Convert LDD HTML to Bricklink XML?

[Andy D]

How do I convert an LDD HTML parts list file to a Bricklink XML?

I made an HTML building guide from an LDD file, it gave me an HTML parts list.

I use a Mac, so LDD Manager is not an option.

I tried Brickhelper, but it doesn't seem to run.

Any help much appreciated.

Andy D

Edited February 3, 2012 by Andy D

[hrontos]

Technically it is not a big issue to convert either LXF or HTML building guide to Bricklink XML. The main problem and also most valuable part of the LDD Manager is the mapping database. It is not possible to convert LDD part IDs to bricklink part IDs without such database. If we have such database in XML, there will be no problem to convert it even with only usage of webbrowser.

[Andy D]

Technically it is not a big issue to convert either LXF or HTML building guide to Bricklink XML. The main problem and also most valuable part of the LDD Manager is the mapping database. It is not possible to convert LDD part IDs to bricklink part IDs without such database. If we have such database in XML, there will be no problem to convert it even with only usage of webbrowser.

Thanks for the reply. Not what I wanted to hear, but that is the way it is.

I need to find a way to run LDD manager on my Mac (without buying Windows and Access).

Thanks again,

Andy D

[Superkalle]

Technically it is not a big issue to convert either LXF or HTML building guide to Bricklink XML. The main problem and also most valuable part of the LDD Manager is the mapping database. It is not possible to convert LDD part IDs to bricklink part IDs without such database. If we have such database in XML, there will be no problem to convert it even with only usage of web browser.

Besides the lookup table between LDD DesignIDs and BL ItemIDs, there is also the mapping of decorations, something that takes much some time to do and keep updated (I owe Aanchir for help with that). So if you are interested in buying bricks with decorations from BrickLink, that data is required also.

There is also the matter that BL constantly is updated. Between two updates of LDD Manager I'd say that about 20-50 parts have changed ID, so there is also work to constantly re-map parts and keep them updated. And naturally to find which are the new parts in each LDD release. In the last release we got a list of numbers, but that hasn't always been the case.

Then there is the thing of mapping which parts in LDD correspond to which in BL. Sometimes you have a 2>1 match, sometimes the other way around. In LDD for example, there is about 50 parts that are mapped to one or more BL ID's. And if you chose the wrong one, and upload to BL, you might find that that part has not been made in that color (compare a, b and c versions in BL). In LDD Manager, I've taken into account so the mapping to a, b and c version takes into account which is the "high volume one" with most seller and colors. Also, in LDD Manager you will also get notified if the color you've chosen exist in an a or b version, or even a similar brick with another ItemID all together.

Then there is the color conversion, but that's easier - possibly with the exception that the Peeron table that is mostly commonly used is incomplete and has errors. I've spent considerable time to verify and update the LDD to BL color table, also for old obsolete colors. Countless hours of phone calls to LEGO Customer Services to ask about DesignID's and what MaterialID's they have in the their databases, and then what the corresponding BL color is.

I'd also like to mention the color lookup in LDD Manager that allows you to check if the parts have been made in the colors you've used, and at which volumes (i.e if it's rare or not). It's annoying to upload the XML-file to BL and just to find that the parts has not been made in that color, and then you have to re-do the whole process. In LDD Manager you can also simply see which colors the part has been made in. I don't think too many people use that to be honest, but it's there.

So, it's not only a matter of simply mapping the LDD numbers to BL numbers. There's a lot more going on behind the scenes and lot's of work to keep the whole thing updated and running smooth. Just wanted to mention it

[AndyC]

I need to find a way to run LDD manager on my Mac (without buying Windows and Access).

If you're prepared to share the LXF, I'm sure someone here could just run it through LDDManager for you.

[kspencer3535]

I also have a mac and I found a website called brickulus. That lets you take your ldd file and convert it to bricklink xml flawlessly. Here is the link. http://www.brickulus.com/parts/upload/

[Superkalle]

@jspencer. The main issue with that site is that it has a very old LDD conversation database. Many of the converted bricks will be wrong.