A few of the LDraw regular got together in Billund last weekend (Apr 26-28) for some camaraderie and discussion about LDraw.org. Additionally, we held an online conference with a few other invitee's.

In person:
Orion Pobursky
Willy Tschager
Philippe Hurbain (Philo)
Max Martin Richer
Magnus Forsberg

Online:
Gerald Lasser
Nils Schmidt
Rene Rechthaler
Fredrik Hareide

Meeting minutes:

General
- Orion presented the current state of the LDraw.org infrastructure including services used, software, and cost.

Discussion points

More communication with Stud.io team
- Would be nice but not required
- Not something worth pursuing in any concerted way
- The new zip file download is a large step forward in helping people get new parts into Stud.io
- Texture mapping compatibility is a concern for some but other felt it was not a huge deal

More reviews in the PT
- Over 7000 parts waiting for review
- Orion shared 2 new PT features to help out, the certify all tool and the user parts for review on the user dashboard
- Willy shared a concern with locating files to review. Hard to tell if a part waiting admin still need subfiles certified.
- Orion implemented an icon in the status to show if a part was not releasable
- The idea of turning off submits for some period was suggested. Other felt this would not solve the problem as people would just not review and wait out the no submit periods.

Modernize Community Model
- Start a Discord - Done, PM Orion for an invite
- Orion adamant that Discord will not replace the forums as Discord is not Googlable
- Fredirik suggested a tutorial on how to install an update.

Update or Rewrite Bylaws
- Bylaws need to be updated to acknowledge the extistance of video conferencing, allow in person meetings
- SteerCo not really that busy with things, maybe 3 year terms?
- Membership list is super old and there's been no formal mechanism to join since we switched from PostNuke over a decade ago

Reapply for RLOC status
- No interest in this.
- Not a good fit any more and no benefit as LEGO never communicated with us when we did have status.
- LEGO no longer does fan tours or meetings

Library Shortcuts
- Distinction between assemblies as parts LEGO distributes as one unit (e.g Legs + Hips, Torso + Arms + Hands) and shortcuts as discreet parts that are combined for convenience (e.g. a complete Minifig, Helmet + Visor)
- Orion wants torso assemblies in the library
- Nobody wants these types of to clog the PT
- Orion suggested having an enforced submit template. This would require at least one uncolored assembly to undergo the complete review process and be released. After that users could submit assemblies templated to the official assembly. These would required only an admin review to be added to the library
- Orion suggested a separate folder for assemblies. Consensus was that all parts should be in the parts folder.
- Sticker shortcuts were discussed. More discussion is needed but consensus seems to be allowing all types of sticker shortcuts as long as they are for parts in the set for the sticker sheet.
- Rene suggested a sticker shortcut reference where a sticker sheet number could be entered and all the stickers and the shortcuts could be viewed on one page. Orion is 95% away from implementing this

Other smaller discussions:
- Classic motorcycle helmet is wrong. How to fix it was discussed
- Getting rid of the .exe update installer was brought up by Orion. Fredrik said he used it as a newcomer. Decision was to keep it.

--

Thanks to all who participated. I plan to have more regular video meeting with the community and team. It will be harder as I'm 8-9 hours behind European time where most of the other regulars are based but could probably make it work on the weekends.

Guys,

the following is addressed mainly to LDCad where the first part in a CATEGORY is used as mascot for it but all other editors. This leads to very strange results where "Slope" is represented by a Duplo Slope 2x2x1,5 or "PLate" by a Duplo Plate 1x2 with overhang. In LDCad this is editable through the pbg files in the AppData folder - not very user friendly.

I suggest adding a new meta to the LDConfig.ldr defining the mascot for the single LDraw categories:

0 !CATEGORY Plate MASCOT 1 16 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 part.dat DESCRIPTION Plates

Thoughts?

w.

The 2024-03 LDraw Parts Update has been released. This update adds 217 new files to the core library, including 135 new parts and 5 new primitives.

Thanks are due to all the part authors who created or corrected parts for this release. The small, but dedicated, band of reviewers also play an important role in keeping files moving through the Parts Tracker and deserve just as much credit. This update wouldn't have been possible without their dedication and attention to detail.

You can preview the new parts in 2024-03 here, and download the zip-file update or Windows install package here.

Thank you to all the testers and parts authors who continue feedback for the new PT software. This project would not be what it is without your help.

Orion Pobursky
LDraw.org Parts Library Admin

Would it be possible to add a few handy shortcuts to help with adding subfiles to a file.

Ctrl-R now adds an empty one.

Maybe Ctrl-Shift-R could add an empty with -1 in X?

And maybe Ctrl-Alt-R could add or Ctrl-Alt-Shift-R could add a flipped version of the current file. (for usage with Edger) An alternative for this is to add a reference to self automatically (a menu inside Edger). Because I have found that adding a reference to self(70575s01.dat without the s\) is the easiest way to make condlines between two halves.

-Fredrik

Hello all,

Currently busy to create MLCAD files for the RoboRiders. I am not able to create parts myself.

Has anybody or does anybody know if following parts exists:

• 32306; Technic Wheel Holder 7 x 3 (Disk 5x5 holder in the RoboRider sets)
  
• x209[pb03]; Black Technic Throwbot Visor with RoboRider Onyx Pattern (pattern not a must for me)
  

Hello!  So, while I'm waiting for the zeppelin container parts, I thought I'd go ahead and request the parts for the Minifigures Series 21 Beekeeper, specifically the torso, Part 973pb4138, the legs, Part 970c00pb1157, the beekeeping net hat, Part 69938c01, the head, Part 3626cpb2740, and the 2x2 tile with honeycomb and bees print, Part 3068pb1489.  So, yeah, still waiting on the zeppelin parts, but hopefully this parts request helps others while I wait.  Rockatoa, Brickticks out!

All,

A few of the core team will be meeting in Billund, DK this weekend. While we have some outside activities planned, we'd like to do a virtual meet up on Sunday, April 28 at 1200 Central European Time. The meeting will be held via Google Meet. If you'd like an invite, please reply to this thread and I'll PM you the invite when I create it.

Hi folks,

As outlined here:

https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-28159.html

nominations for the 2024/2025 LDraw.org Steering Committee election should have been closed at 11:59 PM GMT on 31st of March 2024 and elections should have been started on 1st of April 2024.
As there were no valid nominations on 1st of April 2024, we decided to extend the nomination process for 1 month. Therefore the nominations will close at 11:59 PM GMT on 30th of April 2024 and the election will start on 1st of May 2024.
Only those candidates who have been nominated, seconded, and have accepted as outlined, will be eligible for election. So if you are a candidate that has not yet accepted or declined, please consider deciding. The list with the candidates as well as their status can be found here:

https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-28160.html

If you feel your favourite nominee is missing on the list please use the link above to nominate him/her.

Max Martin Richter
On behalf of the LDraw.org Steering Committee

Hello LDraw,

Have looked around and might have missed it, but here's a request to add the new 2x2 and 1x4 angled curved slopes from the Audi, McLaren and BMW sets to your cue. NewElementary's post comparing the curves and shapes looks pretty handy: newelementary.com/2024/04/lego-speed-champions-review-and-moc.html

5093/5095 2x2x2/3 Slope Curved Angled Right/Left
5414/5415 1x4 Slope Curved angled Right/Left

Cheers,
Prototyp

Hello all!

I would like to request the formed shape of 102735 (6433073) from the 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera.