LeoCAD: using multiple libraries

It's also possible to mix the Mobaco library with Lego like parts or other vintage toys libraries.
Now 2 things will change:

1. Need one location for all library parts,
2. Category list needs to be updated.

1. Expected folder structure

Since we cannot select multiple zip files inside LeoCAD, a folder structure needs to be created, storing all available 3D parts.

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Adding a 2nd library

For adding a 2nd library, the folders & settings are already done.
Only the new parts from this new library have to be copied in the same destination folder.

→ Open the 'Bayko.zip' file and move the complete "parts"-folder into the roof folder: "..\all_ldraw_parts\"

So if you open the "..\all_ldraw_parts\parts" folder, you 'll see:

• A subfolder, called: "textures"
  This contains some pictures, used for some Mobaco parts.
• A lot of files called: "bayko_xxx.dat"
• A lot of files called: "mobaco_xxx.dat"

So basically both Bayko & Mobaco libraries are installed.

Include the Lego library

It might also be fun, adding virtual Lego to the scene. Herefore we again use our custom library "..\all_ldraw_parts".
Now we have to add all official LDraw parts into our custom library.

The latest LDraw libary could be found here: library.ldraw.org/ or just download this file: 'Complete LDraw.org Library Zip archive (complete.zip)'.

The 'complete.zip' file contains a 'ldraw' folder.
→ We need to unpack all files & directories inside this 'ldraw' folder and extract those into our own: "..\all_ldraw_parts":

Inside windows explorer:

1. Open the 'ldraw' folder inside the 'complete.zip' file.
2. Select all files.
3. Drag them to the 'all_ldraw_parts' folder.
   (This takes a while...)

Some remarks:

• The 'parts' folder in our own library did exist already. Extracting this new library, adds additional parts inside.
• Check again if everything went ok, by:
  • Checking the folder structure.
    (The LDraw folder needs some more folders, next to the 'parts' folder.)
  • Opening LeoCAD.
• Including the Lego library, LeoCAD will take a bit longer starting up.

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2. Update categories

Within the 'part categories', many LDraw official catergories exist. And when selecting 'All parts', you get all available parts. But that's not handy for building with Mobaco, Bayco or other vintage toys. So let's change these categories (filter).

→ Again within the LeoCAD application: 'Preferences' window, there is a tab: 'Categories', open this window:

Based on the use-case:

• Delete all categories (manualy) and only add 'vintage toys categories' or
• Keep this list (& official LDraw library) and add new vintage toys categories.

Buttons to use on the Categories menu:

• 'Reset': This default LeoCAD catergory list -in picture above (#1)- will be re-created. (So don't be afraid screwing something up.)
• 'Import': Import a "category.txt" file (like #2), which overwrites the current list.
• 'Delete': Deleting the selected category.
• 'New': Type a new catergorie yourselfs.

All the vintage-toys-libraries includes a category file, inside the ZIP file: "leocad_CATEGORIES_Vintage_Toys.txt" (#2)

You could either:

1. 'Import' this list (#2), if you want use 'vintage toys' only.
   (It consists again of many categories, so you could clean this list yourselves.)
2. Add 'new' categories manually (#3). Open the provided text file and add only the wanted categories.

Custom parts library → ZIP-file

For the advanced user: it's possible to create one ZIP file again for your entire customized library. If it's done right, LeoCAD will load a bit quicker.

Within a ZIP-file, LeoCAD searches for a sub-folder called 'ldraw'.
So that's what we will create.

1. Rename the "all_ldraw_parts" folder into "ldraw".
2. Make a ZIP-file from this "ldraw" folder.
3. Optional rename this ZIP-file, into something more meaningfull, like "all_ldraw_parts.zip".
4. Within LeoCAD, refere to this "all_ldraw_parts.zip" file.

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