Cannot create backup path (Windows)

[sm0orb]

Hi I'm new to OpenSCAD and the first thing i get seems to be a bug :-) Made a tiny module, hit F6, and there it is.

Code, real simple

module test1(){ sphere(10); }

test1();

Output, errors at top

ERROR: boost::filesystem::read_symlink: Begäran stöds inte: "C:/Users\Anders" ERROR: boost::filesystem::read_symlink: Begäran stöds inte: "C:/Users\Anders" ERROR: boost::filesystem::create_directory: Det går inte att hitta sökvägen WARNING: Cannot create backup path: Compiling design (CSG Tree generation)... Rendering Polygon Mesh using CGAL... PolySets in cache: 0 PolySet cache size in bytes: 0 CGAL Polyhedrons in cache: 3 CGAL cache size in bytes: 3131736 Top level object is a 3D object: Simple: yes Vertices: 450 Halfedges: 2524 Edges: 1262 Halffacets: 1628 Facets: 814 Volumes: 2 Total rendering time: 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds

Rendering finished.

Rendering OK, and i can zoom etc so no big issue.

Searched a bit for comments on the error and found similar errors discussed but none open now. Problem seems to be the creation of the backup since i have unsaved code. I think my computer setup is making this happen and it may become more common when starting to use SSD disks. My setup: Intel 3770K CPU 3.5 GHz, integrated graphics. Win7 Home prem SP1 SSD for OS and programs C: HDD for user data D: I have moved my user home folder to D: wich seems to create a symlink so a search on C: and D: will both show my home folder and all subfolders.

Seems this is not supported in OpenSCAD right now. One more detail: In the path shown in the error messages there is one forward slash and one back. May give a clue.

Hope i gave some good input on fixing this. /Anders

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[t-paul]

Looking at the error message it seems to detect the symlink but still fails to resolve it. Can you please also post the output from "Help -> Library Info". This includes the different path settings too.

[sm0orb]

OK

First of all when selecting "Help -> Library Info" i got a loud trumpet sound and a empty box, show details gave the following.

OpenSCAD Version: 2014.03 Compiler, build date: GCC "4.8.1", Mar 9 2014 Boost version: 1_53 Eigen version: 3.1.3 CGAL version, kernels: 4.0.2, Cartesian<Gmpq>, Extended_cartesian<Gmpq>, Epeck OpenCSG version: OpenCSG 1.3.2 Qt version: 4.8.5 MingW build: MingW64 GLib version: 2.36.3 OPENSCADPATH: OpenSCAD library path: C:/Users/Anders/Documents/OpenSCAD/libraries C:/Program Files/OpenSCAD/libraries GLEW version: 1.9.0 OpenGL Version: 4.0.0 - Build 10.18.10.3958 GL Renderer: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 GL Vendor: Intel RGBA(8888), depth(24), stencil(8) GL_ARB_framebuffer_object: yes GL_EXT_framebuffer_object: yes GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil: yes

Using QGLWidget

GL Extensions: GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1 GL_ARB_ES2_compatibility GL_ARB_ES3_compatibility GL_ARB_arrays_of_arrays GL_ARB_base_instance GL_ARB_blend_func_extended GL_ARB_buffer_storage GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_compatibility GL_ARB_compressed_texture_pixel_storage GL_ARB_conservative_depth GL_ARB_copy_buffer GL_ARB_debug_output GL_ARB_depth_buffer_float GL_ARB_depth_clamp GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_draw_buffers_blend GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex GL_ARB_draw_indirect GL_ARB_draw_instanced GL_ARB_explicit_attrib_location GL_ARB_fragment_coord_conventions GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_framebuffer_no_attachments GL_ARB_framebuffer_object GL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB GL_ARB_geometry_shader4 GL_ARB_get_program_binary GL_ARB_gpu_shader5 GL_ARB_gpu_shader_fp64 GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_half_float_vertex GL_ARB_instanced_arrays GL_ARB_internalformat_query GL_ARB_internalformat_query2 GL_ARB_map_buffer_alignment GL_ARB_map_buffer_range GL_ARB_multi_draw_indirect GL_ARB_multisample GL_ARB_multitexture GL_ARB_occlusion_query GL_ARB_occlusion_query2 GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_ARB_program_interface_query GL_ARB_provoking_vertex GL_ARB_robustness GL_ARB_sample_shading GL_ARB_sampler_objects GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map GL_ARB_separate_shader_objects GL_ARB_shader_atomic_counters GL_ARB_shader_bit_encoding GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shader_precision GL_ARB_shader_subroutine GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_shading_language_420pack GL_ARB_shading_language_packing GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_stencil_texturing GL_ARB_sync GL_ARB_tessellation_shader GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_texture_buffer_object_rgb32 GL_ARB_texture_buffer_range GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_ARB_texture_compression_bptc GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_texture_cube_map_array GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_float GL_ARB_texture_gather GL_ARB_texture_multisample GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_texture_query_lod GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_texture_rg GL_ARB_texture_rgb10_a2ui GL_ARB_texture_storage GL_ARB_texture_storage_multisample GL_ARB_texture_swizzle GL_ARB_timer_query GL_ARB_transform_feedback2 GL_ARB_transform_feedback3 GL_ARB_transform_feedback_instanced GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_uniform_buffer_object GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra GL_ARB_vertex_array_object GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_64bit GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_binding GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_ARB_vertex_program GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_ARB_vertex_type_2_10_10_10_rev GL_ARB_viewport_array GL_ARB_window_pos GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array GL_EXT_draw_buffers2 GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample GL_EXT_framebuffer_object GL_EXT_geometry_shader4 GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters GL_EXT_gpu_shader4 GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil GL_EXT_packed_float GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_EXT_shader_integer_mix GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_EXT_texture3D GL_EXT_texture_array GL_EXT_texture_buffer GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_EXT_texture_env_combine GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_EXT_texture_integer GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_EXT_texture_sRGB_decode GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent GL_EXT_texture_snorm GL_EXT_texture_storage GL_EXT_texture_swizzle GL_EXT_transform_feedback GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_INTEL_map_texture GL_INTEL_performance_queries GL_INTEL_performance_query GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced GL_KHR_debug GL_NV_blend_square GL_NV_conditional_render GL_NV_primitive_restart GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays GL_WIN_swap_hint WGL_ARB_buffer_region WGL_ARB_create_context WGL_ARB_create_context_profile WGL_ARB_create_context_robustness WGL_ARB_extensions_string WGL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB WGL_ARB_make_current_read WGL_ARB_multisample WGL_ARB_pbuffer WGL_ARB_pixel_format WGL_ARB_pixel_format_float WGL_EXT_create_context_es2_profile WGL_EXT_create_context_es_profile WGL_EXT_depth_float WGL_EXT_extensions_string WGL_EXT_pixel_format_packed_float WGL_EXT_swap_control WGL_EXT_swap_control_tear

WGL_NV_DX_interop

[t-paul]

Ugh, looks like the backup path output was added after the release. I tried adding a symlink which did work, so maybe the special case with drive change is the problem...

[t-paul]

How did you move the folder? I tried moving the Documents folder to D: and that removed the one on C: causing no issues for OpenSCAD.

[sm0orb]

Not quite sure but think is was the way described in this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/redirect-folder-new-location#1TC=windows-7 Sure i didn't do anything complicated so it seems right.

[t-paul]

Could you try the latest dev-snapshot from http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html#snapshots ? There seem to be some fixes in the boost library that could be related to this...

[sm0orb]

So, downloaded the latest and tested, same errors. What catches my eyes: ERROR: boost::filesystem::read_symlink: Begäran stöds inte: "C:/Users\Anders" Note "C:/Users\Anders" forward slash and back slash in same path is an inconsistency.

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Library info now comes up:

OpenSCAD Version: 2014.12.15 System information: Windows 7 (v6.1) 8 CPUs 3.89 GB RAM Compiler, build date: GCC "4.9.2" 64bit, Dec 15 2014 Boost version: 1_57 Eigen version: 3.2.2 CGAL version, kernels: 4.5, Cartesian, Extended_cartesian, Epeck OpenCSG version: OpenCSG 1.3.2 Qt version: 5.4.0 QScintilla version: 2.8.4 MingW build: MingW64 GLib version: 2.42.1 Application Path: C:/Program Files/OpenSCAD Documents Path: C:\Users\Anders\Documents Resource Path: C:/Program Files/OpenSCAD User Library Path: User Config Path: C:\Users\Anders\AppData\Local/OpenSCAD Backup Path: OPENSCADPATH: OpenSCAD library path:

C:/Program Files/OpenSCAD\libraries

OPENSCAD_FONT_PATH: OpenSCAD font path: GLEW version: 1.11.0 OpenGL Version: 4.0.0 - Build 10.18.10.3958 GL Renderer: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 GL Vendor: Intel RGBA(8888), depth(24), stencil(8) GL_ARB_framebuffer_object: yes GL_EXT_framebuffer_object: yes GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil: yes

Using QGLWidget

GL Extensions:

skipping the extensions list.

Do note the mixing of back and forward slashes in the different paths. Checking the paths reveil that the folder pointed to by "User Config Path" does not exist. Also that is one place where a forward slash is used in a path where those before are back slash.

Picture of the paths:

Note the arrow marker on my user folder "Anders" indicating it is a link.

[sm0orb]

Hi

Opened a file i was working with and guess what! This was opened with a path starting with D: Loaded design 'D:/Users/Anders/Documents/3D/OpenSCAD/Bete1.scad'. Also from now on this path is the default accessed from the open button in the welcome window. No changes in path report from library info, and no new folders created in appdata.

[sm0orb]

Just out of curiosity. What should the backup path be ? Think of testing the responses if i create the path manually.

[kintel]

It should be C:\users\username\documents\OpenSCAD\backups

C:\users\username\documents is whatever Windows gives us when we ask for the CSIDL_PERSONAL path. If you moved your homedir, Windows might report something different.

[sm0orb]

OK, so i created the backup path manually but ends up with the same errors whenever i render a file that is not saved.

So if there are no more ideas from developers i'll let it rest and hope you have a check on it when there are other changes that may affect the path parsing.

[AmedeeBulle]

FWTIW, I am running into the exact same problem (Win7 64bits, OpenSCDAD 2015.04.25 -- git 2b33922) and this thread helped me to workaround...

As @sm0orb my home directory is symlinked to a directory on my D drive, and this is really the source of the issue. The real annoyance is that complex OpenSCAD scripts will crash (probably because OpenSCAD cannot open a temp file) with:

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library: Runtime Error! Program: openscad.exe
This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.

The good news is that I now have a workaround: it all works when you open the script directly from the 'physical' location (d:...) rather than from the symlinked home (c:...)

Note that symlinked home directories are not officially supported by Microsoft...

[bradisbell]

Still having this problem in 2016.10.04.

[t-paul]

That's the same as #1309? If yes, it's probably caused by the boost issue linked there. Which is still open.

[Nbeknel]

I'm on 2024.01.23 (git 88d244aed) and I still get this error. What should I do?

[jordanbrown0]

I've never seen that, across several years and four different computers running Windows 10 and 11. What are you doing that's novel? It's kind of suggesting that there's something weird about how your user directory is set up.

But the program could certainly do a better job of reporting the problem, like what path was it trying to create.

[Nbeknel]

I don't know what exactly fixed the problem, but here is what I did:

• enabled and disabled OneDrive
• uninstalled OpenSCAD and deleted all its directories in AppData
• enabled the beta function under system locale (Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support)
• reinstalled OpenSCAD.

I assume it's the beta function that did it, since changing the system locale has helped me with SuperSlicer.

[cxcxcxcx]

Having the same issue. My locale is Chinese, maybe that's related? The error is only "?????", likely due to encoding issue. Saving the file in a path without space or non-ASCII char works.