Problem Generating Building Guide

[zjonathan]

I am new to LDD so I thought the easier place to start would be to use a model someone had already built. I downloaded the model I want to build, opened it in LDD, then started the process to create the build guide. My problem is, the build guide progress bar gets somewhere around the 50-60% mark after 5 or six DAYS, then jumps back to zero progress and appears to start over. I have recreated this on two different computers, one of which is very well equipped.

One person told me to forget about using the build guide, but the whole point of this first build was to learn the ins and outs of the software, even if the build guide utility is less than perfect.

Any ideas on what might be going on? Thanks in advance!

Jonathan

[NathanR]

You left it running for five or six days??? Just how many bricks are in this model?

As I understand it, LDD generates an instruction manual by picking the lower-most brick, and looking at bricks placed higher up (vertically) to determine the best sequence to build the model. It may get sidetracked on the way by subassemblies, if they use complex SNOT-work, and also by building sideways. If the program gets "trapped" though (can't add part A before Part B, can't do Part B before Part A kind of thing) it has to reset and find a different strategy for assembling the model. Your model got 50% of the way through then it realised that it just couldn't keep going, and decided to try a different solution. It's rare that it goes right back to the beginning, but I have seen it happen.

In any case, I suspect your model is too large for the instruction generator to cope with - the code for it was developed back in the days of Lego Design By Me, and geared around models of ~300 pieces, and I don't think they ever got it to really work. The instructions LDD generates are also notoriously bad. If you want to just learn LDD, I suggest building a small model (something like the Lego ideas research institute, or even just a bunch of minifigs) and make instructions for that.

If instruction manuals are really important to you, then you'll want to look into using the LDraw parts library, and the LPub instruction manual software (but that might well be too advanced for you at the moment!)

[zjonathan]

Thanks NathanR. I suspsected that it could be that the instruction generator hasn't been updated for some time and therefore not capable of handling this model. It is quite large. I do want to build this model, however, so I'll have to figure out the best method to do it without any instructions to start from. This is going to be an interesting project. :) I will likely work on something else smaller at the same time for learning purposes.

[NathanR]

I think the LDD instructions would have been largely useless to you anyway.

Don't forget you can get a list of the parts in the model from "File->Export BOM", and use the hide tool to see how the bricks are slotted together (you can click individual bricks, or can click and drag to select multiple parts, ctrl+z to undo will show them again). It's usually straightforward to reverse engineer a model from the computer.

Good luck with your building!

[__________________________]

Thanks NathanR. I suspsected that it could be that the instruction generator hasn't been updated for some time and therefore not capable of handling this model. It is quite large. I do want to build this model, however, so I'll have to figure out the best method to do it without any instructions to start from. This is going to be an interesting project. :) I will likely work on something else smaller at the same time for learning purposes.

How many bricks are in this???

[zjonathan]

Thanks again NathanR. I started doing what you suggested yesterday. I also decided to devide this model into more consumable sections using the assembly function, which allows me to order what I want for that assembly, build it, then move on to the next section.

To answer LegoExpert's question, this model is close to 17,000 pieces. Yes, that is quite large for someone learning, but that's how my mind works best. I need a complex project to challenge me or I will get bored and won't learn. I know it sounds backwards, but over the years I have learned that this is what works best for me.