LDraw Readme File
Welcome to LDraw
This short readme file explains what files and subdirectories are present in
your LDraw installation, described the LDraw library structure and and has links
to some sites on the internet where you can find help and further information.
* LDraw program directory contents
* LDraw library structure
* Where to find further information
* Parts library updates
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* LDraw program directory contents:
- Program executables:
mklist.exe - This is a utility that creates a list of available
parts. This list (parts.lst) is used by LDraw tools
as the available parts list. You should re-run mklist
after installing new parts updates.
- Support Files:
Parts.lst - This is your listing of all usable parts available.
This list is created by running mklist.exe and choosing
to create the list sorted Numerically or by Description.
Most people use Description sorting, but you can
change to whichever way you prefer at any time.
mklist1_6.zip - Zip archive of the MKList source code.
- Informational Files:
Readme.txt - This file you are currently reading.
- Subdirectories:
\MODELS\ - This directory is where your model .dat files are stored.
There are two sample model .dat files installed for you
to look at - Car.dat and Pyramid.dat.
\P\ - This directory is where parts primitives are located.
Parts primitives are tyically highly reusable components
used by the part files in the LDraw library.
\P\48\ - This directory is where high resolution parts primitives
are located. These are typically used for large curved
parts where excessive scaling of the regular curved
primitives would produce an undesriable result.
\PARTS\ - This directory holds all the actual parts that can be used
in creating or rendering your models. A list of these
parts can be seen by viewing the parts.lst file.
\PARTS\S\ - This directory holds sub-parts that are used by the LDraw
parts to optimise file size and improve parts development
efficiancy.
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* LDraw library structure:
The official LDraw library is segmented into four categories:
- OfficialCA - The library of officially released parts for which the
authors have agreed to the Contributor Agreement, allowing
their work to be re-distributed. Full details of this
agreement can be found in the CAreadme.txt and
CAlicense.txt files in the same diectory as this file.
This download is restricted to generic colour versions of
each part and does not contain duplicate copies of part
files where different numbers have been used for the same
physical part. This library may be re-distributed, subject
to the conditions laid out in CAreadme.txt.
- OfficialCA_a - The library of officially released part aliases. This
includes generic colour versions of parts that are
physically identical to parts in the OfficialCA library,
but have a different part number, either because of
production differences between opaque and transparent
parts or due to evolution of the part numbering scheme.
- OfficialCA_p - The library of officially released physical colour parts.
This includes hard-coded colour versions of parts or
composite parts.
- OfficialNonCA - The library of officially released parts for which the
authors have not agreed to the Contributor Agreement, or
where we have been unable to contact the original author.
This download is restricted to generic colour versions of
each part and does not contain duplicate copies of part
files where different numbers have been used for the same
physical part.
This library MAY NOT be re-distributed, as detailed in the
conditions laid out in NonCAreadme.txt file.
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* Where to find further information
For more information on LDraw, check out these internet resources:
- LDraw.org - http://www.ldraw.org/
Centralized LDraw Resources on the internet.
Parts updates, Utility programs for using and enhancing LDraw, and more.
- LUGNET - http://www.lugnet.com/
The Lego Users Group NETwork (LUGNET) - A great place for fans of Lego.
LUGNET has many topic-specific newsgroups that discuss LDraw and other forms
of Lego-type CAD.
- The LDraw Parts Tracker - http://www.ldraw.org/library/tracker/
The web-based system for managing the development of new LDraw parts. Here
you will find unofficial versions of new parts and updates to existing parts.
As these are unofficial parts, they may be incomplete, or inaccurate, and it
is possible that when they are officially released they may be changed in
ways that could change any model in which you have used them.
- The LDraw Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
http://www.ldraw.org/faq/
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* Parts library updates:
- If you have not already done so, you should visit www.ldraw.org and
download and install the current complete package of LDraw parts.
- Periodically, new parts and part fixes are released in small updates,
available from www.ldraw.org. These updates should be downloaded and
installed as they become available. Please remember that OLD updates
should not be installed over NEW or NEWER updates. Doing so might
overwrite a fixed version of a part with an older version.
LDraw Update 2010-02
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