@slbaumgartner said: I worked out an analytic geometry solution using the formulas for the distance between two points and for the intersection point of two given lines. Solving is "just" a matter of algebra. However, the remaining difficulty is that the math formulation covers various configurations that have no real-value solution (e.g. attached image) and it is difficult (or at least confusing) to weed these out of the formulas. [attachment=1:2acewcov]<!-- ia1 -->Screen Shot 2014-12-02 at 9.43.20 AM.png<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:2acewcov] [image: TB93_mini-challenge.jpg]

What you should do is having a set of materials applied to a hidden part of the component, then randomize the materials applyed to the component's copies.

Hi Skalp, I downloaded your plugin last week and I really love it. The only draw back I can see is that the hatches are bitmaps in Layout. This results in poor quality print outs and large file sizes when exporting PDFs. Any chance that you'll introduce vector hatches in future, or is that a limitation of Layout that is beyond your control? I've tried using the skalp export to DXF command, but it seems to only include the section cut. It would be great if there were an option to include the objects beyond the section plane as well. Great plugin, thanks a lot!

Ahhh, yes, I changed It from inches to mm. That could be the issue, Thanks!

@zawisza5 said: Hello, I am trying to populate a TIN 3D surface with components. Within each triangle surface I would like two random components( represented by different colored dots in attached picture). Does anyone have any idea of how to populate the TIN more quickly than placing every component by hand. The TIN was imported into sketchup from ArcGIS. I produced this results[image: BnjL_DotsonFace.jpg] with this code def placethedots mod = Sketchup.active_model ent = mod.active_entities sel = mod.selection cdefs = mod.definitions.reject{|cd| cd.group?||cd.image?} faces = sel.grep(Sketchup;;Face) faces.each{|f| tx=0.0;ty=0.0;tz=0.0; p=f.outer_loop.vertices.collect{|v|v.position} p.each{|v| tx+=v.x;ty+=v.y;tz+=v.z} ax=tx/p.length;ay=ty/p.length;az=tz/p.length ctr=Geom;;Point3d.new(ax,ay,az);#ent.add_cpoint(c) pt1=ctr.offset([-6,6,0]) cd=cdefs[rand(cdefs.length)] ent.add_instance(cd,Geom;;Transformation.new(pt1,f.normal)) pt2=ctr.offset([6,-6,0]) cd=cdefs[rand(cdefs.length)] ent.add_instance(cd,Geom;;Transformation.new(pt2,f.normal)) } end I first created the six component "dots". Selected the faces then executed the code.

Thank you all for your help. Very much appreciated. Walter

No. You misunderstand the concept of copyright. If a script is published in a way that disclaims copyright [typically in the wording in its header, which puts it freely into the public domain] then you are free to do what you will with it, edit it and even republish it with changes - although doing so without making it clear it is now 'your' version could confuse others, and at least annoy the original author. A script might be published explicitly claiming copyright [or if there is nothing said to the contrary the copyright is deemed to remain with the original publisher or author - the 'owner']. In that case you may not change its contents and republish it, without the express consent of the 'owner'. However, if you make some changes and use that changed file for your own private purposes then who is to know... I suggested a simple 'tweak' to the copyrighted 'select.rb' to make it compatible with newer versions of SketchUp - it was adding a couple of lines at the start to fix an oversight by the original author, and which I an sure he would have agreed with. If any of you then decide to try that 'tweak', it's up to you, I did NOT republish the file. I trust you will not do so either. I declined to make significant changes to his copyrighted GoldenGauge.rb, this is would have meant a major rewrite and posting large blocks of code - tantamount to republishing a then much edited version of the script. I could do that for my own personal use but not post it for the rest of you, as I then consider that infringing copyright rules... However, I did make significant changes to' LiveIvy', because the original author invited users to make changes and improve the code, effectively disclaiming any copyright he might have had.

hi all addressing the issue over here if anyone is interested: http://forums.sketchup.com/t/replacing-components-with-dynamic-components/4265 Thanks Edward

@agrazdi said: Any body knows the font's name at Nicholas Sonder page ?? Have you tried asking Nicholas Sonder?

@box said: Use the tape on the group while it is open for editing. Box you're a Boxstar. Pun sort of ...I meant Rockstar.

I'm guessing you need to install the free version (Make). I think they have made it that if you install Make on Windows you get a free trial of pro then it reverts to Make, but if you install pro, it's free for the trial period but then stops working. From what I know Mac reverts. Removing Pro and installing Make should have no affect on your extensions as they are stored in a separate folder. You can download Make from here. http://www.sketchup.com/download/all

I know this was more than a year ago but I am curious.....hey Solo!!! Did you find a solution to this enquiry?

Thanks Rich, I had completely forgotten.

"you don't want 64 bit?" Yes but I don't need it. I have plenty of hardware horse power 6 gig GPU 32 CPU.liquid/overclocked. Not sure whether that maters but Sketchup doesn't complain about my large mesh at all. I simply do illustration and animation so Sketchup 8 is just fine. I have always been slow to upgrade anything. I like you guys to do the testing first....lol. Thanks Box, I saw the thread it is good stuff.

Lumion gets a bad knock because it is expensive. But it has one thing that no one has....SPEED!! It is just too significant to ignore now. I can't sit around for hours waiting and I am not interested in the complicity of a rendering that requires a farm. Depending on who's hands it is in Lumion is now coming within a hair of the best in render quality both interior and exterior. It is so easy to set up and run that anyone can do it and of course there are some pretty wonky works of art out there in Lumion. There are also some masters. One last point that was the deal breaker for me the licence holds its retail valueand can be sold on the open market. I have tried all the others but Lumion has really put me into production. I actually make money now selling renderings. If you are landscaping I suggest you get the free version of Lumion and build a forest. Then go build a forest with your favorite second choice. That will do it for you.

Hello, I am trying to import a DEM into SU Pro 2015 (MacBook Pro, OS Yosemite) and am having difficulties. I downloaded elevation data from web-site (search for "Mntopo' web site) in the form of a DEM. The resulting files were of extensions .bil, .hdr, .xml,.....I had no luck importing. I tried downloading from the same web site in a different format , the extensions were different (and many). Still, I had no luck importing. Any suggestions? I am trying to create a 3D model of a wetland mitigation site. Thank you! Best, Jeff

Hello! I also use a mac. Tooltips are extremely annoying if not implemented properly. The delay in sketchup is extremely annoying. If you take the mouse focus to another palette and back you have to wait another 10 seconds. There is no way to list materials(in the mat palette) in a text format(only icon)so you have to wait every time you go to the model window and back. Please give us the ability to turn them on or off in a prefences button. Even GIMP does this. The ideal situation for SU would be pressing a key while hovering, only if I need the tooltip. I also use Painter and they are on all the time, popping up with useless info 90% of the time, covering up what I actually need to see or click on. Maybe the people at Sketchucation can get thru to Trimble! I have posted the Mac issues at least 20 times and I don't even get a response. A note to developers: Please don't turn them on all the time to compensate, unless you give us a way to turn them off. I will have to pay for another shrink visit! A 2-3 second delay is OK if this is the only option. The hotkey on mouse hover is the best solution. If you use 4-5 programs as a designer, Arch, etc. Icons become worthless. Who can remember which icon is what in which program. The only option for a professional is text lists or icon and text. I need speed not pretty icons. In closing, having been 3D modeling for 20 years now, Sketchup is still my fav 3d surface modeler. The Mac version needs a little work, Though.

Well, it also could be that I have a bad installation of 2015. It's had some strange problems with 2015 on this computer that are not present on my other computers (I haven't checked to see if this particular problem is one of them, yeah, I'm lazy and dain bramaged and probably shouldn't have posted this thread until I had done so) and this computer (my main one) has other problems that hopefully will go away when I rebuild it with parts I received yesterday and, jeez, this sentence is really dragging on, as is my life, so I'll go away now. Have a nice Thanksgiving TIG, just read your post as I was about to post this. Thanks very much for the info, sounds like it will take care of the problem.

Thanks for the reply. Will add Mac to future posts.

Glad you got it... you'll notice color on screen works in more places, but is affected by things like bounding box and such. color in object should be more precise to other materials. it's a good way to get your wood to match a door or what not.