Hi Anssi, Thanks for the response. This is a decision that has been taken by those "higher-ups" in the company. I have to hope that they know what they are doing. Powerdraft will replace AutoCAD LT (used by the majority of our staff) and Microstation V8 will replace the full version of AutoCAD. As I understand it AutoCAD was originally created for Engineers not Architects. Microstation, ArchiCAD etc were built from the ground up for Architects. Whether this makes any real difference in use I have yet to see. With regards to BIM software I am not quite sure what to make of this. On the one hand, it makes sense to have software that can generate 3D data from your 2D data input. In theory this should make producing 3D images a lot simpler and less error prone. I have heard that Revit is a very clever piece of software. But it does not have (as some try to claim) a magic button that can produce professional 3D results. I have also heard that practically no-one outside of the demonstration team can use it in a productive manner. (OK, I may be exaggerating a little here, but you know what I mean) The management of my company do not want their Architectural staff wasting valuable time trying to learn and understand lighting, texturing, composition and the hundreds of other issues associated with creating professional 3D imagery. They want their Architectural staff producing working 2D CAD drawings that generate actual income! I think they have a very good point. Most of the 2D CAD operators I know do not seen to understand (or find very difficult) the concept of 3D. Management can't presume to think that just because some staff use Microsoft Word every day that automatically gives them the skills to become a great novelist. They may not even grasp basic spelling or grammar! Or just because someone can use Microsoft Paint they will also be expert users of Adobe Photoshop. The skills required to produce professional 3D results, seems to me, to require a great deal of dedication to learning a range of skills well beyond the normal requirements of most 2D CAD operators. It also requires an active imagination and what I can only describe as an "eye" for being able to visualise a 3D image. Quite simply, not everyone has this, no matter how good the software. Anyway, I would appreciate reading any further thoughts on this subject. Regards Mr S

@remus said: @gaieus said: "Duh" +1 Its strange how you just dont notice these things after a while. Maybe the triangles are another solution to a problem that really doesn't exist. They don't disturb me, either, but if the feature disappeared, I doubt if I would notice. Anssi

@scottminor said: So, I probably should have posted in here, but I guess that's why I posted in the "newbie" forum...haha....i'm a newbface. Never mind. I merged the replies and deleted your double post. Both gentlemen have good suggestions above. You can, of course, "hand stitch" anything any time but it's certainly time consuming in most of the cases (sometimes however it gives a fairly speedy result rather than playing around with plugins). How about attaching the model file, too?

WHy not just installed SU 7 free instead of the viewer?

One subtle and frustrating anomaly of Sketchup that applies to textures, is the behavior of custom axes. If you build a rafter on a roof plane and then group it or make a component, its axes will align with the default axes, which means the axes will not follow the "length" of the rafter. However, if you use the axes tool to change the axes to follow the roof plane BEFORE grouping or making the component, then that component or group will inherit the new custom axes when it is created. This is good. HOWEVER, textures do not seem to honor the custom axes. You would expect that if you changed the axes and then applied a texture, that the texture would be aligned to the new axes. IT WILL NOT. It will still align to the default axes. This makes for a very confusing behavior. Components honor custom axes when being created, but textures do not. However, textures will honor the COMPONENT's axes, but only if applied after the component (or group) is created. This can lead to some maddening behavior when editing, applying, and anchoring textures on components that have been rotated. It's hard to explain in a post, but I will try to build a sketchup file that demonstrates this weird behavior and post it later.

Yeah, Shaheen, the .3ds format is a mesh format. Its not a "solid" format. And SketchUp is not a solid modeler.

That sounds like a job for a plugin although I'm not positive that it could be done. You might want to post your question in the Plugins forum instead.

Well, if you don't mind the work, turn it into a component then add jambs and other details. [image: DwUy_temp03.jpg]

Sure! With high poly (billions of polys with easy orbiting), multi core, 64 bit, proxy, animation and hdri support and a fix for the shadow bug (actually, a WYSIWYG, real time PR renderer will also be added) They are now writing the exporters for Max, Cinema4D - even Vue - and all because they will be toys compared to SU.

HI folks. While waiting for a fix in SU 7, I tried this workaround: 1 - I draw a circle centered on the origin. 2 - I add a "Point at center". 3 - I delete the circle. 4 - I hide the point. 5 - I add the required Screen Text. This gives me a minimalist file that can be used as a template, if required. Just ideas.

May I also bring the "SketchUp Quick Reference Card" into your attention? It is very brief (one page) but lists all the mod keys for every tool as well (in case there would still be something to be surprised at)

Coen what wine settings did you use to get SU to run?

@remus said: Yea, I think it might be worth mentioning this to the SU team. The problem occurred when the last component of our version number exceeded 3 digits in length. That's why SU6 (.112) works, while SU7 (.8656, .10247, etc.) doesn't. We have an open bug for this issue.

Jeff, That was the problem. Thank you...

Thx So with my 7 years old machine maybe this take a little more I will try for the fun

I make the tut here http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18811

Make completely model. This model must bee made from grouped bricks. When model is completed delete bricks one by one. Do not delete the last one. Export 2d grafic as JPG. Make undo and then the brick which You have deleted will appear. Export 2d grafic as JPG. Retry No 6 till the end . Open Windows Movie maker. In movie maker import every picture in film strip with transition between . Save movie and that is it. I am pleased if it helps!

Got my license yesterday!

thanks so much guys. I'm making it for my granddad and hoping to render it or get it 3d printed. I will take a look at all the models. I thought I did it cleanly, but now I can see that I made quiet a few mistakes!

Well, I didn't do anthing, and now it is working. Nothing I did for sure. Gaieus thanks for your replies. Ken