RattleCAD User Manual/Install and Configure

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MS Windows[edit | edit source]

install Tcl/Tk[edit | edit source]

recommended destination for tcl/Tk 8.5:
C:\Program Files\Tcl\8.5

prepare install directory[edit | edit source]

prepare a directory for the current and future versions of rattlecad.
rattleCAD does not provide an install procedure. Therefore you have to provide a directory and extract the downloaded zip-files here.
C:\Users\username\rattleCAD

install rattleCAD[edit | edit source]

Download the current version from

and extract directly in the prepared directory
C:\Users\username\rattleCAD
Your directory should look like this:

  ./3.4.02.35/... 
             ./etc/... 
             ./lib/... 
             ./.../... 
             ./main.tcl 
             ./rattleCAD.tcl 
             ./readme.txt 
             ./... 
   ./rattleCAD.bat 
   ./rattleCAD.tcl 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.exe 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.kit 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.zip 
   ./readme.txt 
   ./tclkit.ico


In this case:

  • rattleCAD.bat: runs the rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.exe
  • rattleCAD.tcl: runs the ./3.4.02.35/main.tcl


After installing updates your directory should look like this:

  ./3.4.02.35/... 
   ./3.4.02.36/... 
   ./3.4.02.37/... 
   ./3.4.02.38/... 
   ./3.4.02.38/etc/... 
             ./etc/... 
             ./lib/... 
             ./.../... 
             ./main.tcl 
             ./rattleCAD.tcl 
             ./readme.txt 
             ./... 
   ./rattleCAD.bat 
   ./rattleCAD.tcl 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.exe 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.kit 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.35.zip 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.36.exe 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.36.kit 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.36.zip 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.37.exe 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.37.kit 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.37.zip 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.38.exe 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.38.kit 
   ./rattleCAD_3.4.02.38.zip 
   ./readme.txt 
   ./tclkit.ico

Mac OS[edit | edit source]

Mac OS X includes the context needed to run RattleCAD, but may be out of date depending on RattleCAD version dependencies. The reason is that the Python version included in OS X is also older.

Installation[edit | edit source]

RattleCAD installation is similar to other platforms. Create a folder and into it download rattleCAD_v.vv.vv.kit and rattleCAD_v.vv.vv_plugin.zip. The zip may auto-extract into a _plugin_ folder. If not, unarchive it.

Running[edit | edit source]

Open a terminal, navigate to the folder containing rattleCAD_v.vv.vv.kit and type wish rattleCAD_v.vv.vv.kit.

Updating Tcl/Tk[edit | edit source]

If you receive an error, check whether the Tcl/Tk version is 8.5 by typing wish and selecting 'About Tcl & Tk' from the Wish menu. If it is version 8.5 RattleCAD may not run.

You may also download rattleCAD_checkEnv.tcl from the RattleCAD project at SourceForge to check the environment by running tclsh rattleCAD_checkEnv.tcl. The output will display the Tk version and identify any missing components.

If you choose to update Tcl/Tk you can get a complete installation package for ActiveTcl Community Edition version 8.6+ from ActiveState. It contains the modules needed to run RattleCAD.

Linux[edit | edit source]

Configuration[edit | edit source]

There are two configuration Files for rattleCAD. They are located in your Project-directory.
e.g.: C:\Users\<yourUserName>\Documents\rattleCAD

.rattleCAD_<yourPCName>.init[edit | edit source]

rattleCAD brings a config-File to configure your environment for rattleCAD:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
    <root>
        <hostname>anton-pc</hostname>
        <fileName>C:/Users/anton/Documents/rattleCAD/.rattleCAD_anton-pc.init</fileName>
        <fileCreated>2014.06.15 15:40</fileCreated>
        <GUI_Font>Helvetica 12</GUI_Font>
        <mime>
            <mime name=".test">_any_executable</mime>
        </mime>
        <exec>
            <exec name="gs">C:/Program Files (x86)/gs/gs9.14/bin/gswin32c.exe</exec>
            <exec name="_test">_any_executable</exec>
        </exec>
    </root>
.rattleCAD_<yourPCName>.Xdefaults[edit | edit source]

rattleCAD brings a config-File to configure visual appearance of rattleCAD:

    ! ... created by  rattleCAD (3.4.01.62)
    !     ... on  2014.06.15 14:58
    !
    !*Menu.foreground: black
    !
    !*Menu.background: lemonChiffon2
    !*Menu.foreground: red
    !
    !
    ! --- any untested examples: -----------------
    !       ... see: http://computer-programming-forum.com/57-tcl/714fcdf48fb18c6c.htm
    !
    ! ----- try some attributes ------------------
    !*padX: 10
    !*padY: 10
    !*sliderLength: 20
    !*yScrollSide: left
    !*Scale.width: 8
    ...