winGRASS Tcl/Tk: Cannot save image files (PNG/JPG/BMP/etc)

[ege]

When trying to save a PNG (or JPG, BMP, ...) from Map Display, a box appears saying:

"Could not create PNG: couldn't execute "gdal_translate": no such file or directory

GRASS was installed using OSGeo4W installer. Tcl/Tk GUI is used. When using wxPython GUI, it works without problems.

[hamish]

make sure that the enormously useful gdal tools are installed. look for a package in the osgeo4w installer called "gdal-bin" or similar.

.ppm output should work without additional help.

Hamish

[ege]

The enormously useful gdal tools are there. As is the specific executable GRASS complains about: C:\OSGeo4W\apps\gdal-16\bin\gdal_translate.exe

Sorry, I forgot to specify that I was giving a two-days training on GRASS. Thus I and the students ran all sorts of commands, but the image export didn't work on all PCs in the classroom (different PCs, all WinXP, same OSGeo4W installer).

[hamish]

are the gdal programs in the %PATH%, available from a dos box?

It is probably worth mentioning that we are all(?) testing with the standalone installer, not the osgeo4w one. The text on the download page saying that the osgeo4w one is better for use in bulk computer lab installs is perhaps a bit misleading and should possibly be removed. I don't know enough about it to make that call with enough certainty to commit that change myself. And of course if you are using lots of other OSGeo software, using the osgeo4w installer does make a lot of sense.

regards, Hamish

[ege]

Replying to hamish:

are the gdal programs in the %PATH%, available from a dos box?

if you are using lots of other OSGeo software, using the osgeo4w installer does make a lot of sense.

The path to gdal's "bin" folder was not in the %PATH%. After adding it, the image file save works also from Tcl/Tk. So it's an OSGeo4W-related issue, I assume.

Actually, we were focusing on GRASS for that training, but you know, when you start by introducing the concept of open source and OSGeo software in general, it's nice to show students (who never approached FOSS4G before) that there is a convenient way for installing everything easily. Maybe next time we will use the stand-alone installer for GRASS-focused trainings.

Regards, Eugenio

[hamish]

Replying to ege:

The path to gdal's "bin" folder was not in the %PATH%. After adding it, the image file save works also from Tcl/Tk. So it's an OSGeo4W-related issue, I assume.

Yes.

Actually, we were focusing on GRASS for that training, but you know, when you start by introducing the concept of open source and OSGeo software in general, it's nice to show students (who never approached FOSS4G before) that there is a convenient way for installing everything easily.

it is true that Open Source is best thought of as an ecosystem rather than a series of independent islands. Having the full range of gdal command line tools, to part command line part GUI like GRASS, to full GUI like QGIS lets you use the best tool for the job each time wrt each's strength. Having said that the stand-alone WinGRASS installer is a lot less more familiar/easier for new users (me too).

Maybe next time we will use the stand-alone installer for GRASS-focused trainings.

shrug, when ready grab the latest version of each, try both yourself, see which one is the better fit for you. A goal is to have both working properly. :)

There is not much we can do about the PATH issue from here, so opened as OSGeo4W bug:

​https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/ticket/562

and closing this ticket. sorry there isn't a "cantfix" option for closing the bug; "wontfix" isn't exactly true but is the closest available.

Hamish

[hellik]

Replying to hamish:

There is not much we can do about the PATH issue from here, so opened as OSGeo4W bug:

​https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/ticket/562

and closing this ticket. sorry there isn't a "cantfix" option for closing the bug; "wontfix" isn't exactly true but is the closest available.

Hamish

just have a look at the osgeo4w-wiki:

​http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/wiki/PackageListing#a1.5.xstable

there is gdal1.5 (stable), gdal1.6.x and development trunk.

for gdal 1.6 (see ​http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/wiki/pkg-gdal16):

The gdal-16 package unpacks in osgeo4w\apps\gdal-16 and does not disturb the normal gdal package. To actually use the gdal-16 package, run the "gdal16.bat" script in the OSGeo4W console window. 

best regards Helmut