How To install Draftsight CAD 64 bit

[GSimpson]

A powerful 2D CAD program. Best I have seen for free Linux (Windows and MAC too). Excellent snap tools and uses Model space / Paper Space.

This is a 32 bit application and the .deb file as supplied does not work with 64 bit.

I tried a few solutions posted online and found the following worked. There may be a couple of dependencies I have installed but I found most if not all installed by default in the Mint install. Dependencies can be easily installed via the Package Manager.

Procedure

Download .deb (Ubuntu package) from Draftsight

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/ ... raftsight/

Open Terminal
Go to the folder you downloaded to.
Eg.
cd Downloads

sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture,depends ./DraftSight.deb

Shortcut appears in graphics menu

Additional step for those with switchable Graphics card.(program will start but no drawing appears)

Menu>Administration>Bumblebee Application Settings
Select Draftsight
Configure for Performance and 32 bit

I was able to import drawings, open and edit from Windows machine running Draftsight.

My machine
ACER Aspire 5750G laptop
Intel i7 - 2630QM 2GHz
Linux Mint 11 (katya) 64 bit
4GB ram

Graphics NVidia Optimus
NVidia GeForce GT 540M (1760MB)
Runs using Bumblebee

[MiniCooperS1275]

Tried it on my Linux Mint 13 Maya MATE installation, and it worked, thanks!

One problem, though (and quite a big one!): When Update Manager did its periodic checks on my packages, it automatically identified my DraftSight installation as a broken package, and promptly removed it!

[Oscar799]

MiniCooperS1275,
I noticed you have posted this in two places - please don't do that

[simonbatt]

Hi

I am new to Mint Linux, but have been using Linux since around 2000. Still lots to learn. Mint looks pretty good so far.

I had a lot of problems trying to install Draftsight which is 32 bit code on my 64 installation. Non of the methods I looked at seemed to work so I looked at installing the windows versions with wine (which worked!). However I solved my problem thanks to wine on another machine I was setting up.

When you try to run wine from a terminal window you get the following

# dpkg --add-architecture i386
# sed -i 's/deb\ /deb\ [arch=amd64,i386]\ /g' /etc/apt/sources.list
# apt-get update
# apt-get install wine-bin:i386

Which tells you all you need to know.

What I did was execute

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo sed -i 's/deb\ /deb\ [arch=amd64,i386]\ /g' /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-get update

Do this exactly as show as the spaces are important. (I blocked and copied and added sudo)

Now when you try to install draftSight.deb with the package manager you don't get the 'wrong architecture' message and all installs OK. It took a little time as around 80 dependencys were also installed on my system.

This worked for me, after I had tried the other methods that are out there, so there will be files installed that won't be on clean setup. However, I suspect this is will work with a clean setup as it activates the ability to use i386 architecture and the install manager gets the dependancys.

Hope this helps

[Spirou4D]

Hi gsimpson,

I have a LinuxMint 13 64bits LXDE, on QuadCore 2.7 Ghz 8Go RAM, Nvidia GT630 4Go Video cart,
I have used your tip and my DraftSight install was clean and running now!
Thanks a lot for your help!
Congratulations
Spirou4D

[GSimpson]

Hello Spirou4D

I had to give up on Draftsight as a bug in the Print option that was affecting many Draftsight users prevented me from printing anything out.
The print menu window didn't work correctly. Does it work OK for you?

[GSimpson]

Update.

The 32 bit Linux option has been discontinued and now 64 bit available. Installed and works fine on my machine now.

[GSimpson]

Looks like Draftsight are pulling the plug on Linux support now that they have got the program sorted. Free until the end of 2019. So looking for another Linux CAD package.