Installation

Change log

Version 1.7.1

This version is a maintenance version. It fixes several important crash bugs (the most important are the ones when loading some BBM file or when saving a LDraw file). It is also the first version fully compatible with Mono, which means Linux and Mac users can finally fully enjoy BlueBrick. It has been tested successfully on Linux, but not on Mac, because among the tenth Mac users who proposed to test the beta version none has given any feedback.

• NEW FEATURE (cimddwc): A shortcut key to bring the selection to front or send it to back (page up/page down by default)
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add two new cursors for panning and zooming the view (mainly for Mono support reason)
• BUGFIX (ZueriHB): CRASH! When opening some BBM files (when checking if some links should be broken).
• BUGFIX #34 (Alban+Steffen): CRASH! When saving a file with rail tracks in LDraw format (bug introduced in 1.7.0)
• BUGFIX (Alban): CRASH!! If you move and snap a group of track then finally go back to the original snapping in one move, you will have a crash during the next move of a group without grabbing one part
• BUGFIX (Alban): CRASH!! In the download window, crash when attempting to rename a file to download without changing his name.
• BUGFIX (Alban): CRASH!! Press enter key on a part without connection makes the application crash
• BUGFIX (Lesgoss+Daniel): CRASH! When opening the Export Window (negative size computed for the preview bitmap)
• BUGFIX (Alban): In the download window, remove the useless File column and fix a bug about the edition of the file name.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The Find and Replace window was resizable but controls in it were not resized
• BUGFIX (Alex): The "Restore Default" in the Global options should only restore the default option of the current tab.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The selection/duplication keys were not reset to the default value when clicking the "restore default" button in the Preferences Window
• BUGFIX (Alban): The order of the shortcut key list was switching when the "restore default" button was clicked in the Preferences Window
• BUGFIX (Alban): Cannot open the help file after opening a map file
• BUGFIX (Steve): Double-clicking on a Text Layer brings up the options box for a Brick Layer (in fact the title was incorrect).
• BUGFIX (Alban): Fix some enabling/disabling issues for the toolbar buttons and the menu items
• BUGFIX (Alban): The 'R' and 'L' shortcutkey were inversed
• BUGFIX (Alban): The red rectangle was not drawn on the preview image of the export window at the first display after loading a file
• BUGFIX (Alban): When moving a selection, the brick under the mouse was highlighted even if it was not inside the selection
• BUGFIX (Alban): Fix a bug regarding the color of the grid (the grid colors were transparent in the option window if you modify the transparency of the layer)
• BUGFIX (Alban): The XML files of the parts should be save in UTF-8 (for better linux handling)
• BUGFIX (Ghislain): Under Linux (with Mono) the drag and drop of part is not working
• BUGFIX (Alban): Fix the maximum of bugs under Mono while keeping Dot Net working:
  • The Error Window was not displayed correctly
  • Patch to catch an exception while loading the 17th part and the following
  • the size of the layer window is bigger than necessary at the launch time, or when you move the horizontal splitter
  • No cursor when editing the name of a Text or Brick layer
  • wrong icon for the drag and drop of a part
  • The text edit window is not displayed correctly and there's no cursor in the Text edit window
  • Part List Window was not displayed correctly
  • No scrollbar for the translator
  • Cannot move or edit text by double-clicking it
  • wrong cursor when pressing SHIFT+LMB
  • The Export picture window is not displayed correctly
  • General Info window: no cursor for editing the first fields
  • Recent Files list was not saved

Version 1.7.0

This version contains quite important new features. First of all, BlueBrick now supports flex track and hinged building sets. And the part grouping is also now supported (even in the library) letting you to better organize the library with shortcut parts. Another important improvement is the serach and replace feature. It contains also 12 bug fixes, including 3 crash bugs.

• NEW FEATURE (Alban): support Flex PF track.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The application may support dynamically language addition/removal (dll and chm file inside the folder).
• NEW FEATURE (Denis): Feature to search and replace a set of brick type by another one.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The connection points are now configurable and extendable in an XML file.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Display the general info on top of the map (this can be disabled in the option settings).
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Display the mouse coordinates in stud in the status bar.
• NEW FEATURE (Larry): Display the XML exception when BB cannot load XML files.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add the polarity check for detecting electric shortcut.
• NEW FEATURE (cimddwc): Add the transparency for all the layers (and not only the Area layer)
• NEW FEATURE (Larry): Save the export image settings in the BBM file.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): You can group/ungroup hierarchically parts and texts.
• NEW FEATURE (Larry): You can create XML files that are actually groups of parts and see them in the Library
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): New secondary zooming/panning method much easier for laptop, that replace CTRL+SHIFT+LMB and ALT+SHIFT+LMB. Now it is SHIFT+LMB and SHIFT+RMB. Mouse Wheel still supported.
• BUGFIX (Larry): CRASH! when opening a BBM file which is write protected.
• BUGFIX (Larry): Remove the offset when copying parts (was handy before, but now seems a bit odd)
• BUGFIX (Larry): The copy/paste of a group of bricks or text didn't copy in the same order
• BUGFIX (Vincent): CRASH! In the preference you could set a sub grid number to 0 or 1, leading to a later crash (when relaunching BlueBrick or editing the grid layer options).
• BUGFIX (Vincent): In the export window, the maximum scale was limited by the size of the total area, not the size of the selected area.
• BUGFIX (Daniel): CRASH! When the export window is minimized.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The saving of TDL file is not perfect (problems with polarity, flags, slopes and altitude). Well Slope is still not handle, but I don't plan to do more for now.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The snapping of connected brick tried to snap to free connection point inside the selection, making the snapping becoming crazy.
• BUGFIX (Alban): Another bug on the snapping of connected brick: now the selected bricks are unlinked from the non selected brick during the mouse down to have a stable snapping.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When applying 2 times in a row a brick duplication with the first duplication rotated, during the second duplication, the rotation of the first one was canceled.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When undoing the deletion of the top layer, the top layer where not replaced on the top.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When the last layer deleted was a Brick layer, you could still add parts.

Version 1.6.1

This version fix a crash bug for small parts, and a bug on the main feature of the 1.6 release (the new snapping connection). At the same time this release also introduce several new features related to the Part Library in order to improve its ease of usage.

• NEW FEATURE (Alex & Alban): Add a context menu in the part lib to choose more options: large/small icons, respect proportions, display bubble info
• NEW FEATURE (Alex & Alban): Add a tab in the Global Option for the part lib: now you can choose the back ground color and sort the tabs of the part lib
• BUGFIX (Larry): CRASH! if you add a small brick in the part lib (1 stud wide) BlueBrick was crashing in Export window and when zooming out
• BUGFIX 21 (Alban): The rail snapping is bugged if you change the current connection point in the same drag'n'drop
• BUGFIX (Alban): fix a bug in the error message dialog for list of files that could not be loaded (wrong name and duplicated files in the list)
• BUGFIX (Alban): fix the bug that the ampersome character "&" was not displayed in the status bar
• REFACTORING 17 (Alban): Do not fill the optim combo box in code

Version 1.6

This version is a major improvement in my opinion for two reasons: firstly the new part snapping system is very convenient (it was in my mind and in my todo list for a long time, but I always lack of courage to implement it), and secondly the refactoring about the part XML description files, leads to a more flexible and easier part management. More parts compatibles with extended version of custom TD registries also have been added, thanks to this refactoring.

• NEW FEATURE (Alex & Alban): When you drag'n'drop a connected brick, the dragged brick is rotated for a proper connection.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban, Stephan): Highlight even more the grabbed part in a group to help the user understand that this is the snapping part.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Change the highlight method of the part (remove the ugly squares) and add options to customize the highlight value.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Move the grid origin with the mouse when the grid layer is selected.
• NEW FEATURE (Alex): Remember the window size.
• NEW FEATURE (Richie): The grid step and rotation step could be saved in the preference of the application.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Save even more UI status in the preference of the application (Part list visibility, size and position, paint color, toolbar and status bar visibility, split panel position).
• NEW FEATURE (Didier): Add a configurable list of event in a config file.
• BUGFIX (Alex): CRASH! In the XML loading code, when you load a part that has a different number of connection in the file and in the part library, you may crash.
• BUGFIX (Alban): CRASH! The opening of the Global Option window was crashing the application if the part library was empty.
• BUGFIX (Thomas): A message box appears for the multiple selection key when switching the application to German language on a German Windows OS.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The duplication cursor could appear in wrong situation (when you press duplication key during moving parts/text).
• BUGFIX (Alban): You can now also duplicate brick/text if you press the duplication key after the left mouse key (but before moving).
• BUGFIX (Alban): the area doesn't move if you just move along the Y axis.
• REFACTORING (Alban): Move the TD and LDRAW Remap information in the XML part description file.
• REFACTORING (Alban): Remove the PartRemap.txt file and put the remap information in the XML part description file.

Version 1.5.1

This version fix a very critical bug on the rotation of the parts.

• BUG (Stefan): The parts with hull moved at the wrong place after a rotation (basically bug in the rotation algorithm).
• BUG (1000steine): The tooltips for rotate CCW and CW was inverted in the german translation.

Version 1.5

The focus of the 1.5 update was to extend the parts library and provide better support/help features. The first goal was achieved through generous contributions from the AFOL community*. The second goal was reached with the integration of the software’s first, comprehensive help file and online video tutorials. Check out the full list of updates below.

• NEW FEATURE (Alban, Alex, JB): Fully comprehensive and integrated offline help file in English and Dutch.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Added two buttons for "Send To back" and "Bring to Front".
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Added a warning message when saving in LDR or TDL to notice the user that some data will be lost.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Added the Author tag in the XML files of the parts.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Added an auto-restart feature when the user changes the language.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban and Eurobrick contributors*): A lot of new GIFs have been added, and old ones improved:
  • Completely Revised and extended track library (34 GIFs)
  • Completely revised and extended track side buildings library (27 Sets with minifigs and vehicles)
  • Completely new town set additions (46 new sets with minifigs and vehicles)
  • Completely new space set library (4 sets including monorail!)
  • Completely revised duplo parts library (6 GIFs)
  • 9 new baseplates including space
  • 9 new custom bases (incl. US and EU standard size tables)
• BUG (Alban): The saving as a new map do not add the file in the recent list.
• BUG (Alex & Alban): Some picture URLs in the HTML exported parts list are not correct. (new URLs placed in XML file).
• REFACTORING (Alban): Move the part description in the XML file of the parts.

Version 1.4

The previous version was made to launch several new languages that were donated by the AFOL community, but unfortunatly not all languages could be completed at that time. So now the version 1.4 integrate a full translation of german, spanish and italian (a new language). But I also fixed a lot of bugs that I mainly discovered myself, the main ones concern the shortcut support. Finally this version include two great new feature: the custom mouse cursor to really help you undertsand what you are currently editing and the possibility to move the areas.

• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Custom mouse cursors.
• NEW FEATURE (Patrick): A feature to move the area.
• NEW FEATURE (Sergio): The italian language is integrated.
• NEW FEATURE (Patrick & Alban): Add new parts in the part library (new road + 48x48 green baseplate).
• BUGFIX (Patrick): The text is unreadable in the text edit box if you choose a small font size.
• BUGFIX (Patrick): If you save a file with a text containing a cariage return when you reload the file and edit it, the return is lost in the edit box.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The export area could be truncated in the exported image for large layout + add a 32 studs margin.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When you press the duplicated key (ALT) above a brick/text not in the selection, the selection can be duplicated.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The aplication was not in foreground when the splashscreen disapear.
• BUGFIX (Alban): Some improvment has been made in the spanish and german translation.
• BUGFIX (Alban): Add the @ in front of the path for cross platform support.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The style of the text (bold, italic, etc...) were not used on the map.
• BUGFIX (Alban): Shortcut conflict between the standard shortcut and the customizable shortcuts (like CTRL+S and S).
• BUGFIX (Alban): Support the repeated shortcut (if you keep pressing a shortcut key).
• BUGFIX (Alban): Improve shortcut support, the repeated rotation is now recorded as only one undoable action (just like the move, also debuggued).
• BUGFIX (Alban): The TD 4.5V level crossing (#153) is missing in the BB part library for compatibility with TrackDesigner.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The content of the combobox for the key CTRL, ALT and SHIFT is not localized (because added in code).

Version 1.3

The main reason of this release is the 3 new languages (even if there are not totally finished). The version of the BBM file changed again, so if you save some BBM files and send them to some friends, they will have to upgrade also (which is quite good in fact). Another important change in my opinion, is the full and correct support of the LDRAW format, thanks to the missing LDRAW parts created by Alex Taylor. Thanks a lot Alex!!!

• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The LDraw 4.5V rail are now fully supported thanks to the new LDRAW parts created recently.
• NEW FEATURE (Sergio): Some DUPLO tracks have been added in the part library.
• NEW FEATURE (Larry): Possibility to reload the part library through the File menu.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Due to the reload feature, the bbm format change again to version 4 (less data to save), so now the connexion position are not saved anymore.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The Spanish language is integrated.
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The Portuguese language is integrated (but not fully translated).
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The German language is integrated (but not fully translated).
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): The HispaLUG and Communidade1390 logos have been added in the part library.
• BUGFIX (Elroy): CRASH! If you choose an area cell smaller than 8 in the global option, BB will crash when trying to edit a area property.
• BUGFIX (Alban): CRASH! if you load an empty tdl file.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The open recent file was not checking if the current files was modified.

Version 1.2

The main new feature of this version is the save in TDL format and also the improvement of the saving of the LDraw format. But the saving in TDL format is not totally finished, and there is still some bugs related to the slopes, the polarity of the track. I hope I will be able to fix them in the next release. I also adjusted some picture of some parts (some rail points) and it will move these parts a little when you will open an old file. I could not avoid that, so sorry for the inconvenience (you just need to move these part a bit they will snap again with the rest of the track).

• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Improve compatibility with TD, and implement the SAVE in TDL format
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Open Recent files menu item in the File menu
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add different alignment (left, right, center) for the Text cells
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): I changed some image of the part library, and that will move a little some parts when loading an old file
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Implement a system to handle the rename of some parts in the part library (to avoid loosing parts when loading an old file)
• BUGFIX (Alban): Crash if you add a road, and then add a normal baseplate just by clicking on it on the library
• BUGFIX (Alban): When creating a new text cell with several lines, move the mouse on it, it was displaying the text with several lines in the status bar
• BUGFIX (Alban): Improve the compatibility with LDRAW when exporting 4.5V or 12V tracks.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When you delete an unknown part that was linked, that doesn't break the links
• BUGFIX (Alban): When you use the "Send to back" or "Bring to front" that break the links
• BUGFIX (Ghislain): Improve the compatibility with Linux

Version 1.1

In this version the BBM file format changed a bit. Of course you can still load an old format file, but people who have the version 1.0 of BlueBrick won't be able to read a BBM file written with version 1.1, they will be obliged to upgrade BlueBrick.

• NEW FEATURE (Jeramy): Add shortcuts to add bricks. In fact I added a full panel in global option to configure the shortcut
• NEW FEATURE (Jeramy): Implement A*, to select the shortest way between two connected part choosen by the user
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): duplicate bricks with ALT+drag
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add and save a Z coord in the BBM file for improving the compatibility with LDRAW
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add a "Deselect All" function in both the Edit menu and contextual menu (with CTRL+D shortcut)
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Add "Select All" and "Select Path" in contextual menu
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): A status bar to display the description of the parts and to handle a progress bar used for save/load
• NEW FEATURE (Alban): Splash screen!
• BUGFIX (Bert): CRASH!! One user met a crash while the application is starting because he put a too big texture in the part database, so I add a message bug for the image BlueBrick can't open.
• BUGFIX (Sorry I forgot the reporter): The Edit text dialog let you enter an empty text that you can not see anymore on the map. So I disable the ok button if the text is empty and add a default text.
• BUGFIX (Alban): The restore defaut setting in global option was also reseting the language, which is not logical IMO.
• BUGFIX (Alban): When you change the language in the global option form it also change the default Author/LUG/Show in the correct language (unless something was set by the user)
• BUGFIX (Alban): Due to a case sensitive search in the library, some part could not be found. Now all the parts are saved upper case in the library.
• BUGPATCH (Alban): when you open a file, if when you click OK, the ok button was not above the BlueBrick application, then the waitcursor (hourglass) is not displayed. The bug is still here, but now I use a progress bar during loading and saving.

Version 1.0

First release.