It doesn't appear that there is, Paul. You can try it yourself by pressing the various combinations of modifiers and the trackpad buttons. You could use O, the default keyboard shortcut, to activate the Orbit tool or assign a different one. Once you have the Orbit tool active, pressing Shift will activate Pan.

In my work I've never found a need to realign the model axes although I think some folks find it useful. No matter what you do to those axes, though, the groundplane and north remain in the same location. Well, north can be changed but the axis orientation has nothing to do with that. I have seen having a number of models from others in which the axes have been moved or realigned causing the model to be drawn skewed at some strange angle.

try soften edges Window>Soften Edges

I suspect that the ball is not centered in its bounding box cube. If the axis reference is away from any edge, the ball will not rotate on its centroid. It will rotate on the centroid of the bounding box. As a solution you can explode the ball and then create a new comp. That will place the ball in the center of the bounding box. Rotation using the Move tool (on any of the 24 rotation pick points) will rotate the ball on its centroid.

@unknownuser said: When's the next Basecamp? Good question. We don't know right now, but given that our plan is to move to an annual release cycle starting next year, and that conferences are a great way to celebrate product launches, we'll do our best to make sure there's a 3D Basecamp in 2013. Source: A recap of SketchUp 3D Basecamp 2012 sounds more like second half of 2013. Norbert

Evermotion Archinteriors won't work in SU. Way to big. You can use them in Max or Cinema 4D. Greetz Twan

@mambo.harts.u what did you use? what plugin?

MEGA thank you! your replies are very helpful!!

Thank you TIG, and thank you for all your ruby script contributions. Dan

If you click here you get a total list of what's available [image: OSLf_PickPic1.png] [image: lu1n_PickPic2.png] This is constantly updated to reflect what you can grab

@kalli said: Thanks, I think I read (several locations around the web) although I can't find them right this minute, that it is listed as being 2012 compatible. Having said that, understand I could be completely in error. The App page shows 2013 only Compatible with: AutoCAD 2013 AutoCAD Architecture 2013 AutoCAD ecscad 2013 AutoCAD Electrical 2013 AutoCAD Mechanical 2013 AutoCAD MEP 2013 AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013

Your own subfolder of SKM material files [NOT image files ] needs to go into the main Sketchup .../Materials folder. If you don't have FULL security rights to that folder then it might look like your subfolder has been put in there... but the dreaded 'Compatibility Files...' link button in the main Explorer Window's header-bar is a clue that something is adrift... Windows has put stuff into a Virtual store to protect you from yourself... You need to ensure that there is FULL security rights [for all] to several folders in the Sketchup folder - Materials, AND Plugins, Styles and Components - because each of those will, at some pint need files adding into them... These access-rights should also trickle down to all of these folders' contents, including any subfolders too...

Those of you who might have some issues with SKP need to take a look at the UTUBE videos Nick Sonder has put up recently. His work says it all. From a developer as well as contractors standpoint - he's "nailed" his field. If you can't "build" from his work, then go home and change professions. In addition, almost every other poster here has had something valuable to say. Do the "traditional (architectural) industry / practitioners" feel threatened, etc? No doubt. Can you imagine what AutoDesk and others have spent? Having said that: The team of consultants / engineers / developers and builders we work with ? They could give a whit about "what' is used to create the end product. Millions of dollars are in play on these projects - literally (we're very, very lucky to have the work we have and, we try to appreciate it with frank, "humbleness" and, give thanks every single day). In our work team, all manor programs are used, interfaced, etc. AutoCad does some great things and, quite quickly in the hands of talented (note "talented") user. Same for SolidWorks and several other programs mentioned. Frankly, it's all about the job and clear communications to the "end user" - be it design engineer, structural engineer, MEP folks, the client or whomever. We've never had a client with a seven-or-eight figure project say "how did you come up with that image or make those drawings?" They're busy, they want visuals, and most want them NOW. We've found that SKP delivers. Too, we've received a number of project files from the "biggest and the (supposedly) best in the business). What we've had come across the threshold is truly, in some instances, unbelievably bad. Remember: It's not the tool, it's the operator. Never forget that. If you're client has a problem with how you dig the ditch, hand him the shovel. Better yet, (if you can afford it) pass on that client; we've almost always found that, that type of client is trouble down the road. As for "balky" consultants that have too many "opinions." I flat out tell them: "they can always find their payslip elsewhere."

For vector PDF's, I've found Inkscape does a creditable job. It imports Ok and I can then clean up the vectors before export as a DXF or OBJ (for Blender).

I went through the whole Vico Office 1/2 hour video the other day. I saw a real value to the first module where the various formats are share-able and view-able in 3D. The fourth module that had to do with collaboration and change management was also cool. The two modules that had to do with cost estimating are relevant and cool but very specific to a 'niche' group and do not have the same level of appeal to me, as they deal with a level of detail that I don't 'dig into'. The sliding cross-section viewer was awesome, as was the 'high light revised stuff' view. Still, Vico has too much of the Microsoft Project/Sharepoint look, that I have found folks in the western united states really don't like. The 'Google' style of button interface with a three-part (maximum) screen and 'zoom from space to neighborhood' really appeals, as does the 'rotate my model'. I hope that Trimble breaks the Vico modules down into 'bite-size' pieces with some of it being made 'free-ware' to SU users, like parts of render programs and materials/models/warehouses are currently. I think that is the way to 'win over customers'. As to the app for a Android phone...like you, I am still waiting

2 hints for zorro2: use with CTRL to slice all subgroubs and components use right click on section plane to slice with this plane ("Slice Model at Section") (so 15 minutes are too long )

Thanks everyone for your help. I have downloaded TIG's Archiver.rb plugin and will give it a try. Walter

Yes Dave, that is correct. I want to get rid of all the unused items. Thank you TIG, I will try this. Thanks in advance...

Just wanted to say. I use Octaine with TIG's exporter. Works fine! Got an gtx 580 as graphiccard. Strength - You see quite rapidly where you're going in the render. I often use an ambient occlusion "sneeky render" that's very fast and gives good enough results, at least for me. There are different rendermethods to choose between. And an online database of materials where you can drag and drop from the menu. So easy setup if you're not a perfectionist. Also node-based interface, but one doesent have to bother about that if one doesent want to.. Another thing, if you are a paying costumer you will get full access to the whole site with bigger forum where you can get beta and test versions. There's quite some activity going on there. Can't tell how mature the software is yet, compared to for ex Thea. Octaine requires a good graphiccard.