@krism said:

Kridious,

The ability to import vector files would be number one on my wish list for Layout.

Kris

Me too!

click on the little cartoon balloon button over on the right under my profile.

This is a nice pdf software for free

http://de.pdf24.org/pdf-creator-download.html

makes pdf good quality with low size.

Cheers, Marc! 👍

@marcdurant said:

Of course, it'll take some time to get everything done 😄

That's fully understandable... 😄

Can you reveal something about what you're planning to incorporate...?

You're welcome!

Glad to hear it... Always remember that it's the fault of the British that we ever used Imperial.

Here's a PDF that you might find helpful as well. The METRIC DESIGN GUIDE...

http://www.ofeo.si.edu/ae_center/docs/gsa%20metric%20design%20guidelines.pdf

It's not exactly the same as Euro style, but it's close and could be very helpful as it's written from our point of view towards theirs instead of just Metric. It has standard sizes the metric builders expect.

SU Insp.png

I'm talking precisely about the SketchUp Inspector window. There is only one of those.

If you placed your dimensions in LayOut you'll need to adjust their positions after adjusting the scale in the viewport.

Many thanks Dave. I'll give it a try.

There is no one button click to do that but it shouldn't really take much time to resize the viewport to suit the model as displayed. If you hold Alt (Command on the Mac) you can resize the viewport diagonally or horizontally from the center. Resize diagonally first and get it close top and bottom. Then switch to a side handle and finish resizing horizontally. Two quick actions is all it takes.

This is my biggest frustration with Layout and it's why I'm learning other programs. I honestly don't understand what some posters in the "How can one honestly ... " thread mean when they say dimensions are associative in Layout. As far as I can tell, dimensions do not align with their leader points in Layout, they do not align with the plane of the geometry they're associated with, and they do not update if you alter the model in SketchUp - therefore they're not associative.

I do wonder if this function (aligning dimensions with geometry in perspective view) is a difficult task for programmers because other programs also lack this feature. Rhino has full annotation capabilities but only in model space. Once you initiate their Make2D command to create a 2D vector line version of your model, the dimensions disappear. Rhino is miles ahead of SketchUp/Layout in annotations overall but SketchUp/Layout has vector and vector / raster hybrid output in perspective views - which is unique to the programs I use. If they could solve the problem described in this thread they would very quickly become my layout program of choice and I imagine others would agree.

on my Windows PC I can add a shortcut as well , the trouble is that it does not work

yeh guidelines

@pbacot said:

@marcdurant said:

Hi Mike-

The Font window is available under "Window -> Show Fonts" in the menu bar. I always look for this command in the "Text" menu instead, which is wrong. Where were you looking for it? If we get enough complaints I might be able to move the command.

thanks,
Marc

Can you get it snap in the stack and collapse like the other windows?

This would be great!!!!

I still don't understand what patterns you are talking about. Do you mean patterns for templates to cut out pieces of wood? You don't have to draw them in LayOut. Just use SketchUp for that. Create a scene for the pattern in SketchUp and make a viewport at the proper scale in LO.

As to dimensions, you write about a risk as if someone's life is hanging on it. There is no problem dimensioning small things accurately and precisely. I create plans for furniture and other woodworking projects all the time using LayOut. I don't have any problem using the Dimensioning tool in LO for this.

Post the LO file or send it in a PM if you wish. I can get to the Sketchup file from there.

LayOut will take units from the SketchUp model so if you have them set to Architectural in Model Info, they should show that way in LO.

Hi Frederik-

Feel free to ask questions here or in the official forum in Google Groups. I'm just a developer, so I can help the most with specific problems or bugs, but I'll try to make sure that comments are brought to the right people. For what it's worth, I try to read every thread that comes through these forums even if I don't explicitly reply.

-marc

Jason, absolutely! I can use another pupil. 😉 Send me a PM and we'll work it out.

You don't need to export images from SU to use in LO for this sort of thing although if you are using any sort of sketchy styles, you can manage better, higher res images that way. The key thing, even for something intended to give the client a quick idea is to not get sloppy. Make scenes in SU to use in LO, stay on top of face orientation and use components so changes can be easily and quickly changed.

OK - I sorted it out. Right click and render. I didn't realise you have to do this sometimes when Auto render is selected.

@krisidious said:

@unknownuser said:

Yes, thanks Marc. Fixing that bug is huge for me. I use that process quite a bit.

Yes you do... and I liked it quite a bit when I saw you use it. It's not good for changes down the road, but it's nice when you just want some linework transferred over.

I now only use it for things I know won't change - like property lines, setbacks, easements, existing topography. I can still do it via saving scenes, but I like to have the option of copy / paste between the two.

Thanks TIG

Yep, that's where I found the templates. Just thought I missed something.

Ken