New to LPub and having a couple of problems

[NathanR]

Hi, I'm new here, I've recently started designing Lego models in computer and I'm trying to put together some proper instruction manuals for them (LDD's instruction are usually quite bizarre for me).

I've downloaded LDraw, Bricksmith and LPub for the Mac, it's all set up and working well but there are a couple of things that bug me:

1) In LPub, it seems to be impossible to ignore the last step of a callout where a floating part is placed correctly with a BufExchg Retrieve command. I've read the eurobricks guide, and the google site instructions for this ("https://sites.google...this-step'") but it never seems to work:

e.g.

0 FILE untitled model.ldr
0 untitled model
0 Name:
0 Author: Nathan Readioff
1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 3022.dat
0 STEP
0 !LPUB CALLOUT BEGIN
1 4 -20 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 Pins.ldr
0 !LPUB CALLOUT ALLOC HORIZONTAL
0 !LPUB CALLOUT POINTER CENTER 0 0.496622 0.492857
0 !LPUB CALLOUT END

0 STEP
0 NOFILE
0 FILE pins.ldr
0 untitled model
0 Name: Pins.ldr
0 Author: Nathan Readioff
1 0 20 -24 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 32000.dat
0 BUFEXCHG A STORE
1 25 10 -14 -111 0 0 -1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3673.dat
0 PLIST BEGIN IGN
1 25 10 -14 -41 0.707107 0.707107 -0 0.707107 -0.707107 -0 -0 0 -1 hashl4.dat
0 PLIST END
0 STEP
0 BUFEXCHG A RETRIEVE
1 25 10 -14 -11 0 0 -1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3673.dat
0 !LPUB NOSTEP
0 STEP
0 NOFILE 

Is this just a bug in the Mac version of Lpub or have I got the commands wrong?

2) Is it possible to fine tune the placement of callouts? On multistep views it never seems possible to just click and drag, the way you can when only one step is shown per page.

3) Also, is there an alternative Mac editor to Bricksmith that allows BufExchg commands to be added within the code rather than typing everything manually in TextEdit? This gets a bit tedious…

Would really appreciate any help!

Cheers,

NathanR

[Calabar]

Here is an LPub Guide (you can find this and other useful topic in the Section Index).

Maybe a moderator will move your request there.

[NathanR]

Thanks for the link. I had already read it but it seemed an older thread and I wasn't sure if I'd get into trouble for resurrecting it...

[Alasdair Ryan]

Hi Nathan,I fixed your file to what I hope you were hoping for.

I have some tutorials on my blog about using Buffer Exchange that you may want to read.

(I use windows)

0 untitled model
0 Name: Nathan 2.ldr
0 Author: Nathan Readioff
0 ROTATION CENTER 0 0 0 1 "Custom"
0 ROTATION CENTER 0 0 0 1 "Custom"
0 ROTATION CONFIG 0 0
1 4 20.2 0 -9.8 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 3022.dat
0 STEP
0 !LPUB CALLOUT BEGIN
1 4 -20 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 Nathan 1.ldr
1 0 20 -24 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 -0 0 1 32000.dat
0 BUFEXCHG A STORE
1 25 10 -13.6 -100.2 0 0 -1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3673.dat
0 MLCAD ARROW 25 10.6 -14.4 -45.5 0 0 1 0 1 0 -1 0 0  10 4 12 40  3 30 1 2  4 4
0 MLCAD SKIP_BEGIN
3 4 10.6 -14.4 -33.5 10.6 -19.4 -48.5 10.6 -14.4 -43.5
3 4 10.6 -14.4 -33.5 10.6 -9.4 -48.5 10.6 -14.4 -43.5
3 4 10.6 -14.4 -43.5 10.6 -16.4 -45.5 10.6 -12.4 -45.5
4 4 10.6 -16.4 -45.5 10.6 -16.4 -85.5 10.6 -12.4 -85.5 10.6 -12.4 -45.5
0 MLCAD SKIP_END
0 STEP
0 BUFEXCHG A RETRIEVE
1 25 10 -14 -11 0 0 -1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3673.dat
0 STEP
0
0
0
0
0
0

I can't really help you with your other problems,but someone else here might.