What do you think of the LDD forum?

[Superkalle]

To all LDD forum readers!

A bit of self scrutiny is never wrong they say. So we'd like to know how you feel about the LDD forum. Is there anything you think should be improved? Things that work particularly well (I doubt it )? Or is there anything in the work Calabar and I do that you think needs improving?

Take the poll and post comments and requests. Or you can send a PM to me if you feel more comfortable with that.

[P4trickvH]

First, a small typo "What do you thinkg of the general athmosphere?"

Overall i love the LDD forum as is, but nothing is perfect so there is always something that can be improved upon on. For instance there are some topics that should be pinned in my opinion. Like "[KEY TOPIC] Official Lego sets made in LDD", "[KEY TOPIC] LDD 4 Bugs and brick errors" and there are several others but this gives you an idea which kind of topics i mean. I think it would also be nice to have one place specifically for own creations, mabye something like a topic with links to each. Or mabye several subforums each with it's own purpose, but i think that's asking to much.

Just my 2 cents ;)

[The Undo]

I like LDD forum, and visit it regularly (as most of the other forums on Eurobricks).

This is the place where I found out about LDD universe mod, and here is where I got first hand insight in many official lego sets (from Official Lego sets made in LDD thread).

Also the Eurobricks MOC LXF Index is a great thread to see people's MOCs first hand, and not only from photos.

I think it would also be nice to have one place specifically for own creations, mabye something like a topic with links to each.

There is a index topic for LDD MOCs with links to every moc's topic (if this is what you ment): Eurobricks MOC LXF Index

I also agree that some topics (like for example "Official Lego sets made in LDD" and "Eurobricks MOC LXF Index") should be pinned.

Great work with this forum guys.

[Holodoc]

I just recently started to post in the regular LDD set topic.

Maybe a bit too late, because I sometimes have a hard time to find the information I need:

• can I do this with LDD?
• where is that damn part?
• why doesn't this work? My fault or LDD's?

and so on.

The helpful people around here are really great, but I feel a bit like a annoying noob, asking all my questions that probably have been answered many times before.

I would like to look for all that information myself without having to bother someone else - I just can't find the information.

The search function at EB is clearly NO help. (But that is a general problem and should be solved elsewhere soon)

Furthermore I'd like to have the regular LDD sets list sorted (by number within the subgroups)!

Yes, I can search the set I'm looking for with my browser's search function, but a sorted list would definitely improve the list.

Finally I agree with the previous posters: More pinned topics (see above).

[alienwar9]

Firstly, I think what has been done here is remarkable and everyone should be commended for the wonderful efforts!

Yes, I think some topics should be pinned like mentioned above.

But I also think that we should be more open to commenting on MOCs in these forums. Like many creations in town, or pirates, people get critiqued, helped, and assaulted with compliments

I think that this forum should be even more so, since people can have a much more intimate knowledge of the building techniques and methods with LDD. I realize that much of this comes from the specialization that each section of forum members have in their respective themes, but it would be nice to have that sort of "helping hand" feeling that the other forum themes have.

As for a general layout, I was thinking that there could be a tag system, something that every topic puts in its name, so that "questions, tips, and general comments on programs" could be separate from "creations". As I see it, these are two very different topic posts, but the volume of posts as yet doesn't necessitate subforums.

Also, the current topics pinned could be consolidated when adding the other pinned topics (moc index / official sets / errors) and rather link to them. So like a general "troubles and guides" topic would link to LDD reference,troubleshooting guide, uploading LXF, bugs and brick errors, and unlocking extended mode (since they all have a similar theme to them. It's a bit too scattered now).

Creations could be a second merged and pinned topic, linking to the moc index, official sets made in LDD, mocs/official sets made in other programs, and maybe a WIP topic.

And then finally you would have the LDD index thread as the main pinned topics.

I'm not sure how pinning works, but it would be great to have all the community builds pinned and linked to in another topic, since I think they are a really special part of this wonderful forum!

Oh boy, there I went off again hope this helps!

[prateek]

I think this is one of the most well kept sections on this site, but that said, I do have one tiny problem. I see a lot of nooby questions taking up space on the first page, so I think there should be a couple question topics, maybe multiple ones with the one of the three headings that Holodoc has listed for example.

[Calabar]

I agree.

There should be some generic topic well placed and able to "attract" all those little topic opened for trivial and recurrent questions.

The LDD index topic need a strong revision too. Unfortunately this would require much time to invest on it, so for me it is impossible in this period. I hope this work could be made in the next future.

[Superkalle]

Good comments flowing in.

The reasons for not pinning some topics is that pinned topics generally tend to be less read. They become a more static part of the forum. Un-pinned topics move around and creates some action. It's been the same with generic topics. Eventually all question/post types would have gotten their own topic ("MOCs", "How do I....", "Where is that part"..) and then these topics would essentially become subforums.

[Brickdoctor]

I voted 'Good' in all categories except the last. I really think we need more basic tutorials. Something like an 'EB Beginner's Guide to LDD' might not be a bad idea. I'd also like to see more of the programs other than LDD (Bricksmith, LDraw, MLCAD, SR 3D Builder, LeoCAD, LDView, LPub, etc.), though I honestly have no idea how you would go about accomplishing that.

[nemo]

I’d like to see LDD MOCs have their own subforum, to separate them (numerous, few replies) from the discussion threads (fewer, many replies).

And I’d prefer to in the emoticon list – it’s much clearer and more standard. says “meh!” to me.

[Brickdoctor]

And I’d prefer to in the emoticon list – it’s much clearer and more standard. says “meh!” to me.

They're both in the normal emoticon list. The 'sad' one is just farther down. If they're two different emotions, it makes sense to keep them both.

[treeboy]

For me the additions I would recommend are more tutorials, specifically some external site tuts for posting lxf's and pix and the like that are easily found. This leads me to the next issue which is the search function which doesn't work or perhaps I need a tutorial for that too. The search function seems to be a general forum issue not just here at Eurobricks but all the forums I frequent so perhaps we're waiting for some advancement to arrive. None the less thanks for the work here and I appreciate all the help.

[Superkalle]

A quick comment about the requests of tutorials and guides of various kinds. This is forum, and it's we as members that makes it alive. Anyone who feels like creating a tutuorial of any kind is more then welcome. What I then can do is to create some space for it, maybe a pinned topic or so.

[Aanchir]

I voted "good" for the moderation and general atmosphere. About the forum in general, I had to mention that there are a few things that annoy me, such as the amount of questions we sometimes see that don't seem to merit their own topics, as well as the inconsistency in enforcing MOC topic rules. Some MOCs have their own topics here, when the forum rules at least used to suggest LDD MOC topics should be in the subforums for their respective themes.

I mentioned there also seem to be a few things missing. Was there ever a "welcome" topic for this subforum? I can't seem to find it, hence why I'm not sure if the "digital MOCs belong in the subforums of their respective themes" rule is still applicable.

[Superkalle]

I voted "good" for the moderation and general atmosphere. About the forum in general, I had to mention that there are a few things that annoy me, such as the amount of questions we sometimes see that don't seem to merit their own topics, as well as the inconsistency in enforcing MOC topic rules. Some MOCs have their own topics here, when the forum rules at least used to suggest LDD MOC topics should be in the subforums for their respective themes.

I mentioned there also seem to be a few things missing. Was there ever a "welcome" topic for this subforum? I can't seem to find it, hence why I'm not sure if the "digital MOCs belong in the subforums of their respective themes" rule is still applicable.

Regarding LDD MOCs, the rule is like this (as stated in the LDD Index topic):

1) MOCs without attached LXF-files go into the respective forum.

2) MOCs with attached LXF-file go either here or in the respective forum.

The reason for requiring LXF-files in the LDD forum is that this forum is mainly for LDD users and to discuss LDD as a tool, techniques etc. The only reason a LDD MOC would be interesting to other tool users is if you can download the LXF and examin it for interesting techniques, errors, be inspired from and so forth.

Only exception to 1) is when there is some extraordinary MOC or that it has been beautifuly rendered/presented. Then it could go here as a "milestone" and good example.

About welcome topic, that is a really good idea. I'll look into that.

[Brickdoctor]

I'm thinking we need a 'Questions' thread, then. The Star Wars forum would always get clogged up with little questions, until KDM started the General Questions topic there.

[Aanchir]

I'm thinking we need a 'Questions' thread, then. The Star Wars forum would always get clogged up with little questions, until KDM started the General Questions topic there.

I kind of agree. But should it be just one questions thread, or separate ones for the separate LEGO software (LDD, MLCAD, etc)?

[Brickdoctor]

I kind of agree. But should it be just one questions thread, or separate ones for the separate LEGO software (LDD, MLCAD, etc)?

I think it should be just one. Usually the questions that people ask in it are simple enough to be answered by someone within a few posts.

Though having one just for LDD and one for all the LDR programs wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

Superkalle, what do you think?

[Calabar]

I think one thread for each software is a good solution, but only if we don't need to pin them all.

One for LDD, one for sr3dbuilder, one for mlcad, ecc...

I think that the pinned topics could be:

- LDD index thread, revisited, with a panorama of all LDD section and the main rules. It includes links to topics such as "Extended Mode activation" or "colour palette guide", etc...

- Technical issue topic, for all problems related to crash, installations issues, ecc... The topic has a summary with the more common issues and relative solutions.

- Question topic: if you have a simple question, ask here. The topic direct to more specific topics. Every topic has a summary of more common questions and relative answers.

- Guide topic, a list of all guides (separated topics).

- Key Topic list: a way to easily access to all key topics.

[Brickdoctor]

I don't think the Guide Topic List and Key Topic List threads would be needed. Those links could always go in the main Index thread.

[Calabar]

I don't think the Guide Topic List and Key Topic List threads would be needed. Those links could always go in the main Index thread.

I was a bit undecided about that, but at the end I thought a separate topic is the right choice because it gives a better visibility to those that are the main things a user could look for.

[Brickdoctor]

I was a bit undecided about that, but at the end I thought a separate topic is the right choice because it gives a better visibility to those that are the main things a user could look for.

I see.

What about Aanchir's color reference thread? I think that one should stay pinned.