LDD 5, what features do YOU want?

[LiamM32]

Good topic to find, despite being 2 years old. I have some important ideas for LDD features. Excuse me if any of these have been already said, as I haven't read through the topic much.

• Because they no longer sell custom sets made with this program, there would be a feature to automatically transfer the parts to Lego Shop-at-Home (without the fancy box), with two variations; The simpler version of the feature would automatically add all the available parts to your bag on Pick-a-Brick. There would also be a more advanced feature that scans the parts inventories of all sets on the website, and it would give you the cheapest combination of sets and parts on Pick-a-Brick to obtain the pieces for your model.
  
• To make it easier to build within the restrictions of the above features, add two filter options to LDD; one for the current Pick-a-Brick selection, and one for the parts in currently available Lego sets.
  
• Generate a list of parts in the model, to be viewed by the user.
  
• Be able to import 3D models of custom Lego element ideas. I know that this was also suggested by the person who started the topic, but I sometimes make Lego part concepts on Google Sketch-up.
  
• Also import image files to use as decals for parts within program.
  
• Physics tests, to test Technic funtions and stability of the build. This feature would require a bit more budget and better specs on the computer, so probably make it as an add-on.
  
• Measurement tools. I would like angle measurements in particular.
  
• A better functioning hinge align tool. This feature has never worked for me when I tried it. It might also be nice to expand it with automatic calculations of multiple angles to achieve desired shapes.
  

Edit: I have one more suggestion;

• An upscale tool. This would replace each piece in the model with a set of multiple pieces that imitates the shapes in a larger size. You could then build a microscale creation fairly quickly, then automatically make a gigantic minifigure scale landscape.
  

Edited July 16, 2013 by LiamM32

[legolijntje]

Good topic to find, despite being 2 years old. I have some important ideas for LDD features. Excuse me if any of these have been already said, as I haven't read through the topic much.

• [...]
  
• Physics tests, to test Technic funtions and stability of the build. This feature would require a bit more budget and better specs on the computer, so probably make it as an add-on.
  
• [...]
  

I wonder if it really needs more budget. I mean, take a look at SR3D Builder. It is made by 1 person, but it includes both the advantages of LDD and LDraw and even more: a whole set of tools to animate and test your Technic functions. So, if that can be made by 1 person, it can also be done by the LDD team. But, of course the LDD team has to make all the parts by themself too, which Sergio (from SR3D Builder) doesn't have to.

[OldTim3r]

If it hasn't already been said: the ability to supply custom backgrounds for View Mode.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Calabar
: Huge font reduced.

[Classicsmiley]

If it hasn't already been said: the ability to supply custom backgrounds for View Mode.

When you save a screen shot, it's saved as a PNG with a transparent background. Just use your favorite image editor to add the background...

[Nachapon Lego]

In LDD mode -> filter bricks by boxes -> custom bricks palette or box# palette.

Add a check box to show/hide bricks icon in the palette that run out (Q'ty = 0 or less).

This will improve virtual building experience and save to pick a needed brick.

Free or paid service, cloud base photo realistic rendering by a super computer or a render farm.

Just upload your LXF and submit the rendering setting to the server, check the draft rendering in real-time.

The super computer auto convert your LXF to Maya(or other hi-end renderer), render with ultra fast speed then send the result to you.

Edited August 12, 2013 by bbqqq

[Takanuinuva]

Allowing both capes and armor to be attached to minifigure torsos at the same time.

[DrJB]

Given that the 'Built by Me' program is discontinued ... is it reasonable to expect that Lego will continue developing LDD ???

[Mataroa]

" # bricks were placed incorrectly and have been removed. "

*Clicks OK button*

" ...You didn't tell me WHICH PART got removed?!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surely I'm not the only one bugged by the above. Here's an idea.

Instead of REMOVING the part, highlight it in an outline similar to the outlines when individual bricks are selected. Except, using a different color of course. I don't know, could it be yellow?

This outline would be visible through all bricks and barriers (Perhaps the misplaced brick is hidden under others?), and the outline wouldn't go away until the model is reassembled correctly.

[weavil]

Or highlight the piece(s) the removed part came off of.

[Superkalle]

There is a solution (or partly a solution anyway):

When a brick is removed because it is illegaly placed, a file named UnplaceableBricksDump.lxfml will be created in folder: C:\Users\[uSERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\LEGO Company (for win7).

Open that file with Notepad, and search for materials="21" (21 is the color red). It will show you which bricks(s) were removed.

[Nachapon Lego]

Change minifigure's arms/hand/legs/body to flex parts. Then can use flex tool to bend them freely.

[Blip]

Allowing both capes and armor to be attached to minifigure torsos at the same time.

This! A hundred times, THIS!!

And yes, as Mataroa pointed out: LDD's ability to arbitrarily remove a brick that it doesn't "think" fits quite right, despite having allowed the placement when you last in that file, is rather vexing...

[LiamM32]

Good topic to find, despite being 2 years old. I have some important ideas for LDD features. Excuse me if any of these have been already said, as I haven't read through the topic much.

• Because they no longer sell custom sets made with this program, there would be a feature to automatically transfer the parts to Lego Shop-at-Home (without the fancy box), with two variations; The simpler version of the feature would automatically add all the available parts to your bag on Pick-a-Brick. There would also be a more advanced feature that scans the parts inventories of all sets on the website, and it would give you the cheapest combination of sets and parts on Pick-a-Brick to obtain the pieces for your model.
  
• To make it easier to build within the restrictions of the above features, add two filter options to LDD; one for the current Pick-a-Brick selection, and one for the parts in currently available Lego sets.
  
• Generate a list of parts in the model, to be viewed by the user.
  
• Be able to import 3D models of custom Lego element ideas. I know that this was also suggested by the person who started the topic, but I sometimes make Lego part concepts on Google Sketch-up.
  
• Also import image files to use as decals for parts within program.
  
• Physics tests, to test Technic funtions and stability of the build. This feature would require a bit more budget and better specs on the computer, so probably make it as an add-on.
  
• Measurement tools. I would like angle measurements in particular.
  
• A better functioning hinge align tool. This feature has never worked for me when I tried it. It might also be nice to expand it with automatic calculations of multiple angles to achieve desired shapes.
  
• An upscale tool. This would replace each piece in the model with a set of multiple pieces that imitates the shapes in a larger size. You could then build a microscale creation fairly quickly, then automatically make a gigantic minifigure scale landscape.
  

I have another feature to suggest;

Tools to edit the instruction generator, as the fully-automatic instruction generator often brings mediocre results. This feature would let it be all-manual, semi-automatic, or all-automatic. It would let the user split the model into sections (and sub-sections). It would generate the instructions separately for each section. The user could also have the option of entering the order that the sections are built in, and enter the range of steps each section should be. They could also set the steps to 1-1 if they want to manually enter each step.

I can't remember if these flaws have already been solved, but maybe also tweak the automatic instructions. It should detect symmetry, and make multiples of the same part more likely to appear in the same step. I used to have weird results show-up when I tried a symmetrical model.

[Darking]

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this. If not, let me know.

I'm not going to say I want the color Tr. Dark Blue (that's how I think it's called) in the next LDD version, as I can imagine this has been said infinite times. What I want to know is WHY hasn't it been implemented already. I mean, I don't know anything about coding at all, but I don't think adding another color to the pallete can be so difficult, and it's a very basic color that we've been missing for years. Has TLG or the LDD development team said anything about the matter, or if they have planned to add it in future updates?

[Aanchir]

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this. If not, let me know.

I'm not going to say I want the color Tr. Dark Blue (that's how I think it's called) in the next LDD version, as I can imagine this has been said infinite times. What I want to know is WHY hasn't it been implemented already. I mean, I don't know anything about coding at all, but I don't think adding another color to the pallete can be so difficult, and it's a very basic color that we've been missing for years. Has TLG or the LDD development team said anything about the matter, or if they have planned to add it in future updates?

Bricklink's Trans-Dark Blue is already in LDD and has been from the beginning. Its official name is 43 Tr. Blue. 42 Tr. Light Blue is Bricklink's Trans-Light Blue, 143 Tr. Fluore. Blue is Bricklink's Trans-Medium Blue, and 229 Tr. Light Bluish Green (not on the default color palette in any mode) is Bricklink's Trans-Very Light Blue.

Sheet two of this spreadsheet I created cross-references Bricklink color names with official color-names. The Peeron color list does the same, though it basically treats official and Bricklink color names as having a 1:1 relationship, which means there are errors that can be somewhat misleading here and there. Superkalle's LDD Manager software also has a color lookup section with a convenient chart comparing Bricklink names with the official ones used in LDD.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Aanchir

[Blip]

I think Darking may be confused by the fact that LDD isn't currently able to render the colour correctly - ie, it appears medium-light blue whenever you place a brick of that colour in the model. LDD's inability to show this and the other transparent materials at their "true" colour isn't particularl helpful... I can't figure out why this wasn't corrected from the outset.

One other issue while I'm here, and it relates back to the point about placing armour as well as cloaks on minifig torsos: If a torso has a piece of armour, eg 85961 Protective Vest, that shouldn't prevent a non-regular minifig head such as 11595 Create No. 7 from being attached. The "all or nothing" rule which currently seems to prevent heads attaching properly - even though there is plenty of the torso stud free - needs changing to something a little more sensible.

[Darking]

Oh, I see. So it's like how Tr. Fluore. Redd. Orange and Tr. Fluore. Green appear to be red and yellow, instead of orange and lime respectively. I thought this only happened to Fluorescent colors.

So, to make it clear, the color I was talking about, which is the one that appears for example in the head of some Hero Factory sets from this year, like Stormer and Aquagon, is in fact the Tr. Blue that appears in LDD?

[Aanchir]

Oh, I see. So it's like how Tr. Fluore. Redd. Orange and Tr. Fluore. Green appear to be red and yellow, instead of orange and lime respectively. I thought this only happened to Fluorescent colors.

So, to make it clear, the color I was talking about, which is the one that appears for example in the head of some Hero Factory sets from this year, like Stormer and Aquagon, is in fact the Tr. Blue that appears in LDD?

Yes indeed. Transparent colors DO appear somewhat funny on LDD sometimes, though I don't think any are quite as misleading as Tr. Fluore. Green. That's the only one that I think really needs a major adjustment. Most of the others do not appear considerably different than the "visual shorthand" you'd see for those transparent colors in modern-day instruction manuals.

[Lego Otaku]

I just put together a little recreation of classic Yellow castle using modern bricks (1x1 headlight instead of old style 1x1 square window, 2x2 corner brick where a 1x1 and 2x1 bricks were used) mainly so I can make a nice looking reproduction to bricklink. However LDD Manager reported I have a 1x2 brick 3065 in yellow. 3065 has no tube on bottom and is used exclusively for transparent bricks.

almost 600 bricks, where would I find one incorrect brick? I would love to see an option in the future that lets me show specific brick. ie I type in 3065, it'd hide all bricks used except for those so I can isolate error brick.

[Classicsmiley]

It's easy to do your find-and-replace in this instance. Drop another 3065 in your model, and use the "select all pieces of same type" tool to select it (and all other versions of it). Move the selected pieces, and see what else moves in your model.

Edited October 8, 2013 by Classicsmiley

[Lego Otaku]

Took me a while, it was called "Shape Selection tool" but it did find the offending error brick.

[JM1971]

Mirror and some kind of nudge function, sometimes you need to move a brick manually.

[Classicsmiley]

Took me a while, it was called "Shape Selection tool" but it did find the offending error brick.

I'm sorry I didn't give the correct name to begin with. As much as I've used LDD, I've never actually looked at the mouse-over names for the tools, until now.

[The Real Indiana Jones]

Allowing both capes and armor to be attached to minifigure torsos at the same time.

Yes. One easy solution would be just to allow capes to be exempt the collision-detection, since they are perfectly flexible anyway. The cape and the armor would go through each other just a bit, but I think that would be a perfectly fine and easy solution.

...Plus, then you would be able to push the head all the way down when a fig wears a cape! It's a bit annoying that they always have that gap above the cape. Does anyone know a way to fix that?

Edited October 9, 2013 by The Real Indiana Jones

[Steven L]

It would be nice to have an easy way to snap on both minifig's hands to a handlebar.

I've asked on two other threads, but we can't figure out how to.

Probably something to do with the angle of the hands and the arms. A bit more freedom on the hands might fix it.