Nabble - Tutorials / Manual topics

Re: commands missing

2026-02-23T16:22:29Z

LordOfBikes wrote

The reStructuredText format was selected with the intention to provide multiple formats, online HTML, printable PDF and others. Also it is a good base if somebody will start translating.
Github compatibility is no requirement for user documentation.

reStructuredText doesn’t seem to offer any advantage over Markdown for this project. Both can generate HTML, PDF, and localisation workflows with the right tools (subject to testing), but contributors clearly favour Markdown based on existing repo activity.

That said, the real issue isn’t the syntax; it’s that there hasn’t been a proper community discussion about the documentation goals and workflow. Once there’s agreement on that, the format will sort itself out naturally.

Re: commands missing

2026-02-23T15:04:28Z

Thanks @flywire for the kind reminder.

This went way off topic and does not answer @Methusalem's question at all.

Anyhow, this forum will be closed soon, thus I add my two cents anyway.

We have https://github.com/LibreCAD/docs/ just for this, which is published under https://docs.librecad.org/. But there are authors missing to continue the work.
@flywire is right, that this is also a matter of communication. It is cumbersome for authors to dig through source code and git logs to elaborate changes and how new features work.
The coders are responsible to provide at least a brief summery in of their work as a base for the authors.
Authors are not necessarily able to read and understand source code. Let alone, that end users can get any value out of source code.

The docs repo is prepared to continue the work for changes in the master branch. Release 2.2.0 is fixed and will be available in its current state when changes are applied.

The reStructuredText format was selected with the intention to provide multiple formats, online HTML, printable PDF and others. Also it is a good base if somebody will start translating.
Github compatibility is no requirement for user documentation.

We used Doxygen once and there are for sure still remains in the source code. This could be a good interface between coders and authors.
Coders put special formatted comments in their code which can be published as HTML reference by CI or automated on our server.
But this needs some discipline from coders and is an obstacle for fresh contributors. It also requires more quality assurance on pull requests. Which might on the other hand scare off new inexperienced contributors.

The Github wiki was never intended for user documentation. It should be used for developer related content, probably for beta tester instructions too, but never end user documentation.

Our Wiki at https://dokuwiki.librecad.org is not locked, just the registration process is disabled for spam protection. There are frequently requests for new accounts, which I create, but they never started contributing.
I suppose they don't understand or read instructions carefully. They think an account is needed to get information or using the software.
The old Wiki from https://wiki.librecad.org/ is disabled because it runs on an outdated MediaWiki. A few hours after going online it is targeted by massive DDoS attacks which overload our server.
@flywire already replaced some important links in the new Wiki to the Wayback internet achive. Great idea, many thanks!

The forum, as mentioned above, is about to become read only soon. Nabble, the forum hoster is outdated and offers no spam protection at all.
This forum will stay online for a while to keep the knowledge, read only will stop the spam.
As replacement I have nearly finished the work on our self hosted Discourse forum.
It is way more modern, with many cool features and above all lots of spam protect mechanisms.
It also has a chat feature, which allows us to shut down our Zulip channel and merge two services into one.

Hopefully this will become a more comfortable place to improve communication.

^{investing less than half an hour into Search function can save hours or days of waiting for a solution}

Re: commands missing

2026-02-22T15:07:43Z

Hmm, we need more communication within the community to reduce misunderstanding. I'll leave @LordOfBikes to respond to some of these.

dxli wrote

I am not clear on the current status of our documentation.

GnuCash development is a team effort. The developers support each other, review changes, and share what they know. That teamwork makes a huge difference, if someone leaves or takes a break, others can step in and keep things moving smoothly.

The current User Manual, by contrast, took a very different route. It was almost entirely a solo effort by one very dedicated contributor who did an excellent job, but there wasn’t a team built around it for ongoing updates. So when they stepped back, there was no established group to continue maintaining and updating the documentation.

dxli wrote

To include docs within the source code would introduce too many code commits;

I disagree. The LibreCAD documentation (Manual Content) shows how this can work effectively. It follows the Diátaxis framework, separating material into tutorials, how-to guides, reference, and explanations. Only the reference really needs to stay tightly in sync with code updates.

The current reference documentation is largely made up of tables with explanatory text (for example, tools.rst). Conveniently, all the detailed information for the reference tables already exists within the code itself.

I suggest:
* Change the manual format from reStructuredText to Markdown for better GitHub compatibility and easier editing.
* Tweak the structure so tables can be updated separately from explanatory text.
* Add a process in the code to automatically generate the table(s).
* Occasionally update the explanatory text as needed.

I could take on the reference docs, with code support from the development team and help managing version control through Read the Docs. There’s a lot of good material already in the GitHub repo that would fit well into the other parts of the User Manual.

Re: commands missing

2026-02-22T06:00:14Z

I am not clear on the current status of our documention.

Our wiki is current locked and outdated;
To include docs within the source code would introduce too many code commits;
Should we use the github.com wiki? Looks like we start to get github spam also;

Somewhat related: we also got spam at this forum, should we enable some spam detection on this forum? or simply skip email sending for first time forum users?

flywire wrote

dxli wrote

I know it's not the best way of documentation...

No, it's pretty poor and should be improved: https://forum.librecad.org/Self-Documenting-Tools-tp5725976p5728021.html

I also think the code should contain a single full command with the alternatives given in the alias file.

Re: commands missing

2026-02-22T04:26:13Z

dxli wrote

I know it's not the best way of documentation...

No, it's pretty poor and should be improved: https://forum.librecad.org/Self-Documenting-Tools-tp5725976p5728021.html

I also think the code should contain a single full command with the alternatives given in the alias file.

Do you have a PDF of the User Manual?

2026-01-19T12:32:40Z

I find the present, hyperlink-style manual extremely hard to read, and the PDF edition I found simply has blank spaces where the editor neither gives a graphical tool nor command for many software functions.

Re: Software Librecad Untuk Gambar CAD 2 Dimensi - Gratis Open Source - Windows, Linux, & Mac OS.

2026-01-07T07:57:09Z

salam sehat bang.
saya pengguna baru librecad, mohon petunjuk cara rotasi obyek dengan referensi obyek lain. misal seperti gambar, titk pusat rotasi ada di a, dan saya ingin merotasi obyek sebelah kanan agar b2 berimpit dengan b. terima kasih

Re: how can I put manually external dimensions of a 2d draw

2025-11-26T09:54:24Z

well, in LibreCAD you may select your entites and scale them with necessary scale factors using Modify/Scale command.
As for bounding box - there is a support for it too... or you'd like to calculate the scale based on bonding box?

Re: ggambar Bangunan Sederhana dengan LIBRECAD (2) Pondasi Batu Kali

2025-11-26T07:58:09Z

Bang, ketika saya bikin dimensi kenapa angka dimensinya tidak bisa muncul ya ?

Re: how can I put manually external dimensions of a 2d draw

2025-09-25T02:56:38Z

in the right of DesiGNCAD you have the bounding box. can librecad make this?

how can I put manually external dimensions of a 2d draw

2025-09-25T02:49:24Z

I have used DesignCAD by IMSI to load a simple draw designed from Sketchup. After load the the 2d draw in DesignCAD (the draw was always the pattern of a bed headboard to be then compiled and used by a big sewing machine), I selected the draw, go to INFO BOX and put the real external dimensions of the lines the would be sewed by machine. But my question is, how to put the external dimensions of the draw? Example, I need the machine to sew the upholstery with this dimension: 1620 x 1030 mm. Can anyone help?

Re: Looking for Trainer

2025-09-24T08:38:27Z

His forum user link is at https://forum.librecad.org/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=user_nodes&user=204277

I just tested Grok AI,

Chat with Grok: create a DXF for LibreCAD with an ellipse: center=10,10, radii=(20,10), major angle=45 degrees

Grok can generate a DXF with the ellipse, and the dxf can be opened by LibreCAD.

Chat with Grok: trim the ellipse with a line x+y=5, and keep the part below the line

The ellipse will be trimmed.

If you upload your dxf to AI, AI can modify it, or convert it to other formats.

JWLange wrote

Hi, thanks for your suggestions. Could you tell me how to contact Ries (what is his name on this forum).

And I am puzzled how to use AI to create production drawings/ files. Maybe you can give me some suggestions?

Thanks,
Jan Willem

Re: Looking for Trainer

2025-09-24T08:34:27Z

Welcome JWLange!

Ries has long time retired from LibreCAD. Maybe he read this, then he will get in touch with you if he is interrested. Otherwise I recommend to not bother him.

Meanwhile you can search on Youtube for LibreCAD videos or browse our Wiki to get used to LibreCAD.
Our online manual is more kind of a reference, but has also some basic introductions.

Except for Youtube, everything is linked on our homepage.

Armin

^{investing less than half an hour into Search function can save hours or days of waiting for a solution}

Re: Looking for Trainer

2025-09-24T07:55:19Z

Hi, thanks for your suggestions. Could you tell me how to contact Ries (what is his name on this forum).

And I am puzzled how to use AI to create production drawings/ files. Maybe you can give me some suggestions?

Thanks,
Jan Willem

Re: Looking for Trainer

2025-09-24T07:07:27Z

Ries, who started the LibreCAD project, is Dutch. You may try your luck with him.

Feel free to ask questions here. In addition, AI can generate DXF drawings also.

JWLange wrote

Hi All,

I want to start using LibreCAD for creating drawings which can be used for production. To start quickly I am looking for someone who can help me to start up swift and smoothly. Anyone in the the vicinity of Zeist in the Netherlands. Off course, I am willing to reimburse cost.

I hope there is someone willing to help me.
Looking forward to starting.

Regards,
Jan Willem

Looking for Trainer

2025-09-24T02:22:20Z

Hi All,

I want to start using LibreCAD for creating drawings which can be used for production. To start quickly I am looking for someone who can help me to start up swift and smoothly. Anyone in the the vicinity of Zeist in the Netherlands. Off course, I am willing to reimburse cost.

I hope there is someone willing to help me.
Looking forward to starting.

Regards,
Jan Willem

Re: LibreCad copy from one drawing to another

2025-08-07T01:44:48Z

yes, you can do copy between drawings.

Just follow the input hint from LibreCAD - on copy, after selection and pressing CTRL+C, you need to specify base reference point.

When you'll paste, you'll be asked to specify (in new drawing) the location of insertion point (where base reference point for copied content will be placed).

That's all...

LibreCad copy from one drawing to another

2025-08-06T11:24:46Z

Hi. Ok I only just discovered LibreCad today, in other words I'm a newbie. So i was wondering if anyone can help me out with a little problem. Ok so i imported a drawing, i can open it a view it, that bit's fine. Here is where I'm stumbling a bit. How do i go about copying stuff from the imported drawing to a new blank project.

Re: How do I delete hatch without deleting outline

2025-03-12T01:27:23Z

Good tips. How about putting a few notes together for working with hatches as the basis for the wiki pending incorporation into the manual?

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: How do I delete hatch without deleting outline

2025-03-11T15:45:02Z

Thanks dellus

I have also found a work around. If all hatches are done in a separate layer to the outline then it is much easier to separate hatch from the poly-line. If I hide the poly-line layer, then delete the hatch, when I unhide the poly-line layer the poly-line outline remains.

I was struggling with a 'solid fill' hatch but have subsequently discovered that if a typical cross hatch consisting of lines is used, then by zooming in and selecting one line of the hatch pattern and deleting that, the outline remains.

Many thanks again for your help, it inspired me to play around with it further.

Best regards

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: How do I delete hatch without deleting outline

2025-03-11T11:22:00Z

I played around a bit and found out that if the outline is a polyline it stays selected after creation of the hatch. If you then select the hatch and delete it the outline gets deleted also.
So after having created the hatch press "Esc" on the keyboard to deselect the outline.

I don't know of detailed documentation on use and manipulation of hatch.

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

How do I delete hatch without deleting outline

2025-03-11T08:19:42Z

I have filled a cross section outline with hatch. When I try to delete the hatch I also delete the outline. How can I delete hatch without deleting the outline please?

Is there any detailed document regarding the use and manipulation of hatch please?

Many thanks

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: Handbuch Deutsch

2025-02-27T14:25:08Z

Ja, hier gibt es ein LibreCAD-Buch:

https://www.cadtec.ch/LibreCAD/index.php

Beste Grüsse,
David

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Handbuch Deutsch

2025-02-03T21:40:03Z

Hallo Gibt es ein Handbuch oder die Hilfe auch in Deutsch am besten als PDF
M.F.G.J.Fey

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: Printable pdf User Manual from Wiki

2024-12-16T04:14:58Z

Nicht daß ich wüßte.
Ich nehme an du hast dies schon gesehen: https://forum.librecad.org/Kostenloses-LibreCAD-Buch-mit-Schritt-fur-Schritt-Anleitungen-als-PDF-tp5725028.html
Sonst kenne ich keine deutsche Anleitung irgendeiner Art.

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: Printable pdf User Manual from Wiki

2024-12-16T03:56:08Z

Hallo Gibt es auch eine Version vom diesen Handbuch auf Deutsch
M.F.G.J.Fey

Posted in Manual/User-guide suggestions

Re: auto saves

2024-11-27T08:10:43Z

By default, auto saving should save to the same folder as the current drawing.

First, verify your auto saving is enabled (default to 5 minutes intervals): edit (or Options)> application preferences> default

For development, we may want to go extra to avoid user data loss:

1, always saving another copy to the user data folder? Potentially loitering, but I guess nowadays people are all ruining with disk space of hundreds of GBs at least;
2, display folders of the user data folder at start up(in command messages), if backup files found there.

Re: auto saves

2024-11-27T07:43:19Z

Paths should show the file, where the backup is updated.

Re: auto saves

2024-11-27T05:32:28Z

Auto backup box is ticked but nothing about what folder or where. Thanks though

Re: auto saves

2024-11-27T05:05:55Z

Hello!

Check Options/Application prefences/ see Paths and Defaults tabs.

auto saves

2024-11-27T04:50:17Z

I've been working on a new speaker enclosure design for hours. If you've done it you know that this can be time consuming making changes to the design after sim runs etc. Anyway, Librecad crashed and I cant seem to find where all the auto saves went. It says its auto saving anyway. Does anyone know where these are kept?

Re: LibreCAD tutorials in Finnish language 🇫🇮

2024-10-23T05:59:55Z

Thanks a lot!

We are releasing 2.2.1as stable soon.

HendriXXX wrote

Hi!

I have been using LibreCAD for a while now and some time ago I was asked to make tutorial videos in Finnish for it.
I decided to use current 2.2.1 RC3 version for tutorials, because it seems to be better than stable, at least in my opinion.

I release my videos to Makertube, maybe one per week:
https://makertube.net/c/doublesixes

I hope these will help someone.

LibreCAD tutorials in Finnish language 🇫🇮

2024-10-23T05:28:36Z

Hi!

I have been using LibreCAD for a while now and some time ago I was asked to make tutorial videos in Finnish for it.
I decided to use current 2.2.1 RC3 version for tutorials, because it seems to be better than stable, at least in my opinion.

I release my videos to Makertube, maybe one per week:
https://makertube.net/c/doublesixes

I hope these will help someone.

Re: Creating a Polyline from Existing Segments ?

2024-10-16T08:57:15Z

Hi Sandra,

when the Polyline tool is active, look at the Tool Options toolbar, which is usually above the drawing area, beside the line style boxes. There is a drop down selection box where you have to choose Line for straight segments.

See https://docs.librecad.org/en/2.2.0_a/ref/tools.html#polyline
or https://docs.librecad.org/en/2.2.0_a/ref/toolbars.html#drawing-tools-toolbars

In case Tool Option tollbar is deactivated accidentally, you can activate it in Widgets -> Toolbars menu.

Armin

^{investing less than half an hour into Search function can save hours or days of waiting for a solution}

Re: Creating a Polyline from Existing Segments ?

2024-10-16T07:57:50Z

Hi Armin:

I want to draw a polyline using lines, but I get circles. Where can I set it back to polyine?

Tnks,

Sandra