Here's the first draft. Discuss!!
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The Offical Model Repository Specification
Version: 0.1 (will turn 1.0.0 upon ratification by the LSC)
Author: Orion Pobursky

Purpose:
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The Official Model Repository (OMR) is a database of file in the LDraw File Format describing models that are released as sets by Lego®. For consistency between models and ease of indexing by software, a standard for the file headers, names, and hierarchy in the OMR is needed. This document will outline the extra requirements (in addition to those set forth in the current LDraw File Format specification) for a model to be included in the OMR

Base Requirements:
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All files in the model will conform to the current LDraw File Format

Base File Naming:
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Each model in the OMR will consist of several files that are packaged together into a single MPD file. For sets that include instructions for multiple models, each model will have its own MPD file. Each MPD for the set will be named in the following manner:

<Set Number>(<Optional Specifier>)-[main or alt<Number>]

Where:
<Set Number>: the number assigned on the container of the set
<Optional Specifier>: Sometimes different set with the same number are released, the specifier will be a single digit number, in parentheses, that is different between different sets, to distinguish these sets from one another.
[main or alt<Number>]: The main model of the instructions (i.e. the model featured on the cover of the container) will have the word "main". For sets that feature more than one model on the front of the container (e.g. the Creator line), the largest or most prominent model is the main model. For alternate models that are detailed in instructions, the word "alt" and a single digit number starting at 1 will be used. For playsets or other sets where there are multiple models that are part of an integral whole, all of the submodels will be contained in the main model MPD.

Example:
Set 4896 - Roaring Roadsters. This creator set has 3 models in the instructions. The roadster is featured prominently on the box. 4896 is the only set with that number. Therefore:
Roadster MPD: 4896-main.mpd
Dragster MPD: 4896-alt1.mpd
etc...

MPD File Structure:
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The MPD will conform to the MPD File Specification.

The individual files inside the MPD shall be named using the following convention:
<MPD Filename>-1.ldr - First model in main instructions
<MPD Filename>-1a.ldr - First submodel of first model
<MPD Filename>-1aa.ldr - First component of first submodel of first model
<MPD Filename>-1ab.ldr - Second component of first submodel of first model
<MPD Filename>-2.ldr - Second model of main instructions
<MPD Filename>-mf-<Number>.ldr - Minifig, numbered in order of its appearance in the instructions.

To use further levels of submodels, continue adding on letters to the appropriate depth.

The only unofficial parts allowed to be referenced in the model files are those currently residing on the LDraw.org Parts Tracker. No part files shall be contained in the MPD.

File Headers:
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Each individual model file in the MPD must have a standard header format.

Standard Header:
0 FILE <Filename>.ldr
0 <Lego Set Number> <Lego Set Name>
0 Name: <Filename>.ldr
0 Author: <Author Name>
0 LDraw.org Official Model Repository

Post link to your custom POV parts here.

The main library is, of course, LGEO. It's great but it doesn't have everything.

Some people are actually using their keyboard, and don't want to lift their hands to the mouse more than necessary. As the tab order is now in the 'Start a New Topic', one has to TAB 24 times to get from the Subject to the Message. The expected tab order (at least for me) is Subject, Message, Options, Speed buttons in the edit window.

Edit 1: When later pressing 'Edit' on a post the cursor is placed at the end of the message, as expected.

Edit 2: When pressing 'Reply' the cursor is placed in some indefinite place, and it needs 25 tabs to get to the Message box.

Edit 3: The same when pressing 'Quote'.

It's 23:00, GMT+1, DST and the forum is creeping. If this is how it will be, with only 10 active users, how will it be when there are hundreds?

I'm drafting up a new OMR File Spec for submission to the LSC. My question to you is: how do we handle unofficial parts in the model files? I see few options:
- Disallow all unofficial parts - this is undesirable for obvious reasons
- Allow unofficial parts but only those that are not already released (i.e. no fixes for official parts)
- Unrestricted use of unofficial parts.

Note that by unofficial parts I mean parts currently on the Parts Tracker and found in the ldrawunof.zip. I don't think it would be productive or desirable to allow parts that are currently not on the PT.

I've noticed that similar discussions are appearing in multiple subforums and that it can be quite hard to work out where a discussion should go (I've got this wrong and I had some say on the initial forum structure). This suggests to me that we may have fallen into the trap of overcategorisation that catches so many new forums.

I can't help but feel that in this case less may be more. I count 18 public forums which does seem a little like overkill to me.

This begs the following questions:

Are there too many forums and should we have fewer?

If so how many is enough?

And what should they be?

I'd like to open this one up to everyone so please have your say.

Tim

Don Heyse and Steffen asked us to discuss the location of LDConfig.ldr, and add it to the standard(s) somewhere, see:

http://forums.ldraw.org/showthread.php?tid=272,272
and
http://forums.ldraw.org/showthread.php?t...349#pid349

Also it appears to me the general search order is documented poorly, or I'm I missing something?

All current standard docs are about file formats and such, we might need a separate one for the file/directory structures.

Hi,

I just wondered why I was not able to file a request/idea in forum
http://forums.ldraw.org/list.php?5
to the LSC.

Why is that door closed?
Should not everybody be able to file a suggestion there?

The issue I wanted to file there is:
an official location for ldconfig.ldr has not yet been rolled out officially,
see this post: http://forums.ldraw.org/showthread.php?t...346#pid346

However, the recent parts library updates issued it officially,
so it is a de facto standard now that ldconfig.ldr sits in the root LDRAW folder
(which is a Good Place ™ IMHO)

My request would simply be to add this to the standards documentation.
Or does that already exist somewhere?

Travis, in case you read this, could you move this thread to the LSC forum?
Or anybody else?

please see this thread:
http://forums.ldraw.org/showthread.php?t...338#pid338

I'm cross-posting it here

3 LEGO minifigs made out of alloy will take a long ride into the universe:

http://news.discovery.com/space/lego-fig...10804.html

http://www.crazyengineers.com/nasa-juno-...board-747/




So the minifigs decided against using their all time classic!