IDeATe Ultrabook Setup

The class projects require Grasshopper and Firefly, which are only available for the Windows version of Rhino.  If you will be using a Windows 8 Ultrabook from the IDeATe Virtual Cluster, the following may help you get started.

General Rhino notes can be found on the Rhino Resources page.

Many of the following steps require Administrator privileges, so an instructor may need to enter an authorization password.

The required installation files have been cached in a CMU box.com folder for your convenience.

Initial Setup

You may wish to pick up an external mouse with the machine, it eases Rhino use.

If you will be using an external display, please see the Projector notes below about adapters.

Log in using your Andrew ID.  The first time on a given machine can take some time as it creates your profile.

You may wish to launch Rhino once to let it prepare your account, the first time can take a while.

Installing Grasshopper

Check if Grasshopper is installed by entering Grasshopper at the Rhino command line.

To installing Grasshopper, exit Rhino, fetch and double-click the following file, then select ‘install for anyone’:  grasshopper_0.9.76.0.rhi

Installing Firefly

  1. First check the date on the Firefly installation; if it is Jan 2015 or newer, you may only need to install a few files on your individual profile rather than reinstall it on the machine.
  2. If the Arduino IDE is not already installed, it should be installed prior to Firefly: fetch and double-click the following file, choosing all default options: arduino-1.0.6-windows.exe
  3. Run the Arduino IDE once so it creates your Sketchbook folder.
  4. The old version of Firefly must be removed using  Control Panel / Programs and Features / Uninstall
  5. To install a newer Firefly, fetch and double-click the following:  Firefly_Installer_64bit.msi

Firefly Individual User Setup

The Firefly installer appears to fail to install properly for all users, so a user other than the original installing account appears to need to install particular files in the home folder under AppData/Roaming/Grasshopper/Libraries.

Fetch the file AppData-Roaming-Grasshopper-Libraries.zip, then compare the contents to AppData/Roaming/Grasshopper/Libraries, copying over any missing files.

Installing Python for Grasshopper

If you did install ghpython.gha as part of the previous step, then fetch the following file: ghpython.gha

This file needs to be moved to the following location in your home folder: AppData/Roaming/Grasshopper/Libraries

This folder can also be opened by running Rhino and Grasshopper, then selecting the menu option: File / Special Folders / Components

Restart Rhino if open.

Microsoft Kinect V2 SDK

If you find that the Firefly KinectV2 components are failing with a runtime error involving being unable to load a library, you may need to install the Microsoft Kinect SDK.

The most current version is available from Microsoft, or you could try  the following from the installation cache: KinectSDK-v2.0_1409-Setup.exe

Connecting a Projector

The Ultrabooks have a micro-HDMI connector for an external display.  We have two solutions for our BENQ projectors:

  1. micro-HDMI to VGA adapter, using the VGA to VGA cable supplied with the projector
  2. micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter, using an HDMI cable from IDeATe

To change from mirroring the display to treating the projector as a second display, right-click the desktop and select the following menu option: Graphics Options / Output To / Extended Desktop / Built-in Display + Digital Display

You may then need to reset the built-in display to full resolution: right-click the desktop and select Screen resolution, then choose Resolution / 1920 x 1080, click Apply, and then confirm the change within 15 seconds.

AutoDesk 123D Catch

The Ultrabooks have 123D Catch pre-installed by Cluster Services.  If you’d prefer to run it on your own machine, you can find it at http://www.123dapp.com/catch

Sense handheld 3D scanner from 3D Systems Corp

IDeATe has one of these scanners.  The software is available from the following link: http://cubify.com/en/Products/SenseTechSpecs

To install, first make sure Rhino is closed, then run SenseSetup_win-1.1.exe

Plug in the device and launch the Sense app.

It will need an activation code based on the serial number, please consult the instructors.

Optional Setup

Disabling tap-to-click

If you dislike the tap-to-click behavior of the trackpad, it can be turned off as follows: navigate the following menu tree and turn off the Tapping button under Pointing:

Control Panel / Mouse Properties / Device Settings / Settings

Enabling built-in web cam

The built-in webcam does not appear to work; we are still working out the details of installing the appropriate SDK which includes a driver.

Changing screen background

If you would like to change the default Scotty dog desktop background, delete the following file from your home directory:

AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes/TranscodedWallpaper

Then right-click on the background, open the Personalize menu, select Desktop Background, and choose what you prefer instead.  Unfortunately this change will go away next you log off.  (Can anyone make this permanent?)