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On Tue, 1 Jun 1999 16:06:07 GMT, Tim Courtney <tim@zacktron.com> wrote:
> This raises an important question. We should have a standard format for
> submodels for the TLG models. MPD or inlining? Given my limited
> knowledge, which is more user-friendly? can LDraw/LEdit/LDLite read an
> inlined file without the user having to do anything? I know you have to
> expand an MPD to the original dat files before you can see the submodels.
> Which do you all prefer?
Info:
--- Inlining:
Inlining is generally considered a "one-way" process - though the inlined
section can be manually cut out and pasted into a separate file if the
beginning and end of the inlined section is known.
It is directly viewable in LDraw/LDlite. It is editable in LEdit as long as
the total lines do not exceed 1000 lines.
---- Multi-Part Dat (MPD)
Basically, it is just appending all the subfiles of a model into one file.
Each section is identified by a line:
0 FILE 'filename'
The primary model should be first in the file, followed by submodels.
It is directly viewable in recent versions of LDlite. It is NOT viewable in
LDraw/LEdit. (at least not clearly)
MPD files can be automatically split into separate files by using the MPD
splitter, or can be manually split.
If manually splitting the files, I have found it is a good idea to not include
the 0 FILE line in each file, as it seems to sometimes confuse LDLite.
Both have their uses and advantanges/disadvantages.
If you want the files to be returned to a submodel state, MPD is better.
BUT - that requires splitting the MPD.
If the model files are going to be available for downloading, why not have the
model and its subfiles follow some standard naming scheme (to keep them
together in a directory, and easily identifiable), and just zip all the
component files up into an archive? Saving space and keeping all the files
separate - without going through the steps of creating an inlined file or MPD.
And saving the user having to split a single file.
A zip also offers the option of placing additional support files withing the
zip file. Like building notes, or even images.
And no one better say, "I don't have a zip program". If you are on the
internet, you should have some program capable of unzipping. If you
absolutely must pander to the technically deficient, you could even make
self-extracting zip files.
If you plan on having some kind of web interface like Lugnet, where the model
can be directly viewed, then using MPD would be good. The user would have to
have LDlite installed to view it anyway, and it would have the additional
utility of being able to be saved and then split into separate files if
needed.
I think that for an archive of models it is important to remember that, in
order for a user to easily build a model, the model should have subparts.
Trying to build a complex model from one single file is too difficult. Using
subparts to break it down into stages or sections is desireable. With that in
mind, the only choices are MPD or Zip files. And, in my mind, Zip is a lot
easier and simpler.
I like inlining. I think it is great for posting to lugnet. It is simple,
quick, and easy to do. But for building complex models, it is not the best
choice.
-- Terry K --
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: [ldraw.org] Progress
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| On Thu, 3 Jun 1999 08:12:49 GMT, legoverse@geocities.com (Terry K) wrote: [Good descriptions of inlining/MPD snipped] (...) And if you use a ZIP archive, you have to unzip. Unzipping is generally more convenient than splitting an MPD, for the user. (...) (25 years ago, 3-Jun-99, to lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: [ldraw.org] Progress
|
| (...) This raises an important question. We should have a standard format for submodels for the TLG models. MPD or inlining? Given my limited knowledge, which is more user-friendly? can LDraw/LEdit/LDLite read an inlined file without the user having (...) (25 years ago, 1-Jun-99, to lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)
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