[Software] JLDraw - simple LDraw model viewer in Java/OpenGL

[Mario Pascucci]

Hi people.

If you need a quick and dirty LDraw model viewer that works on any platform, JLDraw is for you.

Small, fast, portable, with some interesting functions.

Some features:

• Uses 3D acceleration if supported by your graphic card
  
• Works fast on aged computers (tested on: 2007 notebook with integrated Intel video card; 2008 Mac PowerBook; 2010 desktop with entry-level ATI Radeon card; many others)
  
• Uses standard LDraw part library without uncompressing the "complete.zip" part library file (put downloaded library in same folder where is the program and "it works™")
  
• Support for both unzipped LDraw library and zipped library without reload program
  
• Rotate, pan and zoom with buttons or with mouse
  
• Center view right-clicking on a brick (as LDD)
  
• Select parts to view part type and color
  
• Hide parts to see internal structure
  
• Orthogonal or perspective view
  
• Lighting or flat shading
  
• Polygons, lines or both displayed
  
• Can save a screenshot of "what you see" (PNG format)
  
• Checks model and parts for invalid part/colors/sub-parts/sub-models
  

Requires:

• Java Runtime 6 or later
  
• 3D capable video card (work with integrated cards. With entry-level 3D cards is FAST!)
  
• LDraw part library "complete.zip" in same folder where is the program or your LDraw folder
  
• 1Gb RAM
  

Some numbers:

• Loads and render a 1300 parts Technic model in few seconds
  
• Rotation and zoom performs at minimum 40fps with an entry level 3D card (ATI Radeon HD5450).
  

Try it:

Latest release 0.2.0.2 (2014-09-14)

SourceForge Project Page

Edited September 14, 2014 by Mario Pascucci

[legolijntje]

That looks very nice.

I'd like to try out the software, but it doesn't work.

I have Java 8 installed. When I try to open JLDraw, it quickly shows a console and then nothing more happens.

When I quickly take a screenshot of the console that pops up, I can see it says: "Error: Could not find or load main class" and then the filepath to JLDraw. I tried different filepaths, all the same.

Any idea if this is a problem regarding JLDraw or is it my pc/java installation?

[Mario Pascucci]

That looks very nice.

I'd like to try out the software, but it doesn't work.

I have Java 8 installed. When I try to open JLDraw, it quickly shows a console and then nothing more happens.

When I quickly take a screenshot of the console that pops up, I can see it says: "Error: Could not find or load main class" and then the filepath to JLDraw. I tried different filepaths, all the same.

Any idea if this is a problem regarding JLDraw or is it my pc/java installation?

Hi legolijntje.

It can be a problem related to this.

A solution can be this.

Try to open Windows Command Prompt, change to directory where program is and type:

java -jar jldraw.jar (or the name of .jar executable).

Make sure the "java.exe" is in your PATH.

if this works I'll arrange a ".bat" file that execute the command on mouse double clic.

Let me know if it works

(Updated)

Edited September 3, 2014 by Mario Pascucci

[legolijntje]

Well, when I place JLdraw in my java folder (so where my java.exe is hiding) and then use the command you posted above it works. But, it's far from ideal to place my JLDraw inside my java folder...

But, I got a JLdraw error message saying tha I need the full library in zip format.

Can't JLDraw use my already installed (and unzipped) library?

[grum64]

For those that want to use their iPad/iPhone to view an LDraw model try BrickPad from the App Store.

I just email the file/have the it sent to myself or have access to it from Dropbox etc and open it using the app. As it's fairly basic it's not going to be for everyone but I find it handy none the less.

Try it, you might like it.

[Mario Pascucci]

Well, when I place JLdraw in my java folder (so where my java.exe is hiding) and then use the command you posted above it works. But, it's far from ideal to place my JLDraw inside my java folder...

But, I got a JLdraw error message saying tha I need the full library in zip format.

Can't JLDraw use my already installed (and unzipped) library?

Hi legolijntje.

I've tested JLDraw on six different PC running from Windows XP SP2 to Windows 7 Enterprise SP1, with different Java Virtual Machine installed, and no one have this problem.

It is highly probable that you have a broken Java installation:

- there isn't any needs to place JAR executable in Java virtual machine program folder

- the command "java.exe" is normally accessible from any location in your computer, i.e. if you call java in a command prompt you don't need to be in Java virtual machine program folder. Try with java -version in any folder: must print out Java version and some other info. If print "command not found" you have a broken Java installation.

- the execution of a jar with "double clic" is ruled by a registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/jarfile/shell/open/command

it is highly probable that you have a wrong path in the key, of if you have two or more Java version installed there can be a misconfiguration between java executable path and Java "Home" settings (Java executable v7 that calls library class of v6 or v8, and so on...).

To fix that you can try this utility

Regarding the "complete.zip" error: as stated in "Features" and "Requires" program needs the zip file "as is" in the same folder.

It is a choice to keep program easy to use and higly portable (you can put jldraw.jar and complete.zip in a usb key and it will work on any computer (Windows, Linux or OSX). I do my test exactly with an usb key, inserting in a dozen of computers each with different configuration and operating system.

But I can arrange a (next) version that can work with unzipped library.

Mario

[legolijntje]

Well, it seems that Oracle isn't very smart. I updated my Java a few times and I thought it would update Java, but it just installs a complete new java next to the old java, So I had about 5 or 6 different Java versions installed

Of course that causes a lot of problems...

I completely uninstalled all of them and then installed 1 java version. And, voila, it works perfectly now (well, except for the fact that I don't have the .zip file ).

I don't have time now, but I'll download the .zip file tonight to test the program.

Thanks for your help

[Mario Pascucci]

Thanks for your help

[Mario Pascucci]

Hi people.

New release is out, with ability to use both zipped LDraw library and your unzipped LDraw library folder, without reload program.

Some other bug fixed.

See top message for details.

Mario