diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore index 08a59fb10..a710d37db 100644 --- a/.gitignore +++ b/.gitignore @@ -1,4 +1,5 @@ # Editors +*~ .vscode/* # Python virtual environment diff --git a/manual/getting_started/installing/index.rst b/manual/getting_started/installing/index.rst index b96b02125..630fa61fc 100644 --- a/manual/getting_started/installing/index.rst +++ b/manual/getting_started/installing/index.rst @@ -77,4 +77,5 @@ Follow the steps for your platform. .. toctree:: :hidden: + linux_example_install.rst linux_windowing_environment.rst diff --git a/manual/getting_started/installing/linux.rst b/manual/getting_started/installing/linux.rst index 33ce1b8c9..550d1f7a2 100644 --- a/manual/getting_started/installing/linux.rst +++ b/manual/getting_started/installing/linux.rst @@ -12,16 +12,15 @@ Install from blender.org ======================== Download the Linux version for your architecture and decompress the file to the desired location -(e.g. ``~/software`` or ``/usr/local``). +(e.g. ``/opt`` or ``~/software`` or ``/usr/local``). -Blender can now be launched by double-clicking the executable. +Blender can now be launched by running the ``blender`` executable in the installed directory. -When using this method of installation, it is possible to have multiple versions of Blender installed. +Getting icons to work is somewhat tedious, but does not have to be redone when updating +blender versions. See :doc:`Linux Example Install `. -For ease of access, you can configure your system by adding a menu entry or shortcut for Blender. -You may also associate blend-files with Blender so that when selected from the file browser, -they will automatically open in Blender. -These settings are typically found in conjunction with the Window Manager settings. (Gnome or KDE.) +When using this method of installation, it is possible to have multiple versions of Blender installed +as they each have a different directory name. Install from Package Manager diff --git a/manual/getting_started/installing/linux_example_install.rst b/manual/getting_started/installing/linux_example_install.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..909a3b38c --- /dev/null +++ b/manual/getting_started/installing/linux_example_install.rst @@ -0,0 +1,118 @@ + +******************* +Linux example install of downloaded Blender +******************* + +The following commands sucessfully installed the downloaded 4.0.2 version of Blender +on POP!_OS (a spinoff of Ubuntu). This includes making the ``.blend`` files show +thumbnails and icons and making double-clicking of them launch Blender. + +This should work for other Linux distributions, however the directories files must be +placed into, especially icons, can change depending on the distribution and the +desktop theme. Search around for similar directory names and files to locate where +they should go. `Freedesktop.org `__ +is the official specification for how these files work. + +Use of ``sudo`` can be avoided by unpacking the download into your home directory, using +that instead of ``/opt``, and making all the links to ``~/.local`` instead of ``/usr/local``. + +**Extract the downloaded ``.tar.xz`` file into a directory in ``/opt``** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo mkdir -p /opt + cd /opt + sudo tar -xf ~/Downloads/blender-4.0.2-linux-x64.tar.xz + +**Add a symbolic link to skip the version number** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo ln -sTf blender-4.0.2-linux-x64 /opt/blender + +**Make Blender commands work from the command line** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender /usr/bin/blender + sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender-thumbnailer /usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer + + You should now be able to type ``blender`` in a shell to run it. + +**Make the desktop know about the blender application** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender.desktop /usr/share/applications/ + + It should now appear in your Application selector, but the icon is missing. + +**Make the icon for the blender application work** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender.svg /usr/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/blender.svg + + Here you need to locate the correct directory for your Linux distribution. + +**Check if the "mime type" exists** + + This should work on any modern Linux installation. + + .. code-block:: console + + $ mimetype foo.blend + foo.blend: application/x-blender + + Alternative: + + .. code-block:: console + + $ grep blender /etc/mime.types + application/x-blender blend + +**Add the mimetype if missing** + + Put the following into ``/usr/share/mime/packages/Overrides.xml``: + + .. code-block:: xml + + + + + Blender scene + + + + + + And run this: + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo update-mime-database /usr/share/mime + +**Make the icon for .blend files work** + + .. code-block:: sh + + sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender-symbolic.svg \ + /usr/share/icons/Pop/scalable/mimetypes/application-x-blender.svg + sudo update-icon-caches /usr/share/icons/Pop/ + + At least for this system, an entirely different subdirectory had to be used than + the one for the execuatble icon. + +**Make thumbnails work for .blend files** + + Thumbnails may already be working, try saving a ``.blend`` file and then looking + at it in the files application. If not this should make them work: + + Put the following into ``/usr/share/thumbnailers/x-blender.thumbnailer``: + + .. code-block:: ini + + [Thumbnailer Entry] + TryExec=/usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer + Exec=/usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer %i %o + MimeType=application/x-blender;