[LSC] *** SPAM *** Re: LDraw File Spec - Initial public comments

[William Howard]

1) General
----------
a) Change "standard by which most create virtual LEGO® models" to "standard by which most create LEGO® models on the computer"
AGREE - needs changing

b) Inconsistencies between line type 1 being called a "Sub-file reference" and a "file reference"
AGREE - Needs fixing

c) Details on the line type 1 search order
DISAGREE - beyond the scope of the spec

d) File Type section needs dividing into Official and Unofficial
AGREE - but the Official section needs moving to the Parts Library Header spec

e) Common verticies paragraph needs a diagram
AGREE - Needs a diagram


2) Character encoding
---------------------
a) The character encoding of files should be specified
DISAGREE - for reasons already discussed


3) Filenames
------------
a) Remove "The requirement for LDraw files to conform to the DOS 8.3 filename convention has been removed."
DISAGREE - Stating how a spec has changed is valid

b) The spec should not define what is permitted in an official filename (ie part file), but this text should be moved to the library header spec
AGREE

c) Prohibit spaces in filenames
DISAGREE - as Travis says, spaces in filenames are here to stay

d) Filenames should be quoted
DISAGREE - there is no parsing issue (unless you blindly use a tokenizer)

e) Specific characters should be disallowed/allowed not discouraged
DISAGREE - as with spaces, most characters are now valid in MS-Windows files names, but we should flag the ones known to cause cross-platform issues


4) Comment lines
----------------
a) Deprecate the form "0 <comment>"
NO STRONG FEELINGS


5) Matrix operations
--------------------
a) Needs explicit examples
AGREE - who gets to write them?

b) Mention column/row major orientation
DISAGREE - unless unavoidable

c) Don't mention column/row major orientation
AGREE - if its possible

d) Give matrix example(s) and mathematical example
AGREE

e) A more neutral way of displaying a matrix like simply: [a b c 0] [d e f 0] [g h i 0] [x y z 1]
AGREE - if this is valid


6) Concave quads
----------------
a) Allow concave quads
DISAGREE


7) Vertex winding
-----------------
a) Mandate CW or CCW
DISAGREE


8) Axis orientation
-------------------
a) Explain the "handedness" of the axis
AGREE

b) Explain that -y is up
AGREE


9) Meta commands
----------------
a) META commands can do a lot and it should be stated at the beginning.
AGREE

b) "0 BFC CERTIFY CW" effects all following lines.
AGREE

c) "Write/Print" should note that this is not allowed in official parts files
AGREE - but interesting to note that some want the spec to include parts and some don't!

d) Move the meta-commands into their own document
DISAGREE

e) Remove "!" from the official spec.
DISAGREE - it's been ratified by the LSC so it's here to stay, may as well be in the spec

f) Mandate "!" for official metas and strongly suggest it for unofficial ones
AGREE
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