Lego Digital Designer Questions

[AshleyAshes]

So, I find that LDD is a good way to tinker with parts I don't have and to hack up MOCs without having the parts right off. The obvious issue is that Designed By Me is a passive rip off in terms of costs. However, does Design By Me's parts available exactly match those of Pick A Brick? Could I just disassemble my model in LDD, count the pieces and order them without finding that one system doesn't have the same bricks as another?

[Legobrandon]

I believe every part in LDD is on PAB. Design By Me is closing on January 31st, by the way. Design by Me is super expensive, not worth it. You might be better off buying your own parts on Bricklink or PAB.

[AshleyAshes]

I thought so, it seems that every part matched up but it was possible there was a difference. Since there's a price difference there could be a parts difference too.

But that's what I meant, use LDD to design based on PAB, then just order the parts and not the Design By Me system, it's a lot of markup for a cardboard box and a printed manual afterall. Shame however that LDD can't seem to just make a 'Parts Used' list. I guess I'd have to disassemble the model in LDD when done, count the parts, and hope I didn't miss anything.

[vynsane]

There are third-party software solutions that will allow you to generate a list of pieces you've used. LDD Manager is a Windows program (don't know what platform you're using LDD on) that does a lot of power-user stuff. I'm on Mac, so don't really know too much about it, but you can check it out here:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.p ... opic=41993" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There's also a JAVA program that will generate a parts list in an XML format compatible with BrickLink.com's 'want list' feature. That can be downloaded here (you'll have to scroll down a bit):

http://www.blarworld.net/software.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is also a way to generate html instructions directly from the program.

All that said, once DbM is removed from the program, look for some updates to the software that will include part lists and PaB integration. They've hinted that this functionality will be included in future revisions.