I'm trying to download drafts from Handweaving.net, and having a terrible time of it. On my desktop I run Linux, and can't figure out how to do it, and my netbook is Windows, but I'm not fairing any better there.
Do I need to install a special program to open them? I've installed a free Weaving software on the netbook, but it can't open them either.
I'm sure it is something very obvious, but my computer geek son has gone to school, and all of a sudden I can't get anything to work right - isn't that always the way??
Thanks,
Karen
Well, I'm an ordinary Windows XP user... but: what happens when I click on download is I get a (what-do-you-call-it? dialog box?) asking me if I want it to open in pcw. I answer Yes - and it opens in pcw. I can then choose to "save", "save as" or not save at all.
I have never succeeded to download, as in the file comes quietly to my computer, nor have I understood what My Draft Clipboard is supposed to do for me.
Kerstin in Sweden
Which weaving software do you have installed? I have WeaveDesign (which you can get free here) and I have to Import the WIF file (you have to save the file from handweaving.net to your computer first, then Import). To save a draft in WeaveDesign as a WIF, you have to Export it as a WIF. If you just File - Save, it's a different format. I don't know if WeaveDesign will run on what you have. It does work on XP and Vista.
Right now I have DBWeave, but WeaveDesign is on my list to try. I tried to open one of the files through DB, and it wouldn't.
I'll have to try the export business next time I'm off work.
Lizbuppers -
How did you get linux on your system? Is that something your computer geeky son did for you? I am just starting to use linux at work, and as far as I know, it's not something the average home computer user would know very much about.
So, I'll start with the windows side of things and I don't know if you figured out your problem yet, but let's start with some basics, and we'll see where we go to from there...
FIrst, are you able to find the file once it's been downloaded?
Second, The trick with using any file is that it always has an extension that identifies the file type. And so... wif files are identified as filename.wif, just like photos are typically filename.jpg and Microsoft word documents are filename.doc. Many people that use windows computers have the viewing of filename extensions turned off, which is something I hate, because then if you're trying to figure out why you're having a problem it is more difficult...
Anyway, Your PC needs to "learn" that the application that can open a WIF file, is DBWeave (or whatever tool you are using).
So, to open the file, are you trying to "double-click" on it? One thing I would try to do first is to open DBWeave, and then see if you can "open" the file from within DBWeave. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the wif viewing tools, so I can't try this part myself.
The wif file itself is just a text file, so it can be opened and viewed with an ordinary text editor, but I'm assuming you don't want to go this route, and would rather use the DBWeave...
Please let me know if this helps, and if it doesn't maybe you can be more specific on where you are getting tripped up.
Good Luck,
Kay
Dragonfly -
Thank you so much for the link to DBWeave! I'm going to download it and try it out to see if I can lend a hand to Lizbuppers!
Kay
Oh... just tried out WeaveDesign, and I noticed one thing that could be giving you trouble...
Once you OPEN WeaveDesign, select File Open... Then, on the dialog box that pops up, make sure that where it specifies the file type that you change "WeaveDesign Files (*.wvd)" to "All Files (*.*)". Or, you can simply specify "*.wif". Specifying the file type will display a list of files with that extension.
Remember that little discussion I gave you previously about file name extensions? This is how it comes into play.
Then, the question is... where did I put that wif file, anyway?.... *grin*
Let us know if you still have difficulties after trying these tips.
Kay
Kbird, thank you so much for all your advice. I did try to import WIF files rather than just open, and that didn't seem to work with DBWeave, but did with WeaveDesign.
However, the draft is written upside down from any draft I've ever seen, and I can't seem to find a way to change that. DB has that tool, but doesn't seem to want to open a saved file. I can put in my own draft and it does it just fine - sigh.
As for the Linux bit, Yes my son decided that it would be the way to go to keep viruses out and just because he loves it. I have to say I love it too -just not the part about non-compatibility issue. Most things run like a dream. Of course, these problems pop up right after he's gone to college, and for a computer geek guy, he hates email. I tried running it through WINE, which is kind of like a windows emulator, but that doesn't work either.
Any other words of wisdom here would be appreciated.
Karen
Karen -
First off, if you are using the linux machine, I assume you are using WINE to provide the "windows" environment.
Second, is the netbook a true windows machine? or ar you referring to a mac system?
Which system are you trying to run DBWeave on? And, are you able to view the file in DBWeave at all?
One thing I noticed was that when I open DBWeave, it doesn't automatically display the file I want to edit. It just shows a gray background. I have to use a File Open or File Import to see the draft at all, but it comes right up.
Can you tell me the name of the draft file you are trying to open? It is possible that there is an error in the specific file you are using.
We'll get it eventually,
Kay
My desktop is Linux, and I've tried to use WINE to open DB, but can't get it to work, even though I reinstalled WINE through the Synaptic Pkg manager (I can't believe I even know what I'm talking about. So all the free weaving software out there for windows is unavailable to me on my desktop.
The netbook is indeed a Windows machine. I downloaded several files from Handweaving.net, and the same file that will not import into DB imports and displays fine through WeaveDesign, except that it is inverted top to bottom. I don't think I am a skilled enough weaver to transpose the whole pattern in my head.
http://www.handweaving.net/PatternDisplay.aspx?PATTERNID=60938
That is a link to the pattern I'm trying to download. If I have time today, I'll try to download something else through DB, but I don't think it would be the pattern, since it worked OK through WeaveDesign.
Thanks again - I really appreciated the time you're taking to help me.
Karen
Take a look at the draft on handweaving.net. Pretend the lines across the top that have your threading are at the bottom of the page instead of the top of the page. That's what it will look like in WeaveDesign.
I'm not trying to push WeaveDesign on you but it seems like you're at least getting it opened in that one so here's what I'd do. Once you've imported it, go to Tools, then Properties. At the bottom, put a checkmark in Rising Shed and click OK. Go to View and click on Inverse Pattern. Go to View again and click on Threaded Plus. Now it looks just like what you see on handweaving.net, except for that pesky threading being at the bottom instead of the top :)
Karen -
Did DragonFly's suggestion help you at all?
I would stick with the netbook initially to try and get things going... As you get more used to the linux machine, you might try some of your applications over there, but get comfortable with it first.
On the netbook, I have to believe something really, really basic is going on. I was able to open the files you provided the link to without difficulty. Are you actually able to run DBWeave? (It just occurred to me that if you've never run it before, you may not realize that you need to download the application, then UNZIP it to install it???)
Kay
I'm pretty sure I did that, because I can open what looks like an empty "graph", waiting for the threading, treadling, and tie up info.
MaYbe I should delete it and try installing again? I'm at work right now without the netbook, so maybe I could try that later today.
Karen
