Hello Roland, I've been playing around with LCad the first time,
and I've some improvement suggestions, albeit not regarding the orthoview:
(a)
Different than MLCad, LCad seems to not look into my LDRAW\MODELS folder to find files.
My files organization is like this:
LDRAW\PARTS
LDRAW\PARTS\S
LDRAW\P
are the official files.
LDRAW\MODELS
is abused as the place where I put unofficial files. This way, also old tools
can deal with the separation into official and unofficial files.
In a totally separate folder, say
C:\Users\XYZ\My Documents\My LEGO Models\1985\Train
, I have put my assembled scenes, using files from the above folders, including MODELS.
When I open such a file in LCad, it will only find the PARTS and P files,
but not the ones from MODELS. That's a loss, because even the historic LDRAW tools do.
Maybe you could add this search order:
1. search current folder
2. search MODELS folder (takes priority over PARTS)
3. search PARTS folder (takes priority over P)
4. search P folder
EDIT: I just found your configuration dialog where I can configure search folders.
That has solved my problem.
(b)
there is a typo "mettallic" in your GUI, should be "metallic"
©
I do not like the black background of the 3D window(s), can I get an option to configure that color?
I like a light background better.
(d)
I have trouble using the mouse to rotate the 3D view of a model.
I am used to LDView's mouse operation,
and have learned MLCad's mouse mode oddities.
But LCad should not introduce yet another one, is there a chance
to get a "LDView compatibility mode" for the rotation of the model?
(e)
The fixed-spaced font GUI looks a little strange to me at first sight,
I would like the font to not have so many gaps, but that may just be me.
(f)
I would very much like to be able to supply LCad a file to open on the command line.
Currently, I can not easily open files from the Windows Explorer via "Open with..." or
a custom context menu entry. LCad simply shows me an error message in that case
that it does not take a filename argument :-((((
These are the first impressions I had from the tool, I also liked many things in it:
(a)
Very good is the part selection principle. All 3D previews automagically are shown
in the currently selected color. Awesome.
(b)
Also the 3D editing capabilities in the 3D window are nice, although I yet have to master them.
The method to rotate a part in the model is just awesome. Never it has been so easy.
©
Keyboard support is good.
Please excuse that I just casted a quick glance on the tool...
and I've some improvement suggestions, albeit not regarding the orthoview:
(a)
Different than MLCad, LCad seems to not look into my LDRAW\MODELS folder to find files.
My files organization is like this:
LDRAW\PARTS
LDRAW\PARTS\S
LDRAW\P
are the official files.
LDRAW\MODELS
is abused as the place where I put unofficial files. This way, also old tools
can deal with the separation into official and unofficial files.
In a totally separate folder, say
C:\Users\XYZ\My Documents\My LEGO Models\1985\Train
, I have put my assembled scenes, using files from the above folders, including MODELS.
When I open such a file in LCad, it will only find the PARTS and P files,
but not the ones from MODELS. That's a loss, because even the historic LDRAW tools do.
Maybe you could add this search order:
1. search current folder
2. search MODELS folder (takes priority over PARTS)
3. search PARTS folder (takes priority over P)
4. search P folder
EDIT: I just found your configuration dialog where I can configure search folders.
That has solved my problem.
(b)
there is a typo "mettallic" in your GUI, should be "metallic"
©
I do not like the black background of the 3D window(s), can I get an option to configure that color?
I like a light background better.
(d)
I have trouble using the mouse to rotate the 3D view of a model.
I am used to LDView's mouse operation,
and have learned MLCad's mouse mode oddities.
But LCad should not introduce yet another one, is there a chance
to get a "LDView compatibility mode" for the rotation of the model?
(e)
The fixed-spaced font GUI looks a little strange to me at first sight,
I would like the font to not have so many gaps, but that may just be me.
(f)
I would very much like to be able to supply LCad a file to open on the command line.
Currently, I can not easily open files from the Windows Explorer via "Open with..." or
a custom context menu entry. LCad simply shows me an error message in that case
that it does not take a filename argument :-((((
These are the first impressions I had from the tool, I also liked many things in it:
(a)
Very good is the part selection principle. All 3D previews automagically are shown
in the currently selected color. Awesome.
(b)
Also the 3D editing capabilities in the 3D window are nice, although I yet have to master them.
The method to rotate a part in the model is just awesome. Never it has been so easy.
©
Keyboard support is good.
Please excuse that I just casted a quick glance on the tool...