LDD Instructions conversion help

[Kazz]

Hi Guys,

Im now using the new updated LDD. Whilst i welcome the parts list at the end of the building instructions (good move) I now have a problem with converting the instructions into PDF. I can turn it into an HTML file from LDD but unlike before I now have separate pages rather than one long one, so when I try to convert it into a PDF it just converts the 1st page and not the rest of the pages. Is it something Im doing wrong or is there another way to do this.

Also other programs Ive tried to use since LDD updated itself wont work when I try to use LXF files, Im not sure whats happened.

Thanks in advance

[Calabar]

I can't try in this moment, but perhaps you can easily modify the script inside the html page, forcing all steps to be visible in the same moment.

Try that and tell us the result!

[Kazz]

I can't try in this moment, but perhaps you can easily modify the script inside the html page, forcing all steps to be visible in the same moment.

Try that and tell us the result!

Thanks for the reply. That sounds interesting. Im not sure how to do that but could follow instructions if you could tell me how to do it.

[legolijntje]

I can't try in this moment, but perhaps you can easily modify the script inside the html page, forcing all steps to be visible in the same moment.

Try that and tell us the result!

Easily modify the html won't work, because all pictures of the building steps and parts are saved in a folder. If you create an html page of the instructions, the most work is done by a javascript code and the html is just for showing the pictures on the right place and showing the text.

[Calabar]

Ok, I found an html file I generated some time ago.

Here are the steps you have to follow:

• Open the html file in a text editor
  
• Search ".step" (should be the first occurrence using the search function of your text editor)
  and delete the line containing "display:none;" below it.
  Note that only this step is necessary.
  
• Search "function biStep(step)" and clear the content of the function.
  
• Search the line containing "<div class="stepdisplay" id="step_display></div>"" and delete it
  
• Search "<div id="nav" class="nav">" and delete all below it, except "</body> </html>"
  

Obviously the work can be organized in a better way, but I think it is enough to start.

[legolijntje]

I think I've got a solution

Can you share your lxf, I'll make a pdf instruction for you

Edited February 19, 2012 by legolijntje

[Kazz]

thanks guys, you are being really helpful. Ive now tried bullzip PDF printer. Ive got it converted to PDF but now at the bottom of each page it shows where on my PC the file was kept. How can I remove this as i dont want this showing if I pass on the intructions to others. Hopefully someone is familiar with bullzip printer.

I need to find a solution rather than someone doing it for me as I will have loads....also you never learn if you dont do it yourself

[Calabar]

Probably the best choice is to open the HTML with a word processor (such as libreoffice writer), so you can adjust it and then export in pdf format.

Did you try my solution?

[Kazz]

yes i did try. I managed to follow your steps but now stuck. I did it in notepad but could only save it in txt format so not sure what to do next.

[Calabar]

You have to modify the .html file and save the modifies in the same file.

You have not to save another file.

[legolijntje]

thanks guys, you are being really helpful. Ive now tried bullzip PDF printer. Ive got it converted to PDF but now at the bottom of each page it shows where on my PC the file was kept. How can I remove this as i dont want this showing if I pass on the intructions to others. Hopefully someone is familiar with bullzip printer.

I need to find a solution rather than someone doing it for me as I will have loads....also you never learn if you dont do it yourself

That's done by the browser itself, not by the html, javascript, bullzip or ldd. So, the problem is in the browser...

[Calabar]

That's done by the browser itself, not by the html, javascript, bullzip or ldd. So, the problem is in the browser...

That's probably right. It is typical of the browsers to add the path of the file at the bottom of a print, so as "bullzip PDF printer" is a simple print driver, it receive the same output as a standard printer.

So the best choice is to directly convert the html page with a dedicated software without passing through the browser.

As I suggested before, open the html file with libreoffice writer is a good and fast solution.

@Kazz

If you have problems with your notepad, you can try the more complete notepad2.

[Danielle82]

Hi,

This is my first post, so apologies if I'm making mistakes.

I'm trying to create a set of instructions for an alternative build of Haunted House. I use LDD as I have found it easier to use than LDraw, and managed to recode the html instructions so I could get the PDF to show all the pages. However it is not as smooth as I would like, so I had a look at LDraw again and discovered the import/export tool, as well as the instructions manual program.

However, when I open the exported file, I only get one page with a large picture of the finished model and the image of all the parts. I can't find a way to use the html file.

Can anyone help? Either with tips for the LDraw, or tailoring the html. I use Dreamweaver for editing html.

[SylvainLS]

Hi @Danielle82 and welcome.

First, “LDraw” is (now) a format, not a software, so to help you further, we’d need to know which particular application you’re using (LDCAD, LeoCAD, MLCAD…).

As for your problem, within the LDraw format, you have to define which parts go into which step.  If you just export/import an LDD/LXF file, the resulting LDraw file will only have one step, with all the parts.  That’s why you only get one page when generating a HTML document.

So the first step (pun not intended) is to create steps inside your LDraw file and move parts into these steps.

[Danielle82]

I used the LPub3D format, exporting the finished file as a LDraw from LDD lxf.

I only downloaded and installed LDraw for the instructions manual aspect today. Its not a program I'm comfortable with, whenever I tried to use it, I got nowhere, so I stuck with LDD. The publishing side looks good, more sophisicated than LDD, however  I hoped it would be a simple conversion, not a complete rebuild from scratch in LDraw, which by the sounds of things is what I'll have to do, if I give up on trying to sort out the html file. I could get the format looking good in Dreamweaver, just not as much as when I converted it to PDF, the page breaks carried over the parts inventory for each step on to another page. It probably needs a bit more work on the coding. I thought LDraw might offer a quicker solution.

 

[Calabar]

As there is a specific tool that allows to create building instructions from a lxf file, you should try it first instead than convert to LDRAW and then use LPub3D.

You can find the topic related to Blueprint here.

[Danielle82]

Thanks.

I've downloaded and installed Blueprint. It seems straightforward enough. I'll see what I can do with it.