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Installation

Install via FreeCAD Addon Manager

This is the recommended installation method for most users.

  1. Open FreeCAD.
  2. Open Tools -> Addon manager....
  3. Search for DataManager (or Data Manager).
  4. Select the workbench and click Install/Update.
  5. Restart FreeCAD.

Notes:

  • Addon Manager installs workbenches into your FreeCAD user Mod/ directory.
  • After install/update, a FreeCAD restart is usually required for workbench discovery and command registration.

Development installation (from GitHub)

FreeCAD discovers user workbenches by scanning your FreeCAD Mod/ directory. For development (and for installing from a cloned repo), the recommended workflow is to clone this repository and then create a link into your Mod/ directory pointing at the repository root.

After adding/removing a workbench (or changing the link), restart FreeCAD.

1) Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/royw/freecad_datamanager_workbench.git

2) Locate your FreeCAD Mod/ directory

FreeCAD’s per-user data directory is versioned. Typical locations:

Linux

  • ~/.local/share/FreeCAD/<version>/Mod
  • Example: ~/.local/share/FreeCAD/v1-2/Mod

macOS

  • ~/Library/Application Support/FreeCAD/<version>/Mod

Windows

  • %APPDATA%\\FreeCAD\\<version>\\Mod

Find your FreeCAD Mod/ directory

If you’re unsure, in FreeCAD go to:

  • Edit -> Preferences -> General -> Macro

The macro directory is typically adjacent to your user Mod/ directory. If you find the Macro/ directory and there is not a Mod/ directory, create a Mod/ directory in the same location.

Link the repository’s directory into your FreeCAD user Mod/ directory.

ln -s /path/to/FreeCAD_Workbench_DataManager ~/.local/share/FreeCAD/<version>/Mod/datamanager_wb

ln -s /path/to/FreeCAD_Workbench_DataManager "$HOME/Library/Application Support/FreeCAD/<version>/Mod/datamanager_wb"

Windows (PowerShell junction)

Use a directory junction:

New-Item -ItemType Junction -Path "$env:APPDATA\\FreeCAD\\<version>\\Mod\\datamanager_wb" -Target "C:\\path\\to\\FreeCAD_Workbench_DataManager"