction point.
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365006(VS.85).aspx>
<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896768.aspx>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point>

F:\Program Files\FreePCB>md Projects

F:\Program Files\FreePCB>cd "F:\Documents and Settings\auser\My
Documents"

F:\Documents and Settings\auser\My Documents>md Projects

F:\Documents and Settings\auser\My Documents>cd "F:\Program
Files\FreePCB"

F:\Program Files\FreePCB>junction Projects "F:\Documents and
Settings\auser\My Documents\Projects"

Junction v1.05 - Windows junction creator and reparse point viewer
Copyright (C) 2000-2007 Mark Russinovich
Systems Internals - http://www.sysinternals.com

Created: F:\Program Files\FreePCB\Projects
Targetted at: F:\Documents and Settings\auser\My Documents\Projects

F:\Program Files\FreePCB>dir
Volume in drive F is Windows 2000
Volume Serial Number is 2435-33A2

Directory of F:\Program Files\FreePCB

12/20/2009 12:33a <DIR> .
12/20/2009 12:33a <DIR> ..
12/20/2009 12:33a <JUNCTION> Projects
0 File(s) 0 bytes
3 Dir(s) 35,412,905,984 bytes free

Thanks everyone for the input. These ideas of using short cuts,
junctions or changing permissions are all very well except for one thing
- I need also to be able to have projects on removable media (Flash) so
I can work on them at one of several PCs. I might just end up with a
memory stick with FreePCB and it projects on it.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Antoon]

I have recently tried using FeePCB on a Windows XP professional PC
(before that I ran it using wine under Linux). Using it as a regular
user (not admin) has problems. FreePCB defaults to creating all projects
in C:\ProgramFiles\FreePCB\Projects but of course a regular user is not
allowed to create files in this directory. Unfortunately, the Project
Options dialog does not allow you to browse to another directory to
create the project, instead you have to type the complete path in by
hand which is somewhat tedious when it is something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\UsrName\My Documents\MyPCBs

Similarly, when I create a new footprint, I cannot store it in the
default location (for the same reason as before) but at least this time
the dialog does allow you to browse to an alternate directory. Then,
when you want to select parts from the standard and your own libraries,
you have to waste time navigating to each one.

So, I can get round these problems but they are a bit of a pain. I could
solve them by setting up an admin account but I should not have to do
that. I am sorely tempted to copy the standard libraries to my own lib
directory and select everything from there.;

What does everyone else do?

Cheers

Ian

The forum on their website is a very good source for information.

Antoon

 

[Ian Bell]

The forum on their website is a very good source for information.

Antoon

Indeed, I asked this same question there too.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Ian Bell]

One of two solutions for this ( as John stated, clumsy bug).
Give the Directory User permissions.
Create a short cut to the Users MyDocuments in the freepcb project
directory.

I'd just give the directory User rights this way anyone can access it.
Typically you’re the only user anyway.

Do you know I would love to do that but I just cannot find out how to do
it in XP. I logged in as admin and followed the help instructions but I
cannot reach the permissions dialog. If this were Linux it would be a
doddle - just right click the folder and select the permissions tab - no
such tab in XP.

Cheers

Ian

 

[E]

Do you know I would love to do that but I just cannot find out how to do
it in XP. I logged in as admin and followed the help instructions but I
cannot reach the permissions dialog. If this were Linux it would be a
doddle - just right click the folder and select the permissions tab - no
such tab in XP.

Yuo need to turn the simple file sharing off for that
Setting is in Folder options or whatever it is in english version
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419#4

-ek

 

[Ian Bell]

Yuo need to turn the simple file sharing off for that
Setting is in Folder options or whatever it is in english version
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419#4

-ek

No, that does not work. That's the same advice I got in the regular
windows help - right click on the folder and select the security tab -
THERE IS NO SECURITY TAB, even as an admin!!!!!*****@@@@????

I though windows was supposed to be user friendly.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Baron]

Ian Bell Inscribed thus:

No, that does not work. That's the same advice I got in the regular
windows help - right click on the folder and select the security tab -
THERE IS NO SECURITY TAB, even as an admin!!!!!*****@@@@????

I though windows was supposed to be user friendly.

Cheers

Ian

I think that may only apply to XP-Pro SP2. I don't recall ever seeing a
security tab in "home".

 

[Ian Bell]

Ian Bell Inscribed thus:


I think that may only apply to XP-Pro SP2. I don't recall ever seeing a
security tab in "home".

This IS XP-Pro!!!!!

Cheers

Ian

 

[Baron]

Ian Bell Inscribed thus:

This IS XP-Pro!!!!!

Cheers

Ian

Oops.

 

[Nobody]

No, that does not work. That's the same advice I got in the regular
windows help - right click on the folder and select the security tab -
THERE IS NO SECURITY TAB, even as an admin!!!!!*****@@@@????

Look a bit further down:

Important: If you are not joined to a domain and you want to view the
Security tab:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab, and then click to clear the Use simple file
sharing [Recommended] check box in the Advanced settings box.

Once you've done that, you should get a Security tab in the Properties
dialogs.

More details:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

 

[Ian Bell]

Look a bit further down:

Important: If you are not joined to a domain and you want to view the
Security tab:

LOL, how wonderfully obscure. How would I know if I were joined to a
domain or not?


And people say Linux is hard to use.

Cheers

Ian

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab, and then click to clear the Use simple file
sharing [Recommended] check box in the Advanced settings box.

Once you've done that, you should get a Security tab in the Properties
dialogs.

More details:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

 

[Nobody]

LOL, how wonderfully obscure. How would I know if I were joined to a
domain or not?

You ask the administrator

If this is your own network, and you don't have any recollection of
setting up a domain controller, then you're not joined to a domain.

 

[Ian Bell]

Look a bit further down:

Important: If you are not joined to a domain and you want to view the
Security tab:

LOL, how wonderfully obscure. How would I know if I were joined to a
domain or not?


And people say Linux is hard to use.

Cheers

Ian

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab, and then click to clear the Use simple file
sharing [Recommended] check box in the Advanced settings box.
Once you've done that, you should get a Security tab in the Properties
dialogs.

More details:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

And unfortunately this fails at step 2 simply because there is no
Appearance and Themes to click.

After a long search I found the relevant check box as the very last
entry of the folders dialog and everything works now as required, though
I am still not too happy about the security implications but at least I
am not running this program as admin.

Thanks for you input everyone:

P.S. I also had a similar problem with Tiny Cad which would osnly access
its libraries from an admin account. Theis too was fixed by the above tweak.

Cheers

Ian