Gctrl

What is Gctrl

Gctrl is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) program for use with GRBL. Gctrl is code that is meant to run on the software called "Processing". Gctrl provides control options for jogging and sending gcode.

Requirements

Processing

How to Get Gctrl

Gctrl

You can get Gctrl by going to the link and downloading the zip file (by clicking "ZIP"), then extracting its contents to a folder of your choosing

• Archived Gctrl File: File:Gctrl.pde

How to Run Gctrl

• Navigate to the Processing folder

• Open Processing by double-clicking on the Processing executable.

• In Processing, go to File>Open, then navigate to the folder that contains gctrl.pde, then select that file. Processing should now open another window with the gctrl code.

• In Processing, click "Run"

• Now the Gctrl GUI window should pop up

• Note: For certain functions of gctrl, press and hold down the key for the popup windows to populate.

Modify Gctrl code for Windows ports

• Open the Gctrl folder

• Edit the Gctrl code as follows:

// select and modify the appropriate line for your operating system

// leave as null to use interactive port (press 'p' in the program)

//String portname = null;

//String portname = Serial.list()[0]; // Mac OS X

//String portname = "/dev/ttyUSB0"; // Linux

String portname = "COM6"; // Windows

Modify Gctrl code for Linux ports

• Open the Gctrl folder

• Open gctrl.pde in gedit

• Change a part of the code as annotated in the following:

Serial port = null; //change starts

String portname = "/dev/ttyACM0"; // Linux, Arduino Uno

//change ends

boolean streaming = false;

Problems and Solutions

Problem: java.lang.NullPointerException

Solution: