I knew shadows and styles slow down while operating so I guess that is to be expected.

I did use "Align View" which works fine for that particular moment. But I need to go back to the orthogonal views regularly. I installed the plug-in for extended standard views as suggested and it works perfectly. Seems like this really ought to be standard behavior for Sketchup. I've just replaced my standard views toolbar with it. Thanks for all of the help.

A quick trick is to Window>Materials>scroll down to Translucent and use maybe the aqua colored glass. You can also edit this base material for preferred color if you like.

Try some of this globals http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=42&func=select&id=11 (install it and go to insert globals) if you need lights go to http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=42&func=fileinfo&id=31 and here http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=42&func=fileinfo&id=113

OMG. They were part of the ivy plugin!!! Thanks so much massimo!! I guess I'll have to keep the Ivy plugin out until i use it next. I think i lost some braincells trying to remove those materials!!!

I have opend a SimFonIA thread - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=46496&p=415716#p415716 My experience with SAT will be posted there.

Manaquari, Please let us know how it turns out. I'm certain if I had to learn Shapebender before morning I would be back to flipping bad burgers at Buck's Burgert Barn. Good Luck!!!

What about install DraftSight for OSX? It is an AutoCAD LT clone and it has an OSX version. You could at least open the DWG and see what the text is.

Thank you All... I have passed on your comments

@pbacot said: @metaclay said: @gaieus said: @metaclay said: Can i just snap to any point regardless they're position in 3d space ? Yes, you can, so if you have problems, please post specific examples. Here's simple setup, i create 2 rectangles, one is lying on ground plane (xy plane) while another is above the ground ( i moved it vertically along z axis). I tried to move any vertex of rectangle#1 to snap to any point of rectangle#2. How to do it ? Right now, it can't snap to other rectangle coz they're on different plane. Thanx You are right it can't. That's because SU is trying to help by preventing you from warping your rectangle (see below). I guess the question is what are you trying to end up with in the model? You can obtain "inferences" from points on edges (e.g. endpoints) of the upper rectangle, if you are trying to align the lower point directly below it. You have to do that in a couple of steps (I can give if you need) but the easiest thing is to project edges down from the upper rectangle to the lower rectangle plane, so you can snap to the endpoints. Generally the "snap" to point in this two-plane scenario would only make sense in reference to the camera position--if it worked, if I am understanding correctly. However if your objective is to warp the lower rectangle to a point outside its plane, you have to press command (alt on a PC) to "autofold" the face of the rectangle while moving the vertex. Thanx Pbacot, That makes sense why i can't snap directly to it, yeah it will 'bend' the face. Btw I've just solved it using 'inferences' method like u said. Additional note or request : it would be great if SU got option to turn this on/off , in same 'wild' case, maybe i need to build some free form design, this is also helpfull if i can have option to turn snap on/off , just for flexibility reason (so accomodate more users need). Right now the 'snap-persistent' mode make SU more 'mechanical/technical' but maybe that what the SU is designed for. peace... Thanx a lot.

I find the pdf contains both shaded or colored faces (as polygons) and edges (as line segments). So if your CNC can't tell them apart you have that problem. If I put the pdf in my CAD app the two are easily separated by a magic wand sort of selection. Perhaps you can use a go between app. OR If I export a pdf of a wireframe or hidden line view I only have lines. (single lines, not doubled)

It's a typical "scope of use" clause - you can literally take the title at it's word - "USE OF THE PRODUCTS; CONTENT IN THE PRODUCTS". In other words, what you draw with "your" version of SketchUp, and what you do with said drawings, is your business. You just can't take SketchUp apart and modify it, sell it, bundle it... yada, yada... It's like renting a car and pimping it out, or letting someone else drive it - you just don't do it, but you can drive it wherever the heck you want, and in most cases, use it for your business, "but" it's still "their" car. SketchUp belongs to Trimble - works created with the software belong to you.

@unknownuser said: Super cool but that select only points! That was the request.

I found the answer... Run Regedit Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes.skb and delete this entry, this don´t interfere with the .skp thumbs, so if you rename the .skb to .skp the thumbnail will appear normally.

for me, i do all my modeling on the default 'layer 0', then move groups, components, or collections of them to particular layers, as required. i often have a roof framing, floor framing, timber, foundation, footer, accessories (furniture, people, etc.), grid, layers, etc., as required. i do like the outliner, but depending on what you are modeling it can be maddening once you get into 20-30 scenes setup for layout.

i think the better way to go with sketchup would be sub-d modeling, instead of nurbs... maybe a combination of both like t-splines. But i think a clean polygonal model would be better for most of the sketchup users. But you're right, this is a thing that should definitely be improved in Sketchup and i really hope to see sub-d in sketchup's future...

Thanks for the replies. I realize I've got to be systematic - set up some tests in SU and in Layout and work through all the advice in this thread, labeling everything as I go. I do wish it was more straightforward. I don't have to do anything to get a crisp print out of AutoCAD - it's not something I have to think about. I wish SketchUp was the same - hit print and get an acceptable result.

Voodoo? Edit: re-upload and it works.

If you use a tool like thomthom's 'Solid-Inspector' it will show the issues.[image: LEUF_Capture.PNG] Other tools like my 'SolidSolver' can try to fix issues... BUT these tools can often fail because the errors are often too convoluted... a manual fix is then needed... Your form has several such difficulties... A manifold 'solid' is best be thought of as an object that contains only faces and their edges, AND those edges ALL have two faces - no more, no fewer. So that excludes all faceless edges, single-sided faces that will end up somewhere as a 'flap' with an edge with only one face, punched 'holes' in faces that will inevitably have an edge with only one face, internal 'partition' faces within twin-skinned 'walls' that will have some edges with three or more faces etc... Your form has several problems like those listed above... You can see them using Xray mode, and Section-Planes to cut the object etc during using 'Solid-Inspector'. Then you can select+delete to get rid of unneeded edges/faces etc. There are also a couple of tiny very narrow internal flap-faces, because not all of your faces are exactly 'axial' - use a Style that shows edges 'by axis color' to see these better, zoom in and erase them... If you make it a group and select it then 'Entity Info' says 'Group' BUT IF it's manifold it says 'Solid Group'... Here it is fixed [image: znhU_Capture1.PNG]

Thanks a lot for the help, I stopped working on the model for a while but now I continued. I tried various approaches to the problem, including the ones suggested here, but soon discovered that there was more to my problem than I initially thought. I made a new thread about it here. Thanks again for your help .