Hi Guite, I've had a chance to play a bit more with SU & realize I can't work on a jpeg the way I thought I could (I was trying to explode it & work on the pieces individually). I was however able to import a DWG file and work on it successfully. I could not explode it the first time around because my computer is only operating with 1 Gig of memory & was just too slow. I tried a 2 gig machine & it let me explode just fine. Time to upgrade I guess! Thanks for your help. Bob

another tip is to 'zoom extents' this will zoom you in so that the model entirely fills your screen. You can zoom extents by pressing ctrl+shift+e, or its also in the camera menu (might be somewhere else, havent got SU on the machine im using at the moment ) ps getting the model to fill your screen is useful because SU prints what your seeing on the screen.

@pmiller said: Or just use SU's "save copy as" as you need. It doesn't interrupt your workflow (unlike "save as") since the original model stays current in your working session. Yeah, that's what I'de've suggested reading your lines...

Thank you Gai, I can work with this. It isnt exactly what I was thinking of, but it will do very nicely. The Ruby Gang did real good. Thanks ever so much. Mike

You are confusing DWF and DXF (Drawing Web Format AND Data eXchange Format). DWF is a read-only version of a DWG file (=AutoCAD DraWinG) - much like a PDF, that is a read-only version of a DOC or similar file. A DWF can be converted to a basic DWG with certain software - much like you can extract the text from a PDF if you have some tools. It can then be used in SUp with limited data. DXF is an old type of a 'text version' of a DWG file (=AutoCAD DraWinG). You easily can open and read a DXF as text, and see what is meant to go where on which layer etc - it IS complex BUT it's still decipherable. It is simply a text version of the binary DWG file - so it's much bigger as the data is split out in easier to read coded packets. DXF is used for data transfer between programs that can't directly read DWG format. By now many programs (like SUp) can read native DWG - unless it's the very latest version where they play 'catchup', BUT many programs still allow DXF import - other programs (e.g. Bryce) only export in DXF so it's good to be able to get that data in even though it's not as 'compact' or perhaps as 'clean' as DWG...

Hi Joao, Yes, this is usually the "workaround" for this Vista glitch.

We have a bit "extended" collection containing some other sites than the two major ones Remus linked in here. Have a look at the FAQ at Smustard to see more in the details how rubies work and how to use them. Note that some scripts go to the Tools folder rather than thje Plugins folder. Since ruby scripts are basically text files, the authors usually put a few lines of information about how to use the script (and where to install) on the top.

Sorry for the long reply time, got caught up in other stuff. Jean, the pointer to the tutorial that you left is just what I needed, thanks. I would have thought that it wouldn't be necessary to go through such a rigamarole, but, if it gets the job done. Thanks again for all of the help, Greg

@alan fraser said: In other words, your red example logically ought to show the same difference as the green...but it doesn't...because it's red. OK! Thank you for your opinion and for the really pretty phrase I have quoted ! In my task I have to work with lines (edges) on the faces backgrounds. Therefore the relation between the edge screen colors (stable) and the faces screen colors (changeable) is very important to me. So I really see a problem . Thank you again for your answer. I will take into consideration the SketchUp color visualization properties you have mentioned. Good luck!

Hi Red, It's quite easy actually. Since components (including those in the component browser) are simple skp models, move (or copy) your existing skp files into the Components folder of your SU application (best way to sort them into separate folders) and they will appear in your browser. Note that you need not necessarily turn them into "real" components; any imported geometry comes into SU as a component already. Ah yes, and welcome...

Hello everybody!!! I'm so glad there are more people with my problem. I've been trying how to do that for a while now and just can't figure it out. I think the easiest way for a ruby would be to make a modification to the scale tool where certain dimensions can be locked. Lets say we could have a dialog box where to type in certain dimensions like 3/4, 2" and 1/4 that will be locked while scaling. Then we could scale without having our important measurements changing. Thats my dream of how it could look like!!!!!!!!! Please help us poor people who just want to stretch and not sale !!!!!!!!!!! Thank you guys so much. At least I know there are more people out there with the same problem. Roland

the nvidia quadro range are generally recognised as being pretty good for design applications.

well that sounds more likely the cause.. lots of small problems i keep hearing about with a few of my apps/leopard... i think i'll wait it out for another 6mos or so before i upgrade..

Hi yNot If you import the .bmp file it will remain a raster image. This is not editable from within sketchup. Your best bet is to render an image (as you've done) then import as a photo-match. You can then set up trees, people, etc in the foreground. If you really want to edit a bmp in sketchup the only way to do it is to hit "explode" then draw boundaries round areas you want to change (hold down SHIFT to lock to the surface). When the area turns blue (skins over) you can use the materials browser to add whatever texture you want. All the best Rob

Jeff: Your corkscrew is great, the video really shows just how quick it should be. I agree with you that the 'red shockwave' click animation is a bit over the top, though it does make it very clear when yu have clicked! I think the idea that I've not yet addopted is adding dummy geometry to act as a rotation point / guide for my model. Here is a render of a similar corkscrew (not as pretty as yours though, too compact!) Thanks for taking the time out, to help a relative noob! [image: aMCJ_Corkscrew.png]

It's late so I'm probably confused...but is this what you are seeing? The grey shadow is on the ground plane, the black shadows are on the ground faces (one happens to be below the ground plane. Turning off casting on faces will mean no shadows on vertical faces as well...not to pleasant for architectural work, IMHO. [image: ev4L_tn_ground-groundplane.jpg]

There are the so called "bonus packs" where you can find one for landscape architecture (with a bunch of plant components) too. Still in the warehouse you can find additional stuff creatd by users.

Vargas, if the building your wanting to model is masonry, measuring the exterior - including the grade line - is easy, count the bricks.

It's kind of self intuitive; you mess around with a miss-behaving model... Then when you start to write out the symptoms or the question the problem becomes apparent. or when you get away from the job (writing your scenario) for a moment and start again, you run right into the answer and answer it yourself. So I found the answer right after making the post. See Ya.

I, too, had tried several different CAD programs over the years, as well as some more basic drawing programs to draw up designs for furniture for my woodworking hobby. They were all either too basic or way too involved to learn as quickly as I wanted to get going. Heard about Google SketchUp on a woodworking forum, downloaded it, did the initial tutorials and some other stuff online and never looked back. An excellent tool at just the right level for getting results quickly, and for continueing to learn and explore.