KUKA|prc User Interface Error

[utsoa]

Hi. Looking for some guidance with resolving a "KUKA|prc User Interface Error" after installing KUKA prc for Rhino 8.x. I've searched through other topics on the forum and found one similar the .NET but not quite this one. Thanks.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,
That points to a missing Oxyplot library. Did you use the regular installer or copy files manually?
You could also try to search for Oxyplot in your component library, maybe another component is also using that library and GH is getting confused.

Best,
Johannes

[utsoa]

Hi,
Looking at a few directories for the Oxyplot library:
Oxyplot is missing from here:
"C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\Grasshopper\Components"
and
Oxyplot does exist here:
"C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries"

I reinstalled KUKAprc using the "KUKAprcGH_20240325.exe" installer. I'm able to see my KUKA in Rhino, and able to slide the slider in Grasshopper to see the bot move as expected. Selecting the KUKA|prc Settings button in Grasshopper shows the "KUKA|prc User Interface Error" window.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,
Sorry for the slight delay in getting back to you.
OxyPlot should be in "C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries\KUKAprcGH" and not directly in the Libraries folder.
Also check via the PackageManager command in Rhino if KUKA|prc is also installed via that, so that it's around twice.
Best,
Johannes

[utsoa]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I've confirmed all components exist in the "C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries\KUKAprcGH" directory. KUKA|prc v1.0.8810.26816 is installed and listed when looking at the PackageManager in Rhino8. So, presumably, all parts and components to run the KUKA|prc plugin are where they need to be. Loading a .3dm file with a .gh script shows the model and script as expected. When choosing the "KUKA|prc Settings" button within Grasshopper, I receive my initial Interface Error. Not sure where to go from here to troubleshoot. Thanks for working through this.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Sorry to hear that it is still causing issues!

I wrote the text below and will leave it for troubleshooting. In your case however, I'm pretty sure that the problem is that you have got KUKA|prc installed twice. You have to install it EITHER via the PackageManager or the Component Library. As you have got access to the member version which is updated more frequently, I would recommend removing it from the PackageManager.

//////////////////////

Here are the troubleshooting steps in more detail:

1) Make sure Rhino is closed.
2) In the Grasshopper Component Library, temporarily move all files and folders except for the KUKAprcGH folder into another folder
3) Go into KUKAprcGH and check if it contains the following files:
KUKAprcCore.dll
KUKAprcGH.gha
KUKAprcLibrary.dll
KUKAprcLibraryWIN.dll
KUKAprcLicense.json
Newtonsoft.Json.dll
OxyPlot.dll
OxyPlot.Wpf.dll
OxyPlot.Wpf.Shared.dll
System.Drawing.Common.dll
System.ValueTuple.dll
4) Start Rhino again, check if the settings work now.
5) If not, run the "PackageManager" command. Temporarily remove any installed plugins
6) Restart Rhino
7) Test again

If any of the tests is successful, you can start re-adding components to see which component collides with KUKA|prc.

[utsoa]

Confirmed. The list of files below do exist in the "Grasshopper\Libraries\KUKAprcGH" folder. I did fine a few remnant files in the "Grasshopper\Libraries" folder which I have moved out. (KUKAprcCore.dll, OxyPlot.dll
, OxyPlot.Wpf.dll). Unsure of why those ended up there but are now moved. I uninstalled any/all plugins from the package manager in Rhino. Only the KUKA|prc remains and runs in Grasshopper. Using "PRC_SimplePath.3dm" and "PRC_SimplePath.gh" to test. When choosing the "KUKA|prc Settings" shows the same error. Next step for me is to uninstall all KUKA|prc and Rhino related items and start again. I have been able to get this setup running on another few systems, just not my main.

KUKAprcCore.dll
KUKAprcGH.gha
KUKAprcLibrary.dll
KUKAprcLibraryWIN.dll
KUKAprcLicense.json
Newtonsoft.Json.dll
OxyPlot.dll
OxyPlot.Wpf.dll
OxyPlot.Wpf.Shared.dll
System.Drawing.Common.dll
System.ValueTuple.dll

[utsoa]

Update> I've uninstalled all plugins and Rhino. Cleaned any remnants of Rhino and Grasshopper libraries, then reboot. Reinstalled Rhino and started Grasshopper. All is good. Next copied the "KUKAprcGH" with the list of files into the Grasshopper\Libraries\" folder and started Rhino then Grasshopper. KUKA|prc exists in Grasshopper as expected. When using PRC_SimplePath.3dm" and "PRC_SimplePath.gh" to test, choosing KUKA|prc Settings shows the same User Interface Error. Next I've removed the "KUKAprcGH"folder and installed only the KUKA|prc through the package manager. Restarted. Using PRC_SimplePath.3dm" and "PRC_SimplePath.gh" to test, choosing KUKA|prc Settings shows the same User Interface Error. I haven't found a combination that'll work.

I was able to install the KUKA|prc plugin on a test system which has never seen Rhino/KUKA|prc successfully and the KUKA|prc Settings works.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,

Hmmm... Thank you for following all the steps, that error is very weird.
The OxyPlot that KUKA|prc is using is slightly outdated, I've attached the 3 DLLs of the most recent version. It might be worth trying to replace the older DLLs with the same name. You will very likely have to right-click/Properties/Unblock the ZIP/DLL files. Also your browser may complain because of safety concerns. You could also get the files from the NuGets here: https://www.nuget.org/packages?q=oxyplot
I tested it here and it seemed to work without any issues on my laptop.
If that still doesn't work, I can try to make a special version for you to support the troubleshooting.

Best,
Johannes

[utsoa]

Hi,
Update> I've replaced the 3 DLLs with the ones included in your post. KUKAprc is still installed within the PackageManager and the list of files are in the "...\Grasshopper\Libraries\KUKAprcGH" folder. To test, running Grasshopper and inserting the KUKAprc Core module, then choosing the KUKA|prc Settings button shows the User Interface Error. Looking at the list of files on the https://www.nuget.org/packages?q=oxyplot I'm seeing all specify working with .NET5.0 or .NET6.0 or newer. My system is running .NET7 & 8. With Oxyplot's .NET workings, I'm wondering if that is the source of the issue (I may be reaching with that but continuing to troubleshoot). I'm able to run the KUKA|prc plugin on my test system which is running a minimum of software, and has only the .NET7 runtime which is s Rhino3D dependency. Thanks for the continued effort.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,

What do you mean by "KUKA|prc is still installed within the Package Manager"?
Because that is what you should avoid. It should be either in the Package Manager OR in the Component Library.

These two options are completely separate and may collide with each other. Especially if the libraries exist twice in there.
Software from the Package Manager ends up in %APPDATA%\Roaming\McNeel\Rhinoceros\packages\8.0 while the Component Library is in %APPDATA%\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries

Regarding your concerns about NET version, OxyPlot supports NetStandard2.0 which is compatible with both Core and Framework. While I don't see that having any effect, you can try changing Rhino 8's runtime via SetDotNetFramework - restart it afterwards for the change to have effect.

Best,
Johannes

[utsoa]

Hi,
Thanks for the response. I've tried it with KUKAprc installed with the PackageManager only, and also the Component Library only, resulting in the same user interface error.

What I have setup now: 
My "%APPDATA%\Roaming\McNeel\Rhinoceros\packages\8.0" folder is currently empty. Nothing installed in the PackageManager.
My "%APPDATA%\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries\KUKAprcGH" folder has the list of component files.
Same user interface error.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,

I still don't have a solution and assume that there is another version of OxyPlot messing with KUKA|prc.
We updated OxyPlot to 2.1 in February 2022, so you could try that release: https://forum.robotsinarchitecture.org/index.php/topic,1248.0.html (with no KUKA|prc showing up as installed in the PackageManager)

To rule out OxyPlot itself as the culprit, I built the https://github.com/oxyplot/oxyplot/tree/develop/Source/Examples/WPF/SimpleDemo app and included it as a ZIP. You will most likely need to unblock the ZIP file before unzipping.

It's a bit poking in the dark, sorry that we cannot offer a quick solution...
Best,
Johannes

[utsoa]

Update > I went forward with this release https://forum.robotsinarchitecture.org/index.php/topic,1248.0.html (with no KUKA|prc showing up as installed in the PackageManager) and received a new user interface error, different from the first one. I replaced the OxyPlot files with the contents of the "OxyPlotSimpleDemo.zip", and same resulting error.

[Johannes @ Robots in Architecture]

Hello,
Sorry, I didn't explain it properly - for the OxyPlotSimpleDemo.zip you would need to run the included SimpleDemo.exe and see if OxyPlot shows up. You don't need to replace any files with it. It's just a window with a simple graph.

One more idea: You could run the GrasshopperDeveloperSettings in Rhino and see if there are any other folders there. Default should be no folders and COFF disabled.

Best,
Johannes