


Autodesk Inventor doesn't force you to do this. EAGLE, a program for making circuit schematics and PCB blueprints, doesn't force you to do this. What I take issue with is when you're forced to use every single tool and option to do something as basic as placing something in the workspace. I'm not talking about GUI complexity, and I don't care how many widgets are on the toolbar.
LDRAW VS BRICKSMITH SOFTWARE
I really don't get why software developers pay so little attention to the usability of the GUI. Pretty much every CAD program that uses LDraw is either broken (I might address that in a future entry) or has a very clunky interface that I can either barely use or can't use at all (if there is an LDraw program that lets me move and rotate bricks without having to constantly switch between tools, please let me know). only to rediscover why I don't use LDraw.
LDRAW VS BRICKSMITH FULL
So, I did what any sensible person would do and downloaded the full LDraw suite. I know LDD is intended for designing models to then purchase the parts for and build, but the thing is a lot of old parts are still available on the resale market. I can't even begin to understand why TLG doesn't include older bricks in LDD. Particularly, the fact that LEGO Digital Designer is missing several parts needed for the build, such as the 14x14 quarter-saucer segments that make up the hull of the Alien Avenger and the prow of the Interstellar Starfighter. While trying to design a 1997 UFO themed MOC, I ran into an issue. All submodels are listed in the Model menu as well as in the File Contents drawer, where you can examine their contents hierarchically or rearrange them via drag-and-drop.UPDATE: It turns out that LDCAD is actually what I'm looking for, believe it or not. Select Add Model from the Model menu to create a new submodel, or select an existing submodel from the Insert Reference submenu to insert an instance of that submodel in the current model.
LDRAW VS BRICKSMITH CODE
It is considered to be an error for any LDraw code (other than comment lines) to appear before the first 0 FILE statement. In order to support the inclusion of LDraw files in message systems (like email), any text lines before the first 0 FILE statement will be discarded. The 0 NOFILE command is only required if the file's contents are followed by non-LDraw content (such as the poster's signature lines). The end of each file, or just the last file in the MPD, may be marked with a 0 NOFILE line. At the beginning of each file's text, insert a 0 FILE statement. To create an MPD file simply include the code for each individual file in the MPD file.

The common statement is 0 FILE, the less common statement is 0 NOFILE. The MPD file uses 2 META Commands, only one of which is commonly used.
