I need to swivel!

[Sapphic Addict]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks the so-called help in LDD 4 is about as useful as a third nostril, but even when carefully checking the entire document, there is NOTHING written about how to rotate bricks.

Considering LEGO themselves want me to give my blood type, home address, DNA sample and next of kin in order to get such a simple question answered, I thought I'd try here instead. Hopefully I only need to hand over ONE limb, rather than both an arm AND a leg.

SO!

How do I rotate bricks? I've seen some people mention right-clicking, but that just centers me on the selected brick.

[Classicsmiley]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks the so-called help in LDD 4 is about as useful as a third nostril, but even when carefully checking the entire document, there is NOTHING written about how to rotate bricks.

Considering LEGO themselves want me to give my blood type, home address, DNA sample and next of kin in order to get such a simple question answered, I thought I'd try here instead. Hopefully I only need to hand over ONE limb, rather than both an arm AND a leg.

SO!

How do I rotate bricks? I've seen some people mention right-clicking, but that just centers me on the selected brick.

I assume you're just talking about a basic 90 degree rotation around an axis, correct?

For that, you use the arrow keys. For rotations around either a one-stud connection, or for hinges or turntables, use the Hinge tool.

Please let me know if I misunderstood your question.

[Aanchir]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks the so-called help in LDD 4 is about as useful as a third nostril, but even when carefully checking the entire document, there is NOTHING written about how to rotate bricks.

Considering LEGO themselves want me to give my blood type, home address, DNA sample and next of kin in order to get such a simple question answered, I thought I'd try here instead. Hopefully I only need to hand over ONE limb, rather than both an arm AND a leg.

SO!

How do I rotate bricks? I've seen some people mention right-clicking, but that just centers me on the selected brick.

To rotate bricks you have to use the "hinge" tool or the "hinge align" tool. The hinge tool is easier for most situations. Just select the tool, click the part of the model you'd like to rotate, and some little green arrows should show up. Either type a numerical angle into the box underneath your tools palette, click and drag the blue dial in the corner of the screen that looks kind of like a clock, or click and drag the green arrows (I wouldn't recommend this way, as it tends to be jumpy and awkward.)

The blue dial can also be a shortcut to rotate something by any angle divisible by 45-- just click the studded parts on the edges of the "face". For any multiples of 18 degrees, you can use the up and down arrow keys.

Sometimes the hinge tool will not work if you have a lot of hinged parts on your model. To fix this, just temporarily remove the hinged parts you're not working with at the moment.

Always happy to help with LDD issues! Don't worry-- while the software may be infuriating at first, you'll get used to it the more you build with it.

[Sapphic Addict]

I assume you're just talking about a basic 90 degree rotation around an axis, correct?

For that, you use the arrow keys. For rotations around either a one-stud connection, or for hinges or turntables, use the Hinge tool.

Please let me know if I misunderstood your question.

You did not misunderstand, Classicsmiley. Thank you for the information. Amazing how such a SIMPLE process is completely missing from the help file.

However, I think the fact that I'm using a wired keyboard when I still have my Logitech wireless keyboard drivers on board might be messing things up, as the arrow keys have no effect on any brick I have selected (or for that matter, anything else at all). I've tried the arrows, number keys with num-lock off, arrows with num-lock off, arrows while standing on one foot and even arrow keys with my eyes closed (not wise when there's hot tea near your keyboard).

Any suggestions on how to sort this beastie out, apart from the obvious of yanking the Logitech drivers?

[AndyC]

Any suggestions on how to sort this beastie out, apart from the obvious of yanking the Logitech drivers?

The arrow key rotation method only works on a piece you're about to place, not on what you've put down. If you want to rotate one of those you need to pick it up by dragging with the left mouse button, rotate it with the arrow keys, then put it back in place again.

[Sapphic Addict]

The arrow key rotation method only works on a piece you're about to place, not on what you've put down. If you want to rotate one of those you need to pick it up by dragging with the left mouse button, rotate it with the arrow keys, then put it back in place again.

I am SUCH a doofus!

Thank you, AndyC, and the rest of you too! NOW I can make my super-duper spaceship model (as well work on many other projects too)!

[Classicsmiley]

I am SUCH a doofus!

Thank you, AndyC, and the rest of you too! NOW I can make my super-duper spaceship model (as well work on many other projects too)!

Thanks for pointing that crucial fact out, AndyC. I use literally use LDD on a daily basis, so it's easy for me to mentally skip over those steps that are just absolute habit.

SA, have fun using LDD!

[Superkalle]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks the so-called help in LDD 4 is about as useful as a third nostril

I just thought that was so funny.

[Tore M]

I assume you're just talking about a basic 90 degree rotation around an axis, correct?

For that, you use the arrow keys.

You may also use 'a' and 'w'. I'm a sucker for shortcut keys and much prefer not having to move my hand over to the arrow keys when placing bricks

[sharky]

You may also use 'a' and 'w'. I'm a sucker for shortcut keys and much prefer not having to move my hand over to the arrow keys when placing bricks

Great tip. I also find it annoying to move my hand over to the arrow keys. As an engineer who is right handed my hand likes to stay over on the left side of the keyboard for the Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys in order to move things around.

My only wish is that all CAD programs would use some sort of standard key combination in order to pan, zoom, and rotate. Every time I use a new CAD software they always like to do things a little differently. When you are in the habit of doing it one way for years it's annoying to retrain my natural inclination to do it a certain way.