[Software] LDCad - LDraw cad

[roland]

I can't think of any reason why LDCad can't write to that file. I checked if it's write-protected (it's not) and Windows is showing the 'date modified' at the time LDCad was supposed to save the file.

It is actually trying to save a shadow (part snapping info) file, which shouldn't happen for model files hence the "" filename. Did it save the model file itself content wise?

[nickless]

No, that's the problem.

I'm using several standalone submodels (.ldr files in a subfolder) in a main model (.mpd file). What I do is this: I change something in the (sub) model file, save it and go back to the main model. The change shows up there. When I exit, LDCad is me again to save the submodel file because of unsaved changes. I click yes and LDcad exits without further warning.

When I start the program again and load the main file, the changes I made to the submodel are gone.

When I start LDCad and just open the one submodel that's causing problems, the changes are being saved.

I don't think this ever happened before I upgraded to Windows 10, but I have no idea where to look for the error.

[roland]

I don't think this ever happened before I upgraded to Windows 10, but I have no idea where to look for the error.

The Windows version shouldn't matter unless you are using weird location, which you are not. I made changes to the file saving stuff between alpha 4 and beta 1, so you might be better of using 1.4b or 1.5 Alpha 4 for the time being until I can address this issue. Sorry for the inconvenience.

edit: I've found the cause. A workaround is to first load the submodel(s) on its/their own, and then load the main model referencing it/them. But to be save I'm recommending to not use multi file models with 1.5 Beta 1. single MPD's should be fine in regards of this bug though. It's fixed in my dev version, but I can't release that one just jet due to some other bugs..

Edited October 15, 2015 by roland

[nickless]

That's good to hear. I'm certainly not complaining, LDCad is free software and you're doing a great job creating and improving it. So, thank you again.

[legolijntje]

I've been using 1.5 Alpha a lot past couple of weeks for making Instructions for a large 2500+ parts Technic model (not my own model though). It has been such a relief to use LDcad's source editor instead of MLcad's one. It works easier and faster and because of that, the LDraw file was finished in no-time (compared to my earlier instructions). Thanks so much for LDcad and your continuous support :thumbup:

I do have a minor bug/feature request, regarding the input of a STEP at a specific row in the source-editor (RMB on a line in the source editor -> Stepping -> Selection Insert):

• Bug: when I use the Selection Insert in a submodel, it doesn't insert the STEP at the selection, but just at the end. Note: this might be fixed in the Beta, I haven't tried it yet.
  
• Feature: a keyboard shortcut or a top-row button for the selection insert. That would be a godsend. It's so annoying to have to go through multiple clicks just to add a STEP at a specific locatien.
  

[roland]

Thanks so much for LDcad and your continuous support :thumbup:

Thanks for thanks :)

I do have a minor bug/feature request, regarding the input of a STEP at a specific row in the source-editor (RMB on a line in the source editor -> Stepping -> Selection Insert):

• Bug: when I use the Selection Insert in a submodel, it doesn't insert the STEP at the selection, but just at the end. Note: this might be fixed in the Beta, I haven't tried it yet.
  
• Feature: a keyboard shortcut or a top-row button for the selection insert. That would be a godsend. It's so annoying to have to go through multiple clicks just to add a STEP at a specific locatien.
  

I think you are using the step thing wrong. The rmb menu item you used doesn't act on the source window it is the generic insert step meta (after current step) one. To insert a step any where through the source window you need to first select any existing one (or pick ithe step meta from the part bin) while selected pressing ins inside the source window will add a new one for whom you first need to point at the insertion point (green line appears). You can see this in my (old) Alpha 1 demo youtube clip. I'll make a new clip sometime soon using Beta 2 when the stability issues plaguing Beta 1 are solved.

[roland]

1.5 Beta 1a is up, Mostly contains stability fixes and includes additional snapping info. See also

http://forums.ldraw.org/read.php?11,17841,17841#msg-17841

Get it here:

http://www.melkert.net/LDCad/download

[Plastic Nurak]

Is there an easy way to find a particular piece into LDCad? Filter doesn't go . I'm forced to write the position and number.dat of pieces I don't find, even after long searches, directly in the .dat file to visualize them in the model or submodels .

Edited November 1, 2015 by Plastic Nurak

[Philo]

Filter find parts only in the bin you are currently working with, it won't find say a Technic axle if you have opened the bricks category... If you want to search a part in the whole library, you have to use the search tool, located in top level bins. Its mascot is a minifig with magnifier in hand.

[Plastic Nurak]

Ah, OK. Merci, Philo !

[Plastic Nurak]

A little flaw is the impossibility to create a submodel nested into another submodel (a sub-submodel in few words). I was trying to build #5580, and I needed badly that possibility (steps from 9 to 13), otherwise the creation of the model is very very difficult.

Edited November 13, 2015 by Plastic Nurak

[roland]

A little flaw is the impossibility to create a submodel nested into another submodel (a sub-submodel in few words). I was trying to build #5580, and I needed badly that possibility (steps from 9 to 13), otherwise the creation of the model is very very difficult.

This is possible as using a submodel is not 'level' dependend (see the example 5580 which was also made following the official instructions to the letter).

Or do you mean adding a submodel to a submodel while that submodel is used nested from its parent model (might need to read that twice :) ) if so you can use the exclusion combined with the 'insert to' options see also the advanced editing chapter on the website. But it is easier to just switch to the submodel you want to add submodels to using the 'file content' mpd part bin group.

[Plastic Nurak]

Thanks Roland for the answer.

PS In my 32-bit Linux version, the option "search the inventory" doesn't work.

[roland]

PS In my 32-bit Linux version, the option "search the inventory" doesn't work.

Not at all? Or are you trying to find pieces by their number e.g. 3001 for the 2x4 brick? In the last case you'll need to check the 'name' option in the "match on" panel of the advanced search dialog (click the filter text to open that). If you want that option to be always checked set it as the default and apply it to all using the bottom right menu of the dialog.

[Plastic Nurak]

Finding by number is IMHO easier. Thanks for the answer, and excuse me if I'm annoying you .

[Classicsmiley]

Has any work been done on user-configurable hotkeys yet? I keep opening this program up to try to build with it, but there still seems to be enough of a paradigm shift that I can't seem to really "get" how things work. I'm hoping that being able to rotate bricks with the keyboard (in a way that I'm used to) will help me in tackling the learning curve...

[roland]

Has any work been done on user-configurable hotkeys yet? I keep opening this program up to try to build with it, but there still seems to be enough of a paradigm shift that I can't seem to really "get" how things work. I'm hoping that being able to rotate bricks with the keyboard (in a way that I'm used to) will help me in tackling the learning curve...

I'm planning this for the 1.6 version mainly as part of the internal changes needed to add macro scripting. But it will not result in a completly reconfigurable gui, the global working flow will remain fixed. Only things like 'ctrl+s' which is save file by default will be changeable to e.g. ctrl+t or whatever. So in short you will only be able to reassign different keys to the existing keybound actions.

What is it you want to mimic exactly?, as I might be able to add such things based on gui options instead.

[Classicsmiley]

I want to be able to easily rotate parts with the keyboard. With MLcad I use Ctrl + arrow keys, and with LDD I use W, A, and S (although the arrow keys work there as well). I haven't been able to figure out multiple-axis rotation in LDCad so far. When the left and down arrow keys, and the up and right arrow keys do the same thing, something seems really off.

[roland]

When the left and down arrow keys, and the up and right arrow keys do the same thing, something seems really off.

While a part is 'floating' arrows and pageup/down will rotate depending on the view upon the part. This isn't perfect in the current version especailly when looking at something in 45 deg and I have made some improvements on this for the next version.

While floating rotations will always be in steps of 90 degree holding down ctrl will use 45 degree steps.

When parts are only selected the the arrow keys will ether rotate or move depending on the state of the editing pin. When the pin is in move mode arrow keys will (try) to map the arrow keys to local left/right/up/down direction in relation to the current editing grid.

You can force selection movement during rotating mode by using ctrl+arrow keys, and the reverse when in movement mode.

Hope this gives some insight

[Classicsmiley]

Ok, that helps a little bit. Thanks!

Now that I've played around a bit more, it's still not working the way I would expect it to, unfortunately.

Would it be possible to optionally turn off camera-relative rotation, though? LDD used to have absolute rotation, and I hated it when they changed to relative.

Also, is there a way to turn off the editing pins?

Another Edit, as I'm playing around with a new file... What is the hotkey to switch between modes?

Edited November 24, 2015 by Classicsmiley

[legolijntje]

Also, is there a way to turn off the editing pins?

Do you mean the button P, or is that not that you mean?

Also, if you're coming from LDD, you might like to set the camera-mode to 'SPL', if it isn't set at that. You can do that by going into the little square "view-menu" at the lower-left side of the screen(I don't know if it has a name) and clicking TBL to set it SPL. I find SPL much, much easier to work with than the trackball mode. It's just personal preference though.

Also, make sure that automatic brick-snapping is turned on. I remember that when I started using LDCad for the first time, it wasn't turned on by default. Again, in the view menu, make sure that it has a green "PS" instead of a read "GS". And, again, this is also personal preference

[Philo]

Just for the record, it's 'SPN' (spin), not 'SPL'.

It's just personal preference though.

Absolutely. I feel crippled in SPN mode that just prevents me to make some movements and I feel tackball mode much more intuitive (same click+drag for all rotations I want to perform). Edited November 24, 2015 by Philo

[Classicsmiley]

Do you mean the button P, or is that not that you mean?

Also, if you're coming from LDD, you might like to set the camera-mode to 'SPL', if it isn't set at that. You can do that by going into the little square "view-menu" at the lower-left side of the screen(I don't know if it has a name) and clicking TBL to set it SPL. I find SPL much, much easier to work with than the trackball mode. It's just personal preference though.

Also, make sure that automatic brick-snapping is turned on. I remember that when I started using LDCad for the first time, it wasn't turned on by default. Again, in the view menu, make sure that it has a green "PS" instead of a read "GS". And, again, this is also personal preference

The "P" key is just what I was looking for, and SPN mode seems like it will be much more comfortable to work with. Thanks!

Roland, I think there may be a bug with the escape key. According to the hotkey list, pressing it should deselect any current selection. However, that doesn't seem to work. Ctrl+Shift+a works to deselect, but that's a lot more awkward to use. I'm used to just hitting "esc" to deselect parts.

Edit for another suggestion

I see your descriptions of UI items at the bottom of the page as I mouse over them. Would it be possible to also put those descriptions in tooltips? That would more closely match existing software development practices, and speed things up for users. Currently I find it very slow to mouse over an item at the top of the screen, read the description at the bottom of the screen, and then move my eyes back to the top of the screen to repeat the process.

Edited November 24, 2015 by Classicsmiley

[legolijntje]

Just for the record, it's 'SPN' (spin), not 'SPL'.

Oops. I had the feeling I was typing something wrong, but I couldn't find it at the time

Absolutely. I feel crippled in SPN mode that just prevents me to make some movements and I feel tackball mode much more intuitive (same click+drag for all rotations I want to perform).

I have the exact same feeling, but with TBL mode. I find it very annoying to work with (not just in LDcad, but most programs that use the same kind of rotation).

[Philo]

Hence the need of providing the two modes ;)