How I Installed DraftSight on 64-Bit Linux Mint 11

Installing DraftSight on 64-bit Linux Mint 11 is not straightforward as the DraftSight app is 32-bit only. Good thing it is possible to force-install a 32-bit app on a 64-bit architecture. The installation procedure below came from different sources within the Linux Mint and Ubuntu forums. I put them in one place for future reference.

First, prepare the 64-bit Linux Mint 11 system to run 32-bit apps using 32-bit libraries. To download these libraries, open the Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

Then, get the additional libraries to run DraftSight:

sudo apt-get install libdirectfb-extra

sudo apt-get install libxcb-render-util0

sudo apt-get install libaudio2

Download DraftSight for Ubuntu (Linux OS .deb file). Note the download destination folder.

When download is finished, go to the destination folder, open a Terminal there then type:

sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture DraftSight.deb

If it does not work and you get errors, create a folder, say "DS", within your home folder and unpack DraftSight.deb within it.

Go to your /opt and /var folders and check if a DraftSight folder exists in each of them. If not, copy the contents of DS/opt/ and DS/var/ to /opt and /var

Then open a Terminal within the DS/DEBIAN folder and type the following:

sudo ./preinst

sudo ./postint

Check your menu under the Graphics group of apps, DraftSight should be there. Launch and follow instructions to activate it.

Thanks to the contributors in these threads:
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/370
http://askubuntu.com/questions/39647/how-do-i-install-draftsight-cad

CD-R King Staff Can't C D Tag, Decides Not To Sell

Cousins, brother and I decided to spend last night at home watching Gundam 00 The Movie. To do so, I would need to connect my old laptop supplied with a DVI output to the new TV with a VGA input. Luckily I still keep the small DVI male to VGA female connector that came with the old laptop, so I just need a VGA male to VGA male cable. The first vendor that flashed to mind was CD-R King in Waltermart EDSA-Muñoz. It was the closest electronics shop to our home and mall parking was always ample. I considered Cyberzone too at SM North but waiting and looking for a parking slot at the Annex would take much of my time. It was Sunday afternoon.

When I arrived at CD-R King Waltermart, I was customer #34. You know how it works in any CD-R King branch: staff will only pay attention to you when they call your number. I waited outside the shop, strolled around, went back, went inside, outside. After 40 minutes they called my number. I was so close to leaving.

I told the attending lady that I need a VGA male to VGA male cable. I was worried that it may not be available but I felt relieved upon seeing her holding the cable the next minute. She took out the receipt pad then looked for the price tag.

There was no price tag.

"Sorry, sir, but this item has no price," she told me.

"That means...?" I asked.

"We can't sell you this."

WTF?!

"Can you ask your manager for the price?"

"She doesn't know too. The head office sets the price."

"Can you call your other branches? Can you check your website for the price?"

"Sorry, sir, it doesn't work that way."

"I waited 40 minutes, the item is available but just because it has no price I have to walk home empty-handed?!" It was hard to keep cool. I felt doing a mayor's punch but I already took the vow of non-violence years ago. Also, it wasn't the staff's fault if she was honest about the company's idiotic sales policy.

"Sorry sir." Immediately she called the next number.

I endured the rest of the night: parking at the SM North Annex, looking for the cable and finding it at one of the small shops in Cyberzone, paying for it at a premium, and finally watching Gundam 00 The movie which had a terrible, constipated ending.

What a way to spend the Sunday night.