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Installation

In Unix and Linux systems access to the serial port is restricted. This means that either there is a program to lock the port with super-user privileges, or the permissions of the port are changed to give read/write access to a group of users or to all users. The latter is dangerous in that it creates security problems. In any case super-user privileges are needed to install the software or to give access to the serial port group.

Debian and other Linux distribution packages

The installation is done as with other such packages and there is no need for manual configuration. Users of GPSMan must belong to the group that owns the serial port to be used (normally dialout).

Other Unix and Linux systems

After unpacking the files (use tar xzvf gpsman-6.2.1.tgz) the GPSMan main file, gpsman.tcl, should be edited for configuration (see below) and put where it can be executed. The other GPSMan files should go into the directory whose path is given at the beginning of gpsman.tcl.

The package includes a file gpsman.sh in the util directory that is a shell script to call gpsman.tcl in graphical mode with no need to give the serial port as argument. This file should be edited for configuration and placed where its can be executed.

Launching the program in a Unix/Linux system

The program is launched by calling gpsman (or gpsman.tcl) that may have no arguments or a single argument with the path to the serial port device, in which case the graphical interface will be used, or 2 or more arguments, in which case the command-line mode will be entered. An exception to this is the call
gpsman [OPTIONS] start travel [INTERVAL]
that is parsed as if in command-linde mode, but then launches the graphical interface (this will only work with Garmin receivers).

MacOS X systems

GPSMan can be run under MacOS X systems by installing a suitable Tcl/Tk package and by using a USB to serial adapter. The following configuration is known to work (information kindly supplied by Mathias Herberts, Mathias.Herberts_at_iroise.net):

To install GPSMan, unpack the gpsman-6.2.1.tgz archive, and edit the GPSMan main file, gpsman.tcl for configuration (see below) and put where it can be executed. The other GPSMan files should go into the directory whose path is given at the beginning of gpsman.tcl.

Other systems

After unpacking the gpsman-6.2.1.zip archive the GPSMan main file, gpsman.tcl, should be edited for configuration (see below) and put where it can be executed. The other GPSMan files should go into the directory whose path is given at the beginning of gpsman.tcl.


GPSMan User Manual
©Miguel Filgueiras, mig_at_ncc.up.pt, DCC-FC & LIACC, Universidade do Porto, 2004

ProgramsData and examplesInstallation