Quad2Dat

(work in progress)

  A program to aid in the coding of patterned parts for the LDRAW library.

  Designed to replace the draw-on-the-quadpad1-transfer-to-ldraw method of creating patterned parts (i.e.  tiles, slopes, bricks, torsos, etc).  It provides a template (outline) of the various parts, a modifiable grid with snap-to capability, pan and zoom, and the ability to place a background image of a scanned part behind the grid (remember transparency paper?).  Supports Ldraw type 3, 4 and type 1 primitives (disc, not-disc, ring).  Easy user interface: click to add a vertex, or enter the values in the fields.   Simple edit capability to modify the color or other parameters of a polygon or primitive.  Ability to drag a polygon, primitive or vertex.  And much more planned... 

Menu descriptions

FILE:

New Template...    - Select a template to begin work.  This wipes the slate clean, so be sure to save any prior work first (it doesn't ask yet).

Open, Close            - open or close a *.ldr, *.dat, or *.qp (quadpad file).

Save, Save As...    - save a file.

Save All, Properties, Page Setup, Print Preview - Not Implemented yet or left-over menu items from the default program template of VB.

Print

Exit

 

EDIT:

Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Paste Special - Not Implemented Yet.

 

VIEW:

ToolBar, Status Bar - Upper and lower Bars.

Refresh    - Redraw the quadpad view

ReFrame    - Reframe the view to fit the template

Center    - Center the view (zoom doesn't change)

Options    - Panel to select various options for the program
Grid - display toggle, spacing, major line spacing.
snap to grid toggle, snap to vertex toggle, snap radius (applies to both grid and vertex)
draw triangle, polygon edges toggle
draw template toggle
draw background image toggle
select default template (places this first in the menu choice).

 

HELP: - Not Implemented Yet.
DAT Order window:
Right click to insert comment above current row
double-click or space to edit comment
left-click drag in first column to rearrange .dat output
left-click (or ctrl-left-click) in second column to select primitive(s) and/or polygon(s) for editing.

 

 

To do list (in no particular order)

  1. cut, copy, paste
  2. edit primitives (right now, just shows edit panel - no changes are reflected).
  3. adding some more templates (other tiles, bricks, panels)
  4. still unsure about how I'm going to implement the head and legs template (or other curved parts) since both of these aren't solely flat surfaces.
    chose this: one thought - flat pattern (unwrapped surfaces laid flat)
    thought two - create a 3-D pattern editor 
  5. import/export of  *.ldr, *.dat files
  6. automatically export colors gold, silver, etc as /s files.
  7. better depiction for generating and/or editing primitives.
  8. ability to comment and rearrange ldr/dat output
  9. code up error handling - most errors will terminate the program.
  10. add warnings, etc for saving, opening, closing...
  11. write out all polygons as either clockwise or counterclockwise (i.e. - BFC stuff)
  12. clean up look and feel

Possible enhancements (or things that sound cool)

  1. work on the mini-fig as a whole: head, torso, hips, legs show up all at the same time.
  2. rotate background image - probably better left to the graphics program that created the image
  3. rotate/flip of polygons and primitives about a designated point or line.
  4. snap a vertex to an intersection (overlapping polygons only used as a construction aid, of course).
  5. options: auto ndis - generate a ndis for every dis; default colors
  6. work on multiple documents at the same time.
  7. separate common vertex from two (2) or more polygons.  Vis-a-versa, unite two vertices.

 

Notes

  This is an early release of a program in development.  It is being presented now to gar ner your inputs and comments.  Some menu's don't work.  Panels are unfinished.  There are bound to be bugs in it.  It'll probably crash more often than not.  So far, it hasn't "hung" any of my machines when it has crashed.  It shouldn't harm yours - but I make no promises.  The buttons on the right no longer work - they've been moved to the toolbar.  Yes, the options menu needs some work.  Screenshots.  Sample.qp

  Please send any feedback (good or bad), comments, questions, and suggestions to calano@yahoo.com.     I'm looking for items such as:  what defaults do you expect to have saved (remembered) each time you start the program, Look-and-feel, missing commands, options, ability to change background color, etc.

  Bug reports - be sure to include what version (windows too) you're running, what you were doing or trying to do, and any sample files that can help me diagnose the problem.

Thanks for helping,  it's your input that helps shape this program,

Chris

v0.9.4, 20020608: I've installed a service pack for the development environment - this may require a repeat of a full installation.  Sorry about that - I promise not to do it again.

just the executable (210K.zip, 665K installed.)

current build: v0.9.5; 20020725

 full installation (2.6M.zip ~560K installed)

this is still build v0.9.4 (20020608)

Revision History

© 2002  Chris Alano  CA-22, inc ;->  mail: calano@yahoo.com

last modified: 2002.07.28

1. A ruled pad of paper commonly scaled to 4 squares per inch.

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