How to download, install and patch 'freeCAD'?


Windows with 128MB or more RAM:
Create a directory, say, C:\freecad9a for the downloads.
Download freecad9a.zip  (12,552,829 bytes).
Unzip freecad9a.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same directory.
Double click on freecad9a.exe to launch the application.
If double clicking doesn't work, create a shortcut containing the full command below:
C:\freecad9a\freecad9a.exe  C:\freecad9a\freecad9a.im
The working directory should be C:\freecad9a
Then double click the shortcut.



To try 'freeCAD' in Linux:
Create a directory, say, /home/username/freecad8 for the downloads.
Download freecad8.zip  (6,506,732 bytes).
Download patch84.zip  (11465 bytes).
In a terminal window, execute:
cd /home/username/freecad8
unzip freecad8.zip
unzip patch8*.zip               Let it overwrite other files.
./visual freecad8.im            This launches 'freeCAD'.
Alternatively, create a script containing the full command below:
/home/username/freecad8/visual  /home/username/freecad8/freecad8.im
The working directory should be /home/username/freecad8
Then double click the script.
Please read the Known Problems


To try 'freeCAD' in Macintosh PowerPC OS/8:
Create a folder, say, freecad8 for the downloads.
Download freecad8.zip  (6,506,732 bytes).
Download patch84.zip  (11465 bytes).
Locate and download PowerMac virtual machine at http://smalltalk.cincom.com/downloads/index.ssp?content=visualworks
Open Stuffit Expander 5.5's preferences dialog to Cross Platform options, and select
"Never" for "Convert Text Files to Macintosh text format".
Then for the Destination options, select
"Same as original" for "Destination"
"Never" for "Create Surrounding Folder".
Decompress freecad8.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same folder.
Decompress patch8*.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same folder. Let it overwrite other files.
Decompress virtual machine file into the same folder.
From subfolder freecad8:bin:powermac, move the application visual, StdLibC and Netmanage into folder freecad8
In folder freecad8, drag freecad8.im and drop onto visual to launch the application.
Alternatively, create a alias containing the full command below:
visual freecad8.im
The working folder should be freecad8
Then double click the alias.
You may delete subfolder freecad8:bin:powermac and its remaining contents. 
Please read the Known Problems 


To try 'freeCAD' in Macintosh PowerPC OS/X:
Create a folder, say, freecad8 for the downloads.
Download freecad8.zip  (6,506,732 bytes).
Download patch84.zip  (11465 bytes).
Locate and download OSX virtual machine at http://smalltalk.cincom.com/downloads/index.ssp?content=visualworks
unzip freecad8.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same folder.
unzip patch8*.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same folder. Let it overwrite other files.
Decompress virtual machine file into the same folder.
From subfolder freecad8:bin:macx, move the application visual.app into folder freecad8
In folder freecad8, drag freecad8.im and drop onto visual.app to launch the application.
Alternatively, create a alias containing the full command below:
visual.app freecad8.im
The working folder should be freecad8
Then double click the alias.
You may delete subfolder freecad8:bin:macx, and its remaining contents. 
Please read the Known Problems 


To try 'freeCAD' in other Unix's:
Create a directory, say, /home/username/freecad8 for the downloads.
Download freecad8.zip  (6,506,732 bytes).
Download patch84.zip  (11465 bytes).
Locate and download Unix virtual machine at http://smalltalk.cincom.com/downloads/index.ssp?content=visualworks
unzip freecad8.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same directory.
unzip patch8*.zip, preserving subdirectories, into the same directory. Let it overwrite other files.
Decompress virtual machine file into the same directory.
From subdirectory /home/username/freecad8/bin/unix, move the executable visual into directory /home/username/freecad8
Repeat for file herald.so.
Change directory to /home/username/freecad8
In a terminal window, execute: ./visual freecad8.im
Alternatively, create a script containing the full command below:
/home/username/freecad8/visual  /home/username/freecad8/freecad8.im
The working directory should be /home/username/freecad8
Then double click the script.
You may delete subdirectory /home/username/freecad8/bin/unix and its remaining contents. 
Please read the Known Problems