DWC Custom Configuration
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I get it. The controller itself is insanely configurable, but the UI is actually quite locked down.
I made a plugin that will create movement/macro panels by configuration, being able to re-configure the whole thing would be nice.
So if the maintainers can't be convinced... I'll volunteer. No promises on the when it will be done, but I'll make it more configurable... then I'll push it somewhere, make a PR, and then the maintainers can decide if they want to merge it.
First I'll focus on making the top components hide if you don't want them, to configure that plugins should get the entire main area (they really should be able to without someone else deciding something else is more important... might even look at if the plugin itself can self-describe if it should get the whole panel)... and secondarily how easily I can help configure the main menu...
EDIT: now I see there's a button in the top right of DWC screen, that on any screen rather than huge, a button appears to toggle off the top status components... which means plugins can indeed get the whole screen, so plugins like mine and BtnCmd can use the whole space. nice! ( ok, maybe my extra UI hackery not quite as much required now... )
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@dr_ju_ju said in DWC Custom Configuration:
As I said, I want an EASY way to modify the pages, without reverting to code bashing !!
Perhaps the BtnCmd PlugIn is something for you?
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/22776/btncmd-dwc-plugin-create-custom-layouts-action-buttons
An easy way to create individual tabs inside DWC. All object based, with very less coding. At the moment i use 3 tabs:
One tab for preheating, homing/leveling, important infos:
the second for endstop status, spezial functions, links
the third tab will soon be used for FW retract tuning:
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If you've not used/seen it, I suggest you have a look at Octoprint, which I use for my Prusa machines, which in many respects lags behind DWC, but for usability/local & remote monitoring etc. I personally find is far superior to DWC.
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@dr_ju_ju I use Repetier Server for all my machines. It's similar to Octoprint...
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Yes I've used Repetier, Simplify3D etc., but I usually come back to Octoprint...
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@dr_ju_ju It's up to you what you'd like to use.
Then can we close this thread or do you have an additional question? -
I suppose I'll just have to accept that DWC is crap in the usability stakes, and use it for configuration only, its a pity that there also isn't a simple control interface...
Other than that, I would probably have to dump the board & go for something else.
Julian,
Old goat, learning new things….
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@dr_ju_ju said in DWC Custom Configuration:
I suppose I'll just have to accept that DWC is crap in the usability stakes
Please discribe what's not user friendly in DWC?
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@dr_ju_ju Come on mate... beggers can't be choosers.
DWC is a community built UI as is the firmware and out all the different firmwares and UIs for 3D printing, I haven't seen a more active community from the makers themselves. We should be constantly applauding their efforts here,
not saying 'it's just crapI come from a web development background... I know how much is involved in writing an SPA, which has the functionality like DWC and the API endpoints to allow someone to develop a plugin to address UI enhancements.
You can't ask for a way to modify a UI and not write any code... It's like asking to drive a new car out of the lot with no engine.
And from years and years in the development world... a word I've come to hate is
it should... Should is an assumption, and assumptions are usually from the naive and cause projects to go over budget and over time.I appreciate what you're saying here, but there's a far better way to go about it...
One of them is to learn how to do it and help support the community...
Ender 5 Plus - E3D Hemera Hotend - Duet 2 Wifi
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Go look at Octoprint, where it's much easier to select an object for printing, the file view is automatically updated on upload & selected for printing, preheat, & start printing.
The Tab system, then makes it easier to monitor the running print on the control tab, and depending what plugins have been installed, even with webcam.
Other plugins then give more control, to the user, on what can be added or removed from the 'standard' interface such as full 3d gcode viewer etc
DWC is a super technical system of control, but all I'm interested in is the simple process of printing objects, which for me, will often be targeted at parts used in Astrophotography e.g. focuser motor mounts etc.
Julian,
Old goat, learning new things….
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@dr_ju_ju Sorry, I don't understand your problem. You can use Octoprint for starting your prints... that's allowed!
Or make your own tab in DWC with the BtnCmd PlugIn...But it can be, that my english is too bad for understand you correctly.
That's on my todo list, to better learn english. Unfortunatly my list is too long!
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@dr_ju_ju I've used Octoprint... I've used Repetier server... I have 4 printers and DWC works fine with me.
No one is forcing you to use DWC, attach a SBC and use Octoprint or connect Repetier, but I'm sorry mate, I find your posts unconstructive and more of just winging. -
@dr_ju_ju said in DWC Custom Configuration:
Go look at Octoprint, where it's much easier to select an object for printing, the file view is automatically updated on upload & selected for printing, preheat, & start printing.
There is the 'upload and start' button in the top right of DWC. I almost always use this when kicking off a print, even if I know the file is already on the printer somewhere. It's easy and sets the print off straight away. Not sure if that helps?
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@arnold_r_clark said in DWC Custom Configuration:
I.M.H.O.P. I feel the product 100% SHOULD do a better job of being configurable for item placement, colours and font etc.
Once again: you can use Btn_Cmd for designing relatively easy your own tabs. With free button placement, millions of colors for the buttons and without learning a programming language.
When you buy a Duet Board, you know what you get. The hardware and software is well documented. When you read the docu, you can more or less imagine, what is possible and what not.
Nowhere is written that we easy can make our own layouts in DWC!I don't know where you get the idea that all of this should be configurable?
When you buy a car, and you'd like to change the rims? You need tools and the skills... or somebody, who can make it for you!
When you buy Windows, you can't change the complete Layout to your needs! -
@cosmowave said in DWC Custom Configuration:
When you buy a Duet Board, you know what you get...
...except that the controller itself is almost infinitely configurable. If you want, you can configure the controller to be a 3d printer, or a CNC machine with endless tools, or it can be an automatic 9 axis gcode driven kitten grinder. THAT is what the Duet board is; a stepper motor oriented machine thinkbox for anything that you need it to be.
Many of the firmware changes in recent years have literally been about removing assumptions of what the machine's purpose is, to be more of just a set of facilities ready to do whatever you want them to do.
You cannot, however, configure the user interface to do what you want it to be, for your specific purpose. A plugin doesn't override many assumptions made in the interface about the priority of the machine.
Why can't the UI move a little in the same direction?...
If the default config has it work exactly how it currently works, why do you care that there's a configuration option that hides the status components even on a large screen?...
The OP needs to convince a coder and maintainers to create and merge the feature... that's a large task... but why in heck do people go out of their way to block it from happening?...
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I want one of those 9 axis kitten grinders now ..... maybe adopt it to handle puppies or upscale it as a Bambi grinder ... wooohoooo ....
BTW, since the hardware/firmware are built by one person and DWC is built by another person (who as far as I know is a volunteer), rather than jumping up and down it would be better to be thankful of what you have. I am sure that a request for additional features, if done nicely, would go far .... jumping up and down will get you nowhere.
The above is a general comment and not directed at anybody.
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@jens55 ...absolutely. Anyone who's not a dev, who has a feature suggestion, has to try and convince the maintainers to care enough to work on it. And that's fine. If a maintainer doesn't care about it, then it doesn't get done, and I support that choice... but when others put up road blocks, insisting it's not needed, that's what weirds me out.
I think literally everyone who's a fan of the Duet is crazy thankful for the controller and the web interface. There's no other controller this configurable in general.
And as crazy good as the web interface is, the fact it can be changed with a web page tech means it's actually super adaptable. The Ooznest CNC interface being the perfect example, but now those features are rolled into the main branch, which is epic sauce and congrats to everyone!
I'd like to see the UI be more configurable... my day job is VueJS development, so I plan to look into what would be pragmatic. If I ever come up with something, I'll push it somewhere, make a PR, and then the maintainer(s) can decide to merge it or not. And I would be fine with it not being merged... but, it would also mean that it's in a public repo, and people could download my fork if they wanted.
...this is how open source goes
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For a long time before plugins became available I used to keep a fork of the DWC with my GCode Viewer. A few folks used to use my fork for the feature. Once plugins became available I converted my code to utilize the plugin functionality. I feel plugins will be a great way forward for customization, btncmd for example. I think there is always a possibility for adding the ability to customize themes and maybe even content blocks but those take work. The other issue is that everyone has a different use case and what they consider “an optimal user interface”. Having folks put together something maintainable as an example can go a long way toward getting features and functions added to the ui. The merge of the DWC-CNC into the base is a fairly recent example of this. I think the Duet team is open and flexible to additions in the future but they don’t happen overnight and they have to take into consideration the larger group and that may not always reflect a given persons desirements.
