Just click the Update Preview button in the Vray Material Editor. [image: TBX4_Editor.jpg]

I have no problems using a Logitech mouse with modified buttons, but did not change any that Su uses. Haven't done it in a while and not sure if you can, but if you changed a right or left or center wheel, perhaps a macro assigned to non-SuButton that can flip the selection both ways would help.

whooo your house is amazing Boofredlay!! Keep going! And thanks for the advice! Have a nice day

Guys, I am pretty sure this is some (hopefully temporary) glitch not intended by Google. Bruce, would you mind if I moved the topic in the Bug reports?

I think, Whaat's plugin works on an individual basis (i.e. after you apply the texture on one sphere, you need to do the spherical mapping each by each). But why don't you give it a try?

hey dude, , very nice !!

Posted the LightUp version here a little later than planned. Adam

"If the cap fits wear it..." - said to M. Bonnet* I hadn't even thought of your surname* when I typed that line ! But I keep putting double meanings into everything I type/say lately - my brain must be splitting in two - that's either multi-tasking or schizophrenia ? ...

And Fredo's BezierSpline v1.21 tools can surely greatly help too.. [image: BezierSpline.jpg] [image: thpolylineDivider.jpg] simon

Its called clipping, discussed plenty of times already: http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=36261

This is an interesting thread. But the slipping effect doesn't depend on the size of the model. SketchUp "zooms" in and out by moving the camera, so as you zoom in items close the the camera are lost because both the camera and the view clipping plane are move into the model and the items are now behind the camera. You can zoom manually, my changing the field of view. What is needed here is a "Zoom to rectangle" tool which recalculates the field of view, rather than moving the camera, and, perhaps, also uses 2D perspective to move the center of the screen without moving the target point (rotation the camera). Then the new zoomed view would match the original view exactly - but everything would be larger. Consider these three view of a model. Zooomed out on the model - 35 degree field of view [image: uIp5_zoom1.jpg] Zoomed in using the "Zoom Window" feature. field of view is still 35 degrees, but the camera was moved forward so the brick wall is no longer visible. (This may be the desired effect - but we are not really seeing the same scene, since all of the stone wall in the back is now visible - even the part that was previously blocked by the brick wall.) [image: Gd9Z_zoom2-35.jpg] Zoomed in by using the field of view instead. The field of view is now 4 degrees and the brick wall is still visible. (We see the same scene and perspective as the first image - only larger.) This would be the effect of an optional "Zoom Window" tool which changed the field of view, rather than moving the camera. [image: 5KUc_zoom-3-4.jpg]

Thanks modelhead and Gaieus. That helps a lot. Kudos!

HI Gaieus Unfortunately I am not familiar with Vue. Currently, I am reasonably happy that I understand Kerkythea a little bit. I also have problems to create a good texture for the terrain. The whole scene should look more natural. Till now i'm not yet really satisfied with the results. Perhaps someone would render the model in Vue. I would be interested how the model looks perfectly rendered. I would like to make it available for it. The model can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.speedshare.org/download.php?id=92BB996813 Karlheinz

As has been said. If it's an empty SKP then draw a temporary line so that each of the CAD files imports as a component containing the geometry [with its original CAD name] - without that temporary line an empty SKP will get the first imported CAD file's geometry put directly into the Model without it being put into a component 'wrapper'). Then you can Import the files as components, selecting to preserve their origin etc in the Options dialog. They should now all come into SUp at their original elevations and insertion-points. Note that if they are 'miles' from the SUp origin you might need to 'select-all' and relocate them nearer to [0,0,0] or you'll get visual weirdity - random clipping etc...

Thank you guys for the heads up

No, there the "hole" is already cut for the installed component. This video shows a +trick" only, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITO-oaowwrU where the back face is painted with a transparent colour (so it's not cut through just see through and from inside, it wouldn't even work). Read this long winding tutorial about components and how they cannot (but can be "tricked" to) cut double walls: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=744 Also, here is a "working example" of what TIG mentioned above (and what you can see in the tutorial above): when two cutting components are placed opposite to each other onto the two opposite faces of a thick wall: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=a7960f12cf33423c9c6e1dd67923b5cd Now this is what these genius plugin scripters are working on; to automate the process somehow so we don't have to manually add these things all the time. And sorry for misunderstanding your first post - I thought you were asking about those "flexible" things.

Sure Red. I set up my scenes in SU to reflect typical layouts; Site Plan, Floor Plan, Elevations, Sections, etc... SketchUp Setup Each scene has layers that are specific to those scenes for such things as dimensions in plan. My Floor Plan scene is the only scene that has the layer DIMS-FloorPlan active, all others this layer is hidden and so on..... That way each scene has its own designated layers showing..... Layout Setup Another thing; my title sheet is just set up as follows: Title sheet linework - locked Title sheet text - locked and shared across all pages Title sheet Project text - unlocked so i can copy from one page to another and alter to suit Model import - I set up a layer called 'MODEL', it is located at the bottom of the layerset to ensure it is under all other linework [LO recognizes layers visually as they are sorted in the layer dialogue box] Text / Arrows have their own layer as do drawing symbols such as section syms, title syms, etc... I've also made a scrapbook file of the typical symbols I use for each job That's pretty much it.

I created and use DC's all the time. They are incredible time savers for repetitive tasks and common components. I use them primarily for residential construction detail drawings where components get reused constantly. Simple DC's can be built with very little investment of time. For instance, I have "smart lumber" components where I can quickly insert the needed lumber dimensions (2x4's 2x10's, etc. and length) The component takes care of setting the proper true size of the component so I don't need to remember the conversions from nominal to actual. (2x4 to 1.5"x3.5" etc.) The options are set up as picklists which are far faster to set than browsing through a large component library looking for the right size item. Another good use is to dynamically change the dimensions of joist hangers, etc. depending on the lumber. More sophisticated components would allow building fully framed walls with options for spacing, openings, etc. but these require more thinking and investment of time. Constructing custom roof joists are another perfect example and there is an example of this on the 3D Warehouse. DC's do suffer from one MAJOR limitation though. (which I hope the SketchUp guys will address in Currently, there are no DC values for rotating or scaling textures. If your DC changes the dimensions of an object, the texture is scaled, much like using the scale tool. But in the case of lumber textures for instance, you want the texture to remain unscaled when dimensions change. (like how the push-pull tool changes dimensions) Until this limitation is fixed, it's better to apply textures to a DC AFTER it has been dimensioned. If SketchUp fixes this one major limitation, DC's will become even more powerful and helpful.

If you can't get that to work you could try opening the .skp in DoubleCAD XT (free), and save it as a .dwg. If your 2D views are saved as scenes in the .skp DoubleCAD will create a paper space with viewport for each scene preserving layer visibility settings, view, and 2D or perspective camera properties. It might accelerate getting your design into AutoCAD. -- William

I think i understand what you are talking about. From following your advice ive managed to drastically reduce the poly count thanks all