ghyde

Since a few years ago, LDD has had the gear elements. Unfortunately, it is impossible to place the gears that are supposed to go at right angles to each other at right angles to each other. This is because their model files do not allow them to mesh like real gears should. For instance the parts that LDD knows as DOUBLE CONICAL WHEEL Z20 1M in tan, the color LDD calls "brick yellow". The other impossible part about gears is placing them exactly right so that they do mesh! The rotation tool is so fussy when it comes to rotating an element, if gears are supposed to mesh can't they program it to detect that condition and make appropriate rotation angles automatically? LDD also needs an animation capacity while building a model. For instance connect technic beams so that they make rotations the same way that a piston does. I should be able to connect multiple beams, select the one anchored to a rotation point, and make a locking device that slides in and out of another structure by moving beams. Being able to define a model as a sub-model and make them into a set of bricks interconnected as one would be of great help here! I like to make my models do what my real LEGO bricks can do, and so should the designers of LDD! It's fun to build a nice model and make people think, "How'd they do that!", and then they go open the model file to find out! Animation would be a key improvement for LDD. I like LDD a lot because of it's ease of use, but if they don't advance the core principles of LEGO building in the program, it will remain hard to use for anyone who wants to reproduce advanced building techniques they already know.

I was wondering if anyone has made this file in LDRAW file format EG with MLCAD or another program that writes the LDRAW file format. My reason for interest is so that I can get a view of it from different angles, and I don't stand much chance of getting the real model. Maybe I'll render a customized desktop wallpaper with the model, if it is available. My apologies if this request goes in the wrong forum here, but the "other digital tools" seemed to cover this query nicely.

I've been playing around with this bug, and it would appear that it has something to do with LU-mode itself. Models not created in LU-mode can have LU models imported into the mode they were created in, or vice versa, and will have their colors correctly rendered into the brick BOM for each step, but the LU-mode model will still not have it's colors correctly rendered in the BOM no matter what I do. Therefore, it would appear that this bug is specific only to LU mode and models created in that mode.

There seems to be some clipping issue going on in your model there, I can get those wedge plates into the sides just fine if I remove the cockpit piece, but it won't reattach in the same position. Most likely there is a clipping issue with the cockpit piece that is preventing something that's possible with the real piece, and that issue should be reported to the LDD Team so they can fix that clipping issue.

If you build any model created in LU mode, it will generate the colors in the piece count for the pieces shown for each step in the default color of red. This apparently only shows up in the HTML guide, but NOT when it generates the building instructions on-screen, when LDD is building the HTML building guide for LU models, and I did not think it was asking too much of TLG to fix this bug.

Superkalle, has there been any update about the bug with LDD4 and the Building Guide mode not correctly displaying the color of the pieces you need to put into an instruction step when building an HTML model guide? I do want this bug fixed, because ever since they started using Bill of Materials for each step in printed guides, TLG has always shown the correct color of bricks in printed instructions where it was necessary, and I do not expect LDD to behave differently. It is a real problem for me when I try to build a LU version of a model and the printed HTML version does not show the correct colors for a model, particularly when multiple steps might need the same brick in one or more different colors. If they are able to fix this bug quickly, I would appreciate it but I understand if they are waiting for enough fixes to go into the next update, although with the means available for updating code today, it really shouldn't be a problem for them to publish a fix for each bug as they find it. This would also speed up testing of bug fixes so they could issue a second fix if the first fix didn't stop the bug, or if it made a new bug appear. I really would like to see bugfixes published faster though! Also, I have a 100.0 Mbps download speed (read: really fast), so a little file like 50MB or even 60MB wouldn't be any problem at all to me if they had to redownload the whole package to fix a bug. I wonder if they could find a faster download delivery system which could better serve fast ADSL links such as mine? If one doesn't get in early on the LDD updates, it can slow down a lot!

Do you have a .lxf file with part or all of the cheese slopes method already built? I'm having a hard time deducing the SNOT layout the author of that image is using. It ought to be possible to put in the tile so that it sits between the cheese slopes the same way it does in the image you referenced. I've a number of ways I could try to get that in there that might actually be legal to use as far as LDD is concerned.

I've got a few feature requests of my own, like the following: 1. Save current window position, palette settings, and default window positions for pull-out sidebars that show on the different themes. Basically, I need to setup LDD all the time to the way I like it, and the brick count at the bottom doesn't display unless I use the expand window button in the Windows gadgets at the top right corner to properly expand LDD to fill the available screen size. If LDD could, at the click of a button, remember the default palette and window settings, and only expand the right-side "DesignByMe" sidebar when the content there has been updated to some new content, I would be able to work much faster in LDD. New content could be considered as any content that the user has not seen for a few days to a week, depending on how visible you want new content to be to the user. I'd also like for new content to be loaded into an entirely separate window, as it simply won't fit properly on my screen here and it's rather awkward to have to expand my desktop size large enough to see the new content. I'd much prefer for it to open in a regular browser window, if that can be done! 2. Implement a query tool that looks like a ? mark and when selected, will tell you the name and give usage help (if needed) for gadgets that the LDD designers use for whatever you click on. Works on anything from a gadget or pane in the LDD window to a part in the building area. For a part, it should give the item ID and color in a description box at bottom, and it should be programmed so that it can be toggled to the desired level of detail wanted about parts. I'd really like to know what LDD's designers call some of these gadgets, please help me use the right terms here! Maybe kids don't want to know the names or functions, and just want to have fun, but some of these names are not immediately obvious in a graphical environment. It could be all-inclusive and also show us part names and colors as well as names and functions of gadgets on the LDD screen. 3. A much better part alignment helper. Hinges are a pain at the moment, if you want to build something with 1x4 hinge plates, and make an enclosed section of your model, this is almost impossible to align properly. Hinge align tool is great but would be even better if multiple sequential part green arrow positioning indicators could be specified, and impossible selections should be auto-detected and prevented from becoming a problem in the first place. 4. The flex tool is great, but can this be expanded to include a tread/chain building ability that works for chain links, tread links, and any combination of the above? Perhaps it could include a way of dragging an extendable loop around some aligned sprocket or gear parts, and tell the user how many of this would be needed to complete a loop with a particular element combination that is selected beforehand? 5. How about the ability to drag a string of connected parts - especially tread links or hinge bricks/plates - around, and have them connect to one another if drawn close enough, and within connection tolerances?

There is a default light source not sure what LDD Developers call it but the issue with it is that if you view a brick in LDD from certain angles, it lights up brightly and the studs tend to wash out (fade somewhat) against the brick surface when viewing the scene from certain angles. It's all to do with the light source and the color in use. Some colors are really bad and can make studs on bricks vanish entirely. You can see this effect for yourself: Simply select the baseplate category, and place a 16x32 baseplate down on the scene and then rotate the scene with the mouse. You'll notice shading go from darkness to light and the light you can see on the baseplate will move around or vanish entirely. It would be helpful if we could see the light source itself and move it around or at the very least alter what direction it's coming from and insert additional light sources or have a special light source that fills the entire model space evenly but doesn't leave bright spots or shadows behind.

I notice that there seem to be minor errors or omissions in the models that they provide. For instance in the Space Probe module, they appear to have missed the placement of a 1x1 brick with studs on four sides (4733) that would otherwise have attached four assemblies consisting of 2 1x1 rounds stacked underneath a transparent red 2x2 round radar dish part to the main model. Let's hope there aren't more serious errors or omissions in any of the models!

Further to this particular bug, I noticed that when I selected it with the Hinge tool, the green rotation arrows are offset in the wrong spot whenever you place this part on an axle, and the rotation offset arrows do not reset to the position of the actual part being rotated. I did notice that LDD moved the rotation arrows a lot closer to the part when the part was placed on various positions on the axle, as if it didn't know for sure where they went - I've never seen behaviour like this in a program! I don't know why it does this but I would consider this a rather big bug! Please see the screenshot below for an example of what I mean by arrows offset in the wrong position (the Mindstorms model you can see a small part of is just a default model that I loaded to get the palette which this part exists in):

Recently I changed my forum preferences for 'watched topics', under View/Posting/Email Prefs, to 'no email notifications'. There is a checked mark next to 'watched topics' does this need to be uncheckmarked before the board stops sending me emails? I don't know where to find information on this on Eurobricks itself!

Found it hiding in the color palette itself! Apparently, they haven't forgotten it, just moved it. I really wish that they would document changes like this, it's confusing when something you're used to changes and they don't tell you what changes there are! I think we should try to document what has changed regarding the interface in LDD, if you find other changes to LDD's interface please document them here.

Where has the 'hide colors' option in LDD gone? The option hid duplicate identical bricks that were different colors in the previous version of LDD, why oh why did they take it out? I used to like being able to build with the colors hidden so I didn't have to scroll through all the available parts! In LDD 4 it's gone, I wish they'd bring it back!

An update on this bug: I've been trying to reproduce it but it apparently won't reproduce. Maybe I encountered a temporary glitch or they fixed it on the fly? I'm hoping so, if I encounter the circumstances I get it under I'll try to get a screenshot!

I just found a really big bug with LDD 4! If you stick a collection of hinge plates together in a line and then rotate them, it leaves one hinge half behind!! Eek!

It certainly does! That flex tool is wonderful! Now if only I could order some in DesignByMe mode, cause I would like some of the flex elements that can be expensive or hard to find in quantity on BrickLink sometimes! One thing I would like to know about LDD though: Why does it ask me to "save" a totally blank scene to the model file I was just using? I don't want to accidentally erase anything so of course I click 'no'.

The first problem I found with it is a relatively simple but odd one: There is a 'flex' tool, but I can't find one buyable brick in the DesignByMe palette to test it with! Hopefully this oversight is easily fixed! I would love flexible, buyable, hoses in the DesignByMe palette!

This is actually possible to build with real LEGO bricks! I just did it and there doesn't seem to be any apparent stress on the bricks concerned. Possibly this is allowed because most LEGO studs have a very slight curve to them. I therefore do not believe this to be in error at all! They should leave this one as is! If someone wants a photo of this, I can upload one. The only thing I can think of is that the LDD brick studs are not properly modeled with the curve on top, and therefore this appears to be an intersecting problem when in fact it is not! While I could not discern a gap inbetween the stud and the plate I do believe that this is a legal connection as it connected together without any problems at all.

Just a reminder for those who don't know how to get the right color in LU mode: Pick a part that has the right color in DesignByMe mode and place it in a model file. Import that file into LU mode, use eyedropper tool on part to get the correct part color code into your model. @Superkalle: I take it you are sending feedback on the color code issue with LU mode in LDD to the designers? It's something they really need to address.

Okay, something funny is going on with your .lxf file. I downloaded it, and opened it in LDD. But LDD complained saying "If you use these bricks, you will not be able to buy the bricks or upload your model to lego.com" However, when I import a model that has bricks that definitely cannot be bought, and I use the "check buyability" option on the model sitting next to the ring, the ring is greyed out, meaning those parts are buyable. That's just plain weird. Also, why does your file open in LEGO Digital Designer mode, and not in DesignByME or LEGO Universe mode?

LDD could handle it, it's just a matter of correctly designing the Hinge Tool code to know what kind of connection is being asked for and to try logical connections that fit the connection being requested. I want something basically semicircular so that I could use those panels to make an ornate curved window. I wanted nice semicircular buildings with an ornate curving window on the outside, like most mansions and large houses would have. But to do this with hinges in LDD is time-consuming and difficult if the Hinge Tool doesn't position things right. I then put a base underneath it with plates and inverted slopes, and plate and tile a floor under it. But in order to do this I first need to work out some initial calculations in LDD as to how many hinges the curve will need, and how big the space needs to be to accomodate the minfigs as well. Eventually, it'll be a fully fledged scene but I hate having to buy a whole lot of parts without working out how many I'll need first

I think the below pic says it all! I just selected the stud on the black lower hinge and the spot it should connect to on the upper side, and this is what the Hihge Align tool thinks the connection should be like. Obviously, what really should happen is that the plates are aligned properly. But if I can't select both studs and their corresponding holes they should go into, the Hinge Align tool won't get it right!

@Brickdoctor: Perhaps you should try the Mac version of Bricksmith: http://sourceforge.n...icksmith/files/ The author has plenty of Mac programming experience and would be willing to help you understand the program. @xSergio74: Maybe you should contact the author of Bricksmith too, he might be able to help on how to make SR 3D Builder cross-platform compatible for the Mac world since he has programming experience there?

I have found a small problem with the program. It does not currently save my Preferences information, that means I have to setup the rotation mode, etc. all the time when starting it. Will you implement a save function for Preferences in the next release? Other than that it's looking like a great program, and the tube tool is great! I would however like to specify the units of length beforehand and constrain the flexing part being generated to that length. This would make it a lot easier to control a flexing operation where I need known lengths of flex tube to fit onto a model. I also have a question about the flex tool can the tube being formed have more than 2 curves - in other words a compound curve - in it without needing to go through a part first? Or does it need to have a part to go through before more curves can be introduced?