One, I am not mixing up length or complexity. I was very specific about using the words “the average person” again and again. And keeping things simple both in length and complexity is key. For the average person those two words are often synonymous (especially with regards to computer instructions). This project will not reach a critical mass of people involved until the install is simple and a HUD is include. Having 50 people with this thing up and running is a far cry from thousands of people.

As an avg person, I can attest to the level of frustration from going through the steps and watching a black box pop up after clicking on the fpdb.py file and then close and then nothing.

I don't even know where to begin looking for where I screwed up in the process.

I just put together a troubleshooting guide, to determine why it isn't running. While putting it together I became even more convinced that we need to get busy on a windows installer and I am going to propose to Steffen that we don't make another release until be have one.

OK, so here is the troubleshooting process:

You could just skip to 5 and see what happens there. It might give you a clue on the rest of this stuff.

1. You rebooted after the install process, right? If not, try rebooting before you start the rest of this torture.

2. Check to see if you have a default.conf file:

open a command line and type:

dir c:\"Documents and Settings"\YOUR_USER_NAME\"Application Data"\fpdb

you should see this:

Directory of c:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_USER_NAME\Application Data\fpdb

08/29/2008 09:15 PM <DIR> .
08/29/2008 09:15 PM <DIR> ..
08/26/2008 09:28 PM 249 default.conf
1 File(s) 249 bytes
2 Dir(s) 21,159,768,064 bytes free

If you don't see a default.conf file. You need to copy the one in the docs dir where you installed fpdb.

3. OK here's a simple way to see if you have the prerequisite libraries installed:

open a command line and type:

C:\Python25\python.exe

and enter.

You should see a >>> prompt of the python interpreter. Here is an annotated interpreter session on my machine, testing that I have the required libraries installed properly.

>>> <----I just hit some enters here to get some spaces
>>>
>>>
>>> import pycairo
Traceback (most recent call last): <---This is failure. There is no pycairo library
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named pycairo
>>>
>>>
>>> import cairo <-------This is success, cairo library installed OK. If it didn't, then it is step 28 that went wrong.
>>>
>>>
>>> import pygtk <----- If this failed then step 30 went bad
>>>
>>>
>>> import gtk <----- steps 24-27
>>>
>>>
>>> import MySQLdb <------- 23
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> import gobject <-------- 29
>>>
>>>
>>>

type cntrl-Z and enter to get out
If you didn't get any errors. Then all the libraries are properly installed. If you did, just repeat the step for the library that didn't install properly.

4. OK, while you have that command line type:

path
and hit enter

You should see something like:

PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\Sys tem32\Wbem;c:\gtk\bin

Only much longer. The key thing is that you see the c:\gtk\bin bit. It should also be separated from the dirs before and after by a semicolon.

5. OK. If everything is fine so far you need to cd to the dir where you installed fpdb. For me that is:

cd Desktop\Download\fpdb\fpdb-alpha2-p68\pyfpdb
and hit enter

type:

fpdb.py
and hit enter
You should see the fpdb main screen. If not you should get a human readable error message in the command line window. What is it?

I am certainly above average, when it comes to PC's, and I opened the install readme, and immediately closed it and deleted the download. Far too complex for the average (or above average) PC user. I am also waiting for a installer package.

make a release including postgresql support and windows installation utilities / scripts will take care of themselves imo.

I'll give this a shot in the morning after my fantasy draft.

this.

I took a look at the installation instructions, but at this point it really is
tl:dr

I hope I'll make some of you happy when I say that I have started to script an installer for fpdb. Right now I don't see a reason why a first version shouldn't be out in the next 48 hours. (I'll let you know if I get stuck in a major way.)

2tonbobby was all for it so behold good Sirs your one-click-install is on it's way.
This means it will set the root password for mysql for you and do some other stuff without asking (no, I am not blowing up your PC). This is the fastest way to get an installer out there and it will probably not work out for everybody because of specific computer setups.
With some more days time I will try to make it fool proof and more communicative, e.g. so that you can choose your root password yourself for example.

Good news...looking forward to it.

Still having problems with pygtk under Mac

galileayfpdb glpunzi$ port installed py25-mysql py25-mysql gtk2
The following ports are currently installed:
py25-mysql @1.2.2_0+mysql5 (active)
py25-mysql @1.2.2_0+mysql5 (active)
gtk2 @2.12.9_0+x11 (active)
galileayfpdb glpunzi$

In theory, I have all installed. Some advice?

I forgot the error sorry :P

galileayfpdb glpunzi$ python fpdb.py
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "fpdb.py", line 21, in <module>
import pygtk
ImportError: No module named pygtk

Hi,
I'm back from Leeds now. First, if anyone wants more regular updates of fpdb than the alpha releases but doesn't want to use git pls send me an email and I'll send them.

Only in low end OS' that come without full software manager (Windows, MacOSX)
Seriously though, you're completely right. I will add some error notifications so that for example a missing config file will not make a black window appear and disappear but display an error message in the GUI. Also Michael is working on the installer so hopefully the next alpha will be alot easier.


Please be patient however, we appreciate your pain, but you also have to see our side: we've already spent hundreds of (unpaid) hours on this, and we have to balance your needs, our own needs, and last but not least "the big picture" of making sure fpdb makes meaningful progress on actual functionality. If you look past the installation you'll see that progress is being made.

I didn't realse MacOSX has ports - is this on "original" MacOS or did you have to install third party software e.g. from FreeBSD?
In any case, check for a port for pygtk - installing that and it's dependencies might already fix it.

I am a big fan of open source software. I am also happy this project, from the beginning, is tackling multiple games (not just Hold'em) and multiple operating systems. That is no small feat. The hard work is recognized and appreciated. Kudos to the people at the forefront of this project.

Here is the poo on pygtk for mac. Getting it going looks not easy. To get this to work you will have to install both gtk and pygtk.

you're my hero

Thank you.

Seems like problems with GTK was solved. Was needed to uninstall pygtk, clean the port, and export PYTHONPATH with the sitepackages for python 2.5

Now, I'm fighting gainst MYSQL.

I will post a Step by Step installation for MacOS when ready.

EDITED:
Port (MacPorts) is a third party. http://www.macports.org/

EDITED2:

I think, you use a layer between DB communication and RDBMS.

Could be interesting to add sqlite to his layer for example, to avoid the installation of MySql for the first installation for example.

The installation process is incredibly frustrating and difficult.

I get error when I try to run fpdb.py. What should I do?


Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\fpdb\pyfpdb\fpdb.py", line 27, in <module>
import GuiBulkImport
File "C:\fpdb\pyfpdb\GuiBulkImport.py", line 20, in <module>
import fpdb_import
File "C:\fpdb\pyfpdb\fpdb_import.py", line 21, in <module>
import MySQLdb
ImportError: No module named MySQLdb

This error is for python-mysql not installed.

What OS you use?

OK, I missed a step and fixed it.

When I try to import hand histories, (I save it temporarily in C:\newhud), I click on Import -> Bulk IMport -> Browse (finding my directory)? I can't find anyway reliable to determine my path, because everytime I click on, the file name of a hand history is selected (instead of the path). I get this in the path to auto-import box C:\newhud\083120080201616_HH20080831......... (it should be a path, not a file name)

ANyway, I try to type in my path manually in the box, (C:\newhud), when I click start autoimport, I get this message.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\fpdb\pyfpdb\GuiAutoImport.py", line 67, in startClicked
self.pipe_to_hud = subprocess.Popen(command, bufsize = 1, stdin = subprocess
.PIPE)
File "C:\Python25\lib\subprocess.py", line 594, in __init__
errread, errwrite)
File "C:\Python25\lib\subprocess.py", line 816, in _execute_child
startupinfo)
WindowsError: [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application

I also get
"failed to read settings table - please recreate tables " in first line of the console.

When you opened for the first Time FPDB, did you "Database>>Create recreate tables"?

I'm glad you mentioned this. One mentioned sqlite to me a couple of days ago and it has been running around in my head since.

Sqlite now comes standard with python installations, so anybody that has a modern version of python has sqlite. Therefore, somebody that just wants to try fpdb could do so without the bother of a heavier-duty db manager. Sqlite is blazing fast but does not handle large databases very well, so it is not useful for guys with big dbs--I have no idea how many hands it takes for Sqlite to start having a problem, it might be a lot.

I am going to work on postgres integration this afternoon, I will look at sqlite at the same time. (umm, when I say "work on postgres", do immediately assume that there will be postgres support later today--I first want to see exactly how painful this could be.

I think sqlite can move some hundreds of MB without problems. And, a hand, don't must be greater than 1kb.

I think is factible.

This is my bad. fpdb is trying to start the HUD and sending a bad command to windows. Worked on Linux! I have fixed this, but have not pushed it up to the git tree yet--I will post here when this fix is in the git tree. It will be fixed in the next release. That release will also have a useful HUD for both Windows and Linux.

When you open fpdb for the first time you need to go to the Database menu and select Create or Recreate tables. This will set up a new empty database--it will also wipe out any data in a previous fpdb database.

any plans to make a install wizard ?