Looks like a GC issue... But another possibility is a model that's very very tiny or very very large, or has some geometry miles from the origin, or has some components with geometry miles from its insertion-point [internal origin], or components that are weirdly scaled compared to their original size - the last few being typical with some CAD imported block-components...

Hi folks. Why not assign these locked objects to a layer. Then, hide this layer before selecting to assure that these locked object are not visible, thus not selectable. Make the layer visible once done. Just ideas.

Hi Larry, I personally do not own the program. I tried it with a friend who owns the program. I have checked with my friend again, these are the standard import formats without any plugin. Do you have a licensed version or a trial program. Charly

And a method for obtain a randomising object

@millzye71 said: Is it possible, and does anyone have an example of how you might call upon a .NET dll from within Google SketchUp Ruby interface? We have a structural engineering package written in .NET. It exposes com interface, and we want to use it from Google sketch. Millzye71 I think that the Ruby API is just for script plugins, not for interfacing from a standalone app. Maybe you could add a Google Sketchup ruby plugin that interfaces with your app? There is a C++ API in addition to the Ruby Script system. Find it here: http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/downloadsdksubmit.html eldo http://net-informations.com

You can use the Sand Box tools inside the program FreodScale by Fredo6 and Shape Bender by Chris Fullmer Or Artisan (39$ )who transform Stechup on a subdivision program [image: ypK4_sandbox1.jpg]

@jean lemire said: Hi Jerico, hi folks. Normally, with SketchUp (SU), you model everything in real size. If a building is 100 meters tall, you model it using this height. Zoom out to be able to see the whole building and zoom in to see details. With a large and detailed model, I often create two scenes, one that I call Workand the other Render. In the Work scene, I set the rendering parameter to the bare minimum, just to show enough of the model to be able to work on it. For example, I use no shadows, no profiles, no fancy edges renderind, shaded mode instead of shaded with texture (in some extreme cases I may use monochrome or hidden line or even wireframe) and I also put as much objcts as possible on hidden layers. In the Render scenes, I set all parameters to get the best result. For each scene, I tell SU not to memorize the camera position so that I don't lose a carefully obited, panned and zoomed view. Once that is done, all I have to do is to click on the Work scene tabto have a model that is light on the video card and that allows me to fluidly pan, orbit and zoom to add and/or modify objects. I just click on the other scene tab to see the model in full glory. Of course, I may have to wait a little for SU to render the view. Just ideas. I would add that you should have a central model and work on the components outside of the main one and reload them when finshed. this is done using the 'save as' and 'reload' commands in context menu when you right click on a component.

@jean lemire said: Hi Peter, hi folks. @pbacot said: you don't need to draw all radii to the segments of a circle. just draw a diameter that is broken by a vertex at the center. Move up the center point while pressing the up arrow. I have difficulties with this. I know the method with two radii or one diameter divided in two (rigth click then choose divide in the context menu) but I cannot see how to draw a diameter that can be broken by a vertex at its center if I don't draw something else to break the diameter. @pbacot said: But tell me why: for the second edge you need to shift- erase to keep the cone smooth. SHIFT-Erase hide an edge. CTRL-Erase smooth an edge. So, for a cone made by pulling and endpoint at the junction of 2 radii, these 2 edges must be smoothed. Smoothing is not the same as hiding. Hiding an edge still shows the angle between the two faces separated by this edge while smoothing softens this angle and blends the two faces into one that gives the appearance of one continuously curved surface. Just ideas. Jean, if you try it you'll see that the second line needs to be hidden not smoothed like the first line. You would think they'd both be smoothed. What it has to do with is there is not circle any longer on the bottom. It is two curves. You can put a circle back in. To break the diameter at the center, draw the radii separately from the center. Peter

paintbox may be a part of an extension(?) called "Merlin's Toolkit Pro". At least that is what I discovered by googling this string: "paintbox plugin for sketchup". I know nothing else about it.

It was basically a change of owner last Summer and the core product is little changed... But please remember that the Free versions don't include some smart things like solid-tools, DC-editing and some export/import tools etc. BUT you can have say v7 AND v8 free installed side by side and get some export/import tools now only available in v7. You can use save_as to make v7 SKPs from v8 if desired, and v7 SKPs open in v8 fine, so you can mix-and-match between versions, normally using v8 for its better functions and v7 for odd processes not not available in v8-free...

Hello, I just believe I needed a good night. You were right, pbacot, it was a layer issue. Problem solved! Thanks for your advises.

Hi folks. Be carefull with the triple click. If an object is enclosed inside another but doesn't touch it, a double click on the outer object will not select the inner one. The safest way is to use X-Ray mode to ascertain that all that you want to select has really be selected. In such cases, using a selection window is safer. Another trick I learned is that in some situations, with a really crowded model, it is nearly impossible, even with careful pan, zoom and orbit, to select exactly what you want. Some unwanted geometry always gets selected when you don't want it. The trick is not to loose time trying to beat the system. Select as well as you can and then deselect the few items that may have been accidently selected. Many times, it turned up to be the fastest way. Just ideas.

Thank you so much

I've had another poke through the rest of your model and cleaned it up so it should make a nice cut list. You could compare the outliner in your copy of the file to this one. I fixed the issue with the braces by deleting one and replacing it with a copy of the other. I also corrected the reversed faces on the table top planks and, because the two outside and two second planks are identical, I replaced planks 4 and 5 with copies of planks 1 and 2. [image: lV4p_outdoortable.png] I didn't change any dimensions but you might want to do so on the legs anyway. [image: X5bJ_outdoortablecl.png] By the way, I have plugs set up to fall into the Parts section of the cut list so they don't show with the lumber. outdoor table.skp

Trevor, I'm with you. I don't leave loose geometry in my models. Every edge and face will be in a component when I'm finished. I do sometimes intentionally draw loose geometry that is destined for inclusion in a component outside the component and then cut and paste it in place inside the component. Sometimes I do this to avoid potentially distorting the geometry already in the component and sometimes I do this when I want the same geometry is two or more neighboring components.

Numbers and name that keep the order and the ability to add related entity to be added by just adding a .##

Great - I must have changed the style by accident. Thanks

Turning off hardware acceleration and fast feedback has makes no difference.

ahh I did not see all that, and thanks for the info.

I take that back. It worked for a few seconds. I have now solved the problem. You were right TIG. I have the NoScript plugin installed. I had to instruct it to allow buysellads. Thanks again.