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update some docs
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knipknap committed Feb 8, 2024
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56 changes: 23 additions & 33 deletions README.md
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Expand Up @@ -11,25 +11,25 @@ It also provides a standalone tool if you want to use your library outside of Fr

## Feature Comparison

| Feature | Better Tool Library | FreeCAD internal library |
| :-- | :--: | :--: |
| Modern UI | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Provides a shape browser | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Tool search | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Feature | Better Tool Library | FreeCAD internal library |
| :-- | :--: | :--: |
| Modern UI | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Provides a shape browser | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Tool search | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [Powerful Feeds & Speeds calculator](docs/feeds-and-speeds.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Tool dimension sketch for built-in tools | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Can be used standalone outside of FreeCAD | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Provides built-in common shapes | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Store tool notes and additional info | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Auto-generates tool icons | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Can be used with no document open | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [CLI tool for import/export](cli.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Read BTL files | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |
| Write BTL files | ![X](media/check.svg) | Deletes BTL extra data! |
| Tool dimension sketch for built-in tools | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [Use outside of FreeCAD](docs/standalone.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Provides built-in common shapes | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Store tool notes and additional info | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Auto-generates tool icons | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Can be used with no document open | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [CLI tool for import/export](cli.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| Read BTL files | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |
| Write BTL files | ![X](media/check.svg) | Deletes BTL extra data! |
| [Import Fusion 360 tool library](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [Import from Camotics](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [Export to Camotics](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |
| [Export to LinuxCNC](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |
| [Import from Camotics](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![-](media/no.svg) |
| [Export to Camotics](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |
| [Export to LinuxCNC](docs/formats.md) | ![X](media/check.svg) | ![X](media/check.svg) |


## Screenshots
Expand All @@ -54,40 +54,30 @@ Better Tool Library (BTL) is compatible with FreeCAD 0.19 and 0.21.
- Click it
- Click *Install*

To run it, just **open the Path workbench** and there should be a new icon at the end of the
toolbar:
To run it, just **open the Path workbench** and there should be a new icon at the
end of the toolbar:

![Toolbar](media/toolbar.png)


### Installation in standalone mode

To use via standalone, you will have to install BTL via setuptools.
To use BTL via standalone (=outside of FreeCAD), you will have to install it using
setuptools.

```
pip install btl
```

Alternative installation for the development version:

```
git clone https://github.com/knipknap/better-tool-library.git
```

To run the UI in standalone mode, you need to point `qbtl` to your FreeCAD directories:

```
export PYTHONPATH=/usr/share/freecad/Ext/:/usr/lib/freecad/lib/
qbtl path/to/your/toollibrary/
```

Instructions for running BTL that way are [here](docs/standalone.md).

## Instructions

Some instructions can be found here:

- [Feeds & Speeds calculator](docs/feeds-and-speeds.md).
- [Import/export function](docs/formats.md).
- [Running BTL outside of FreeCAD](docs/standalone.md).
- [CLI tool](docs/cli.md).


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# Running BTL in Standalone Mode

BTL can be started without opening FreeCAD, but you still need to have
FreeCAD installed.

To run the UI in standalone mode, you also need to tell BTL where your
FreeCAD directories are by pointing `qbtl` to it.

In Linux, this looks like that:

```
export PYTHONPATH=/usr/share/freecad/Ext/:/usr/lib/freecad/lib/
qbtl path/to/your/toollibrary/
```

Of course you will have to adapt the path according to your system
environment.

Note that in standalone mode there are some minor limitations, e.g.
BTL cannot generate any new tool icons. But everything else should
work fine.

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