lalamax3d

previously i have been using Cutter, and its really good for MEL. in my case, it didn’t work well for python and maya.
i had heard previously a lot about mapy and tried it few times, but it never worked in linux. but this time it worked. here are precise steps to make sure that it worked

1- download mapy installation from ( google groups )
file: mapy.301.Linux_x64.tar.bz2

2- its a zip file, unload all of its contents to a folder “rodmena.com” and place this folder in  “/usr/local”

3- make sure you own / read-write (rights) on this folder

4- offcourse, i m assuming u have install scite already from yum/synaptic (whatever version)

5- update scite files (which came with mapy) to your scite installation e.g (mapy scite files will be at: /usr/local/rodmena.com/scite). also it is critical for 2 files (mel / python)

6- after copying those files, edit them in gedit or scite and update your paths at end. critical note is: they are looking for “mapy.py”. remember that this is inside “src” folder of downloaded / installed place.
e.g file in scite (installed) : /usr/share/scite/mel.properties
cMel=python “/usr/local/rodmena.com/src/mapy.py” “$(FilePath)”
same goes for python in relevancy offcourse

if u tried and it didn’t worked, let me know, i’ll try to write more detailed steps. in my case it worked for sure (office / home) no paths updating in env or py

ok, to sync it with mapy, run port command in maya on start up (commandPort -n “:29555″;)

for mel execution (F5) for python execution (ctrl+2) works

too good

collection of useful tips, i found at places and tested and they worked well and i doubt some point in time in space i might need those and have forgotton. so putting them all here
TEMP ROOT ACCESS IN TERMINAL

• sudo su

TEMP ROOT ACCESS IN EXPLORER (NAUTILUS)

• gksudo nautilus (alt +F2 and type)

PERMANENT ROOT ACCESS IN EXPLORER (NAUTILUS)

• install  from synaptic manager
• nautils-gksudo

MAKING A SCRIPT FOR NAUTILUS TO OPEN IN GEDIT AS ROOT

gedit ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/gedit-root

• Copy the following lines into the file and save it and close it.

#created by Arnav Ghosh (United States)
foo=`gksudo -u root -k -m “enter your password for gedit root access” /bin/echo “Do you have root access?”`
sudo gedit $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS

• Then make it executable with

chmod +x ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/gedit-root
thats it you are all set. Now right click on any file in nautilus and under “scripts” u will find “gedit-root”
click and enjoy!

UBUNTU GPG keys errors ( update manager not working right, having issues in downloading udpates )

apt-get update -o Acquire::http::No-Cache=True

Setting permissions recursively

sudo chown -R username:username foo/
chmod 755 -R foo/

Reset Xorg back to Failsafe Defaults

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.original
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

adding environment variables mehtod 1 fails on restart

printenv >> prints all
printenv PATH >> print path variable value
echo $PATH >. does same
PATH = bla/bla >> will assign a value. scope dependency

to add path permanently different ways, pc / user / session
user is /.profile file>> it will overright pc values (if defined)
quick is pc direct values sample below
sudo gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf >> open file in gedit
search “DefaultPath” , append your value at end with :
save, restart gdm

adding environment variables mehtod 2

sudo gedit /etc/environnment
add >> PATH=#PATH;/directory

adding pythonpath to permanent pyhtonpath

sudo gedit ./bashrc
export PYTHONPATH=/home/lala/maya/scripts/mapy2.5.6

running multiple commands from launcher

gnome-terminal -x bash -c “cd /usr/local/Cutter; java -classpath .:/usr/local/Cutter/cutter.jar Cutter”
gnome-terminal -x bash -c “cmd1; cmd2; read -n1″

topic is complicated and might need refinement / edit after some time. but its good to write down my current knowledgebase for future use

OPTION1 ( RPM | Alien  )

fedora has rpm installers and GUI is yum (synaptic in ubuntu). often rpm files are needed to installed in ubuntu (maya). process is simple can be done via 2 ways

1. install alien package, it converts  rpm files to debian files while checking / updating dependencies
2. install rpm package, it lets you directly installs rpm files. only negative is it won’t appear in add / remove place

installing applications
rpm -ivh –nodeps packagename
query installed apps
rpm -qa | more
removeing apps
rpm -e –nodeps packagename
>> query results x-x-x >> name-version-build>> while removing needs only name

OPTION2 ( APT | dpkg )

ubuntu has debian installers and system that works for auto updating / maintenance is APT, management of debian installers is done by dpkg from terminal and synaptic from GUI

Typing apt-get help will display:
Code:

Usage: apt-get [options] command
apt-get [options] install|remove pkg1 [pkg2 ...]
apt-get [options] source pkg1 [pkg2 ...]

Commands:
update – Retrieve new lists of packages = Reload
upgrade – Perform an upgrade = Default Upgrade
install – Install new packages (pkg is libc6 not libc6.deb)
remove – Remove packages
source – Download source archives
build-dep – Configure build-dependencies for source packages
dist-upgrade – Distribution upgrade, see apt-get(8) = Smart Upgrade
dselect-upgrade – Follow dselect selections
clean – Erase downloaded archive files
autoclean – Erase old downloaded archive files
check – Verify that there are no broken dependencies
————————————————————–
sudo apt-get install package.name
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -d package.name to just download the package.name
sudo apt-get remove package.name
sudo apt-get upgrade for non system upgrades
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade for system and normal upgrades
————————————————————–
Do not forget

apt-get -s install (to just simulate what would happen to your system)
apt-get -f install (do not specify a package. My package system is confused, Fix it.)

apt-cache search
apt-cache show

Update your local apt cache
sudo apt-get update

Install an Application
sudo apt-get install synaptic

Reinstall an application
sudo apt-get install –reinstall synaptic

Remove an application without configuration files
sudo apt-get remove synaptic

Remove an Application and all configuration files:
sudo apt-get –purge remove synaptic

To remove a installed package, for example Synaptic, and all dependencies, execute the command from konsole
sudo apt-get autoremove synaptic

To resolve all unmet dependences, execute the command from konsole
sudo apt-get -f install

Upgrade all your programs and libraries
sudo apt-get upgrade

Upgrade your distribution
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

To clean out .deb archives from packages which are no longer installed on the system
sudo apt-get autoclean

Search for an Application
apt-cache search packagename

Show information about package
apt-cache show packagename

Show information about packages
apt-cache showpkg pkgs

i have seen this topic on few different blogs already. each has its pros /cons as always, here is my attempt
these notes will

• install license / docs
• install maya, update sp1, sp1a
• install Cutter ( Best MEL IDE )

BOUNS FEATURES includes

• maya mouse icon issue fix
• maya compiz conflict fix
• maya file dialog issue fix (default is useless)
• maya color scheme update (dark)

install MAYA

Install RPM Package Manager (maya installer came in rpm files, used for fedora / redhat installers). we can use alien to convert rpm’s to deb’s but heavy/time taking(not interested)

sudo apt-get install rpm
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/rpm

Install csh-shell (use synaptic, if possible)
sudo apt-get install csh

Create Maya-Temp directory
sudo mkdir /usr/tmp
sudo chmod 777 /usr/tmp2 Install Maya-RPMs

Install docs / licensing (assuming maya installer files in /desktop/maya)

cd /Desktop/maya
sudo rpm -ivh –nodeps AWCommon-11.5-19.i686.rpm Maya2009_0_64-docs_en_US-2009.0-63.x86_64.rpm

Get MAC Address
type command below and note down your mac address (12 digit number)
/sbin/ifconfig
Update License
sudo gedit aw.dat
replace “host_id” with “your mac address”, save n exit
incase you don’t know what to do then type
sudo wine awkeygen.exe aw.dat
sudo gedit aw.dat(again to check updated file)
keep this modified file ready, so when maya asks you can give this file

Install Maya / then update sp1 and sp1a

cd /Desktop/maya
sudo rpm -ivh –nodeps Maya2009_0_64-2009.0-101.x86_64.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh –nodeps autodesk_maya_2009sp1_linux64.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh –nodeps autodesk_maya_2009sp1a_linux64.rpm

Running Maya properly(maya icon is in graphics, not properly visible)
graphics to make shortcut at proper place for apps manually installed

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/

INATALLING CUTTER (MEL IDE)

1- download cutter / copy jar file in /opt/Cutter/
2- creating desktop icon
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/Cutter.desktop
copy paste following lines

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Cutter
Comment=Cutter IDE
Exec=gnome-terminal -x bash -c “cd /opt/cutter; java -classpath .:/opt/cutter/cutter.jar Cutter”
Icon=/opt/cutter/cutter.png
Terminal=true
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Development;IDE;Debugger;GUIDesigner;
StartupNotify=True

## fixing double click speed issue
create “.Xresouces” on your home folder and add line
*multiClickTime:400
save, logout and login

while shifting myself from windows to linux (ubuntu) i found this topic a bit confusing (time taking), lots of old websites still mentioned installing lots of packages to get it done but below are my notes for myself future reference.

installing xamp

• http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=61776&package_id=60248
• Go to a Linux shell and login as root:
• $su -
• Extract the downloaded archive file to /opt
• #tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.5.5a.tar.gz -C /opt
• XAMPP is now installed below the /opt/lampp directory.

setting it up (www folder) >> because defult location won’t allow to place files without root

• open /opt/lampp/etc/htppd.conf
• update line below as per your requirement
• DocumentRoot “/home/lala/www”
• create “www” folder if it won’t exists there… (offcourse)
• save and quit

setting default xampp / phpmyadmin so can be access easily, via (http://localhsot)

• move contents from “/opt/lampp/htdocs” to above folder you just created “www”

TIP: for this you might need to open nautilus as root and you can do this by typing “gksuo nautilus”

hopefully it will work

these are my ubuntu installation / hardware configuration / basic customization notes

basically, what i had noticd is ubuntu detects / configures 99% of hardware automatically but sometimes it didn’t worked ( vga in 64bit auto update drivers never worked for me)

i have dell 690 at office and custom machine at home. at both places i am using ubuntu 9 (64bit). one major different in both machines is VGA (office has quadro 4600 where as home has radeon 4850) so i’ll explain my installation / drivers steps for both nvidia / ati drivers. also dell (office pc) has sound card (creative xfi) which didn’t worked with default ubuntu, so i’ll explain how to setup this as well.
lets start

####################################
######### INSTALL MACHINE ########
####################################

ubuntu 9 – jackalop – 64bit
insert disk n install
remember basic disc formatting
i used ext3, it worked for sure and set swap to 20 GB after this.

setup proxy via system>administration>network proxy
it didn’t worked with terminal so remember not to relie on terminal pkg updates
sudo apt-get update >> didn’t worked, 407 proxy error

####################################
######### INSTALL AUDIO ############
####################################
1- download creative xFi driver from (only if sound is not working, 99 % it worked by default)
http://ccftp.creative.com/manualdn/Drivers/AVP/10792/0×0343D29A/XFiDrv_Linux_Public_US_1.00.tar.gz
2- extract is somewhere
3- install dependencies (didn’t worked for me)
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
4- making / installing driver
make
sudo make install

it worked for me
thread that helped
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=870001

####################################
######### INSTALL VIDEO ############
####################################

nvidia quadro 4600

part1: making sure no nvidia

sudo apt-get –purge remove nvidia-glx nvidia-glx-legacy nvidia-glx-new nvidia-settings

sudo apt-get –purge remove xserver-xorg-video-nv
Note: doing this means that the next time you restart X, you will have a 800×600, or an other low screen resolution, so do not be alarmed.
Another optional step, is to disable the nv and nvidia_new drivers from loading too, for those who have further problems.
gksudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common
And on the line that says DISABLED_MODULES=”" change it to
DISABLED_MODULES=”nv nvidia_new”

part2: installing latest driver

1- download driver from nvidia website “NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-185.18.31-pkg2.run”
2- ctrl + alt +1 >> full page terminal
3- sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop >> stops the GDM
4- run installer, don’t build kernal if fails(mine proxy error), don’t run xconfig n let change xorg
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9746-pkg2.run
5- reboot machine, open terminal
6- backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf
7- sudo nvidia-settings >> so u can configure display/desktop n apply changes (xorg.conf)

it worked for me
thread that helped
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1125400
ati radeon 4850
below page, simply worked
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Jaunty_Installation_Guide

####################################
######### INSTALL WACOM ############
####################################
install wacom-tools >> via synaptic
download linuxwacomproject
extract it somewhere
./configure >> to run / install
wacomcpl >> opens GUI, if didn’t show device that means some hal error

Helping wacomcpl
Unfortunately HAL assigns names to wacom devices in a way that the recent wacomcpl from jaunty cant find them, to help wacomcpl to find them:
Open a terminal and type:
sudo gedit /etc/init.d/wacomtohal
and paste this code in:
#! /bin/sh
## find any wacom devices
for udi in `hal-find-by-property –key input.x11_driver –string wacom`
do
type=`hal-get-property –udi $udi –key input.x11_options.Type`
## rewrite the names that the Xserver will use
hal-set-property –udi $udi –key info.product –string $type
done

then run :
sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/wacomtohal
sudo update-rc.d wacomtohal defaults 27

## If you lose your calibration after reboot:
In terminal:
sudo gedit ~/.xinitrc
Find the line that says:
. /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
and change it to
#. /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
Save and exit.

Go to System>Preferences>Startup Applications and create a new entry named whatever you want.
The command should be:
sh /home/yourusername/.xinitrc
Your wacomcpl settings will now restore on reboot

thread that helped
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installing_Ubuntu_9.04_%28Jaunty_Jackalope%29_on_an_X61_Tablet

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

BONUS: few basic applications setup

ok, here are notes for quick installation of few pretty basic apps, which i need everytime i installed ubuntu.

####################################
######### INSTALL firefox 3.5 ######
####################################

Add the repository
$ sudo sh -c “echo ‘deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/fta/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main’ >> /etc/apt/sources.list”

Add the appropriate key
$ sudo apt-key adv –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv-keys 632D16BB0C713DA6

Expected Output
Executing: gpg –ignore-time-conflict –no-options –no-default-keyring –secret-keyring /etc/apt/secring.gpg –trustdb-name /etc/apt/trustdb.gpg –keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv-keys 632D16BB0C713DA6

gpg: requesting key 0C713DA6 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com

gpg: key 0C713DA6: public key “Launchpad PPA for Fabien Tassin” imported
gpg: no ultimately trusted keys found

gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1 (RSA: 1)

Update your repository list
$ sudo apt-get update

Make a backup of your current Firefox configuration folder
$ cp -r ~/.mozilla/firefox/ ~/firefox_backup

Install Firefox 3.5
$ sudo apt-get install firefox-3.5

Navigate to “Applications >> Internet >> Shiretoko Webbrowser“

####################################
######### INSTALL FlashPlayer #########
####################################
install cooliris in firefox
goto cooliris page / installation guideline. there they have written adobe 64bit beta flash plugin and installation guide. it simply works

####################################
######### INSTALL jDownloader ######
####################################
1- extract downloaded “JDownloader” folder to /opt/JDownloader/JDownloader.jar

2- set permissions to my user via
sudo chown -R lala:lala /opt/JDownloader
sudo chmod -R +r /opt/JDownloader

3- making it runnable from terminal
sudo touch /usr/local/bin/JDownloader
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/JDownloader

this opens file in terminal, paste following
java -jar /opt/JDownloader/JDownloader.jar
close file by ctrl+x, then y, then enter

4- creating desktop icon
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/JDownloader.desktop
copy paste following lines

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=JDownloader
Comment=Download Manager
Exec=java -jar /opt/JDownloader/JDownloader.jar
Icon=/opt/JDownloader/JDownloader.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Network;
StartupNotify=True

thread that helped
http://pagesofinterest.net/blog/2009/05/installing-jdownloader-in-ubuntu/

## fixing double click speed issue
create “.Xresouces” on your home folder and add line
*multiClickTime:400
save, logout and login

thread that helped
http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=585358

####################################
######### INSTALL pySDM ############
####################################
this let my auto mount windows / other partitions the way i want (pretty simple)
install from synaptic
run from terminal via
sudo pysdm
####################################
######### INSTALL Samba ############
####################################
install from synaptic
upon first time sharing, it gives warning and tell solution, do it, it works

ok, this is first post in Linux category, which will contain all of my Linux notes in future. i had moved to Linux almost 4 months ago. for first 3 months, I used dual boot and kept my windows installation with me. gradually, I feel less need to go to windows so I finally removed it.
i don’t have any intentions to write against windows or force reader to move from windows. leaving windows was kind of personal choice for few major reasons
a- i was tired from managing / updating my anti viruses and still infected by viruses
b- my current job(wateen), we have an IT dept, its purpose is to provide technical support. they are not good at it. they have screwed my pc so nicely and threatened me that they will keep screwing my machine in future, so i thought i should have some better option.

Purpose of this post is to sum up basic information about Linux which will be helpful to al-most anyone who wanted to:
a- move to Linux but reluctant for some reason
b- just wanted to know more about Linux

QUICK BASIC FAQ

Q: LINUX or not LINUX?
A: definitely LINUX

Q: why?
A: because there are more pros than cons

Q: OK, tell me CONS first (negative points)
A: lots of commercial applications (adobe products, few autodesk products) might not available in linux and you need time to migrate their comparable open source version.it might not be that easy, after all, you need to invest some time(like u r reading here). if you are sure about your energy / passion / clarity / self-motivation / pro-active behaviour than you don’t need to worry a lot. a simple example is i used microsoft office for documentation previously, and now i used open office(free open source application with same functionality), and it took me 1 hour to shift to this. more complicated example could be of adobe photoshop(hard to imagine that i can work without it) but practically it took me 2 days to shift to GIMP(linux version of image editing application.

Q: OK, make sense, tell me PROS
A: not sure, but here are few
stable OS like MAC(even more) fast enough like windows
processing speed is a lot better, almost all applications works pretty fast
no need of anti-virus (i know its hard to believe for windows users, but trust me )
n so no worries about updating anti-virus
little less involvement in piracy
no need to burn your OS service packs, keep back up of small utilities etc. everything is auto updatable(needs internet connection) and auto mantained.

just imagined that u r using winXP and at night it updated itself to vista. never gonna happen. but i started ubuntu 8. and one day, it said, should i upgrade myself to ubuntu 9 and it didn’t took too long.
also think about having 20 plus thousand apps / utilites auto mantained. just type name n install latest version

Q: OK, sounds good but i work for graphics. LINUX is more for tech / dev stuff?
A: u need a break, browse web, read articles and update your info section (let me know if you need links)

Q: OK, which LINUX, there are so many??
A: yes, few hundred, i think so, that is one of major factor, ppl are reluctant in migration.remember, that there are 3 famous big brands
UBUNTU / FEDORA / OPENSUSE.

i started with ubuntu and living happily with it, mainly because it works and community is extra ordinary strong and helpful. i tested fedora and stop thinking about it with-in a day.

Q: OK, i check UBUNTU website and read articles. which UBUNTU to choose (KUBUNTU,EDUBUNTU, UBUNTU-STUDIO, etc)
A: yes, 30 + flavours, normal UBUNTU is good (closer to windows vista or 7), kUBUNTU is flashy (like mac), xfce is simple / fast version of ubuntu (think of it as win xp)
ubuntu studio is for modern multimedia designers. open artist is even more customised version of ubuntu and focused towards art / design.

Q: what is gnome/kde>> see its confusing…>> i am really confused
A: these are `desktop managers` UBUNTU is gnome based. kUBUNTU is kde based
read these:
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/xwtf.html
http://xwinman.org/
don’t need to worry much. any time you can move to any other desktop manager (if you don’t like one, by updating)

Q: what is metacity / awn / compiz>> see its confusing again, same confusions
A: all are `window managers`. don’t need to worry much.
read these:
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/xwtf.html
http://xwinman.org/
any time you can move to any other window manager (if you don’t like one)

recently (two weeks ago) i had a chance to attend an event in muzafferabad(kashmir). primarily event was about Gliding and Aero Modeling. i was lucky enough to be part of aero modeling team and hold camera (cannon-eosD40) for first time in my life.  Also got permission to capture whatever i like. offcourse these images are not world’s best, but i am putting them here for my personal memories

few pictures of aero modeling team

[Show as slideshow]

few pictures of Gliders

[Show as slideshow]

also i didn’t missed the expressions (small amount of general public, which wasn’t frustrating a bit)

[Show as slideshow]

also first panorama of my life. i think, few aero modelers might be enjoying this in their Real Flight Simulator.

maya viewports behaving strangely even with latest october 2008 drivers

thanks to noeg and cbamber85

we have to set “threaded optimization” to off within 3d setting inside NVIDIA Control Panel

Edit  (after 3 months)

after few weeks of above post, i realized that it didn’t worked 100% and issue or orbitting reduced but still pops up

interestingly, one of my colleague named JABRAN aka Dorctor Sb. mentioned that old drivers will work perfectly.

later on he sends me a snapshot of his current settings which forces to work it 100% perfectly.

ahh, its too late as i have moved to ATI out of frustration and picked Radeon 4850. as its in my pocket range.

Edit (after 6 months)

quote: nothing comes for free and life isn’t easy, sometimes

just noticed that ATI radeon has issues with maya in new way, comparing to nvidia issues with maya.

ati radeon won’t allow you to manipulate rotations in multiple axis. it picked one (automatically) as you click on gizmo and it was quite frustrating.

but luckily i was able to solve this issue as forums searching concluded that catalyst 8.xx drivers are better than 9.xx

i tested and it worked perfectly.

CONCLUSION

uptil now i have concluded that most of VGA cards / chips manufacturers (ati / nvidia) both want every professional to use professional series cards rather than gaming cards.  what forces me to conclude this is, in both cases latest drivers are creating issues.

main help page
http://docs.dotproject.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

user vs contact
user is person who can login on dp, can update tasks (working as team member) (ideally users should have contact linked)
contact doesn’t necessarily have user linked. client contact person could be contact. practically uptill now it does’nt worked  so we even give them user ID linked with company representative of their own

static vs dynamic task Notes:

• operative tasks should have one person assigned
• operative tasks should be static (time measured)
• milestones should be administrative
• milestones should be dynamic

administrative vs operative task
approach 1:
milestones should be administrative and should have client person added as either assigned user or owner so he can reply to logs and update response

approach 2:
milestones should owned by team leads and they should update logs and send those to client intentionally to get review / feedback if needed