MLCad - Setup tutorial

Setup tutorial

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installation advice for the LDraw Parts Library and MLCad

This tutorial will teach you how to set up a simple LDraw system with the MLCad editor and the LDraw Parts Library. Furthermore it will show you tips and tricks and help with troubleshooting problems you might encounter. The tutorial assumes that both the install files: LDrawParts.exe – http://www.ldraw.org/Downloads-req-viewdownload-cid-1.html mlcad330.zip – http://www.lm-software.com/mlcad/ have been downloaded to your hard disk. The tutorial is based on MLCad 3.3 and the new unified LDraw Parts Library 2008-01 and is grouped in two sections: installing the LDraw Parts Library installing MLCad

installing the LDraw parts library		top

The LDraw parts library is a collection of LDraw-format CAD files representing many of LEGO bricks produced. The parts library is required to use any of the LDraw CAD programs such as MLCad, LPUb or LDView.



1.	First we are going to install the LDraw Parts Library. Either double click the executable LDrawParts.exe setup file or select Open from the contextual menu. This pops up a dialogue asking for your preferred language. Select English from the drop down box and confirm you choice by hitting the OK button.

There haven't yet been any compatibility problems reported with other applications (including programs of the LDraw System of Tools) running while installing the library; nonetheless it is a good idea to follow this recommendation. Click the Next > button and proceed to the next dialogue only AFTER you have saved your work and closed all open programs.

Read the License Agreement for the LDraw Parts Library by scrolling down and understand the legal terms of the license. After installation you can find the Legal Code (CAlicense.txt) as well as the easy-reading text shown in the above dialogue (CAreadme.txt) in the library's root folder or on the LDraw.org web site. An addition you'll find some rules (NonCAreadme.txt) which governs so-called NonCA-Parts.

After reading and agreeing with the license select I accept the agreement to proceed with the installation or press Cancel to abandon the setup.

The Next > button will only become accessible after you've agreed to the license terms. Click Next > and go to the next screen.

It is recommended that you install the library in the proposed C:\Programs\LDraw folder. Change the location only if you're an experienced user.

Click the Next > button and proceed to the next dialog.

The type of installation chosen from the drop down box allows you to install the following segments of the official LDraw library.

Core parts library	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 folder 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.
Alias parts library	The library of officially released part aliases. This includes generic colour versions of parts that are physically identical to parts in the core parts library, but have a different part numbers, either because of production differences between opaque and transparent parts or due to evolution of the part numbering scheme.
Physical colour parts library	The library of officially released physical colour parts. This includes hard-coded colour versions of parts or composite parts.
Non re-distributable parts library	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.

For broadest use I recommend installing:

Core parts library
Non re-distributable parts library

but NOT:

Alias parts library
Physical colour parts library

Click the Next > button and proceed to the next dialogue.

10.

Check the summary of your settings and...

11.

Click the Install button to start copying the files.

12.

You may abort the installation at any time by selecting the Cancel.

13.

The installer will roll back and delete all files which may have been installed up to this stage if you confirm this dialog.

14.

Once all the part files have been installed the setup program will automatically start mklist.exe. This is an utility that creates the list of available parts. This list (parts.lst) is used by MLCad and by several other third-party utilities. You should re-run MKList after installing new parts updates, or you may run it at any other time to change the sort order of your list of parts. In the unlikely event the installer failed to run this parts list compiler you have to run it manually. Navigate to the LDraw folder launch mklist.exe and choose to create the list sorted [N]umerically or by [D]escription. Most people use Description sorting and enter a D or d in the pop-up dialogue, but you can change to whichever order you prefer at any time by re-running mklist.exe.

15.

Click the Finish button to exit setup.

16.

At this stage your LDraw folder should contain the above files and subdirectories:

\MODELS\	Directory 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\	Directory where parts primitives are located. Parts primitives are typically highly reusable components used by the part files in the LDraw library.
\P\48\	Directory 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 undesirable 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 in a text editor.
\PARTS\S\	This directory holds sub-parts that are used by the LDraw parts to optimise file size and improve parts development efficiency.
mklist.exe	Utility that creates a list of available parts. Read above for more details.
mklist-c.zip	Zip archive of the MKList source code.
PARTS.LST	Your listing of all usable parts available. This list is created by running MKList.exe and choosing to create the list sorted [N]umerically or by [D]escription. Read above for more details. The content can be viewed in a text editor.
ldconfig.ldr	Configuration file specifying the properties of LDraw colours.
ldcfgalt.ldr	Alternative configuration file specifying the properties of LDraw colours with LDraw-style edges.
CAlicense.txt	Legal Code (the full license) for the LDraw Parts Library licensed by the Creative Commons Attribution Licence 2.0 as specified by the LDraw Contributor Agreement (CA).
CAreadme.txt	README file with human-readable expression of some key terms to understand the Legal Code (the full license) for the LDraw Parts Library licensed by the Creative Commons Attribution Licence 2.0 as specified by the LDraw Contributor Agreement (CA).
NonCAreadme.txt	README file for the LDraw NonCA-Parts Library NOT licensed by the Creative Commons Attribution Licence 2.0 as specified by the LDraw Contributor Agreement (CA).
Readme.txt	Short README file explaining what files and subdirectories are present in your LDraw installation, describing the LDraw library structure and listing links to some sites on the internet where you can find help and further information.
unins000.exe	Uninstaller to remove the LDraw Parts Library with all his files.
unins000.dat	Setup uninstall log file created during setup needed by the uninstaller utiliy.

installing MLCad

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You are now ready to install MLCad, the actual editor, to build models and output pictures as well as building instructions and parts lists.

17.

Unpack the content of mlcad330.zip into the C:\Programs\MLCad folder and launch the MLCAD.exe program (consider creating program shortcuts in the Start Menu folder as well as Desktop and Quick Launch icons).

18.

Before MLCad's standard interface will pop up you have to define the path to the LDraw Parts Library if the program cannot find the path to the \Parts\ and \P\ directories itself. This has to be done only once. MLCad will store the location in its registry. Enter C:\Programs\LDraw into the Base path: box or browse for it.

19.

Confirm your choice with OK after the Status: field has changed to OK!

20.

The first time you start up MLCad the interface will show all tool bars and so-called panes. Rearrange them as you see fit. If you have a small monitor with low resolution it is recommended you hide some of those which are seldom needed. Select the View menu, the Toolbars tab, then Expertbar (View > Toolbars > Expertbar). This will deselect/untick the bar from the list. Hide:

Expertbar
Extasbar
Controlbar

21.

The next step is to change some of MLCad's default settings to ease working with the interface. Select Settings > General > Change...

22.

In the pop-up dialogue select the General tab.

23.

Enter your name or nickname in the Author name: box. This name will be inserted into all LDraw model files you create.

24.

Select the Rendering tab.

25.

Set the options as shown in the screenshot. Chose a Light-Gray for the Color in the Preview options box.

26.

Select the Document tab.

27.

Set the options as shown in the screenshot.

28.

Select the View Mode tab.

29.

Set the options as shown in the screenshot.

30.

Close the dialogue by hitting OK.

Your MLCad/LDraw system should now be properly set up and you're ready to start building. You may have also a look at the tutorial to customise MLCad a bit through the MLCad.ini file.

MLCad well!

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