Using custom parts

Using custom parts

If you want to use unofficial parts or your own created parts you must tell LPub3D where to find them. There are multiple ways to do that, but here is the most common way.

Say you have custom parts to use in your instructions, like patterned parts, stickers or any LDraw compatible file you should create a subfolder in the unofficial folder, that is in the LDraw library by default, and mimic the structure of a LDraw library of parts folder.

The image here can represent a folder structure for custom files.

The Unofficial folder should have a subfolder called custom in it and that folder should have a subfolder called Parts in it and optional a P folder (for primitives). If required in that folder a subfolder s (for subparts) or textures can be in there as well.

Note that in this example there is a Helpers folder in there too that has the same LDraw library structure subfolders. These are needed if you want to work with Buffer Exchange arrows.

To tell LPub3D where to look for these folders go to Configuration > Preferences > tab Other and click the gear icon in the dialog shown below. After a while, the search directories should be added (can take a minute or so if you have more custom folders).

These folders will be added

  • C:Users\Public\Documents\LDraw\MODELS

  • C:\Users\Public\Documents\LDraw\unofficial\Custom\Parts

  • C:\Users\Public\Documents\LDraw\unofficial\Helpers\parts

Once all folders and files are in place and LPub3D knows where to find these, the parts in there will rendered correct in both Assembly images as well as PLI and BOM images.

In LPub3D 2.4 you must turn on Archive Parts On Launch once to archive your custom parts to the lpub3dldrawunf.zip file (located in the libraries folder) and close and restart LPub3D. Once archived, you can turn it off again to speed up loading time. If you add or modify custom parts, turn it on (and off) again.

Download and install Helper arrow files

These files are originally created by Willy Tschager (Holly Wood) and more can be found here:

http://www.holly-wood.it/ldraw/helper-en.html.

  • Quit LPub3D if you have it running and all other LDraw applications that may be open

  • For example, download the Helper_HasvL2.zip file and extract the file HasvL2.dat

  • The name of the file stands for Helper arrow straight vertical Length 2

  • Put this .dat file in the C:\Users\Public\Documents\LDraw\unofficial\Helpers\parts folder

Learn more about using this file with Buffer Exchange and the new LPub3D feature Build Modifications.

A complete set of Helpers can be downloaded here.