Each 'context' can have one active section-cut. So if you make two groups and add an active section-cut inside each one then you have what you want. For more cuts you just sub-divide your model into more sub-groups... Also see here... http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=344761#p344761 and many similar threads that can be found using the Search tool...

TIG is correct...otherwise beta testers would have real problems. Most beta testers continue to run a licensed Pro current version while also running a separately licensed Pro beta version of the next release on the same machine. There is no interaction. It sounds like in this instance there may have been some hiccup in the installation procedure. I've experienced similar...usually by forgetting to run the install as an administrator, or something like that.

@Dave - I know what you mean. Even apps notionally doing the same thing can differ markedly in the way they are used and in this instance I'd actually argue that it's AutoCAD's way of doing things that is peculiar (I'm not aware of other programs where you have to press Escape to unselect). It is a bit disappointing however to hear that Google don't seem to be interested in at least offering a customisation feature to disable Escape given how large a potential market AutoCAD users represent. Thanks for the replies If there's anywhere to suggest new features I'll add my name to that one.

Look for the Paint Bucket tool or click on Window>Materials. I would suggest you read through the Help files and also watch the basic tutorials on the SketchUp site. I think you'll find them extremely educational.

Thanks! CleanUp is a great plugin that I have used for a while now. And in combination with MeshLab and Babel online converter the I reduced the size to 4-5MB, but the result isn't that good. But, I think it is hard to get it better. Will try to get the cad files and simplify the model from start.

@unknownuser said: ...or changing the back side to the same color as the front side might make more sense in this case since you aren't showing edges. -brodie True, true.

hello to all, as i had to work on this file, i've openned it on a 64bit pc and 'broke' it in small pieces - then i removed all building materials, join it all again, now its fine. later when preparing final renders i'll export to collada to reduce texture sizes, but right now i prefer everything in white... regards, diogo

I'd be willing to draw them for a fee. PM me if you want to discuss it.

Thank you Rich, I've downloaded both and will be trying them out when I have a few minutes.

I poked about last week and I was investigating some edge loop routines.

I'll comment again probably where I have no business , but I expressed concern some time ago related to issues with plugins probably costing Google support dollars and if the the issues raised are not brought under control you may will find your self where Google will impose requirements you may not like. Dan Rathburn tried but don't think he had much success. Secondly: When one talks about problems and SU blame that's very generic and you have to worry memory snd system also. For a 32 bit machine , that means you can only address 4GB but SU only gets 2GB9 If you have 4GB RAM) because the way the MS memory manager works. Even if you have a 64 bit machine and tons of memory SU will still only be allocated 4 GB even though 64B allows much more address than that. Some of these strange artifacts can very well be memory issues. When you have problems watch the task manager and see and understand what it is reporting. Win xp, vista etc are not all the same. See this link if you have some spare time and want to under stand virtual memory, which is what programs get to use, and physical memory. It will make your eyes glaze over?? http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2008/11/17/3155406.aspx. and the post here in of opening a 360MB SU file with Win XP pro and 4GB Ram http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=39401 Thirdly:It is completely unreasonable to tag Google with any responsibility of running regression testing of any external plugin in the software drop. If you have had to do this you will know what I mean. Sorry if I am totally out of line

No, both versions will co-exist in parallel. It's relatively painless... The only complications are that v8 grabs SKP files opened by double-clicking - but you can drop-open files, or use 'open with...' right-click context-menu, or open them from within an active v7 SUp session etc; by default it will also save from v8 as a v8 SKP, meaning that a former v7 SKP can no longer open in v7 - BUT you can do a 'save_as' in v8 and specify an earlier version - so v8 can save as v7 [or even earlier] but you need to do it deliberately each time. Also remember that you will need to transfer/copy any custom components/materials/styles/plugins/importers/exporters/etc across from v7 to the equivalent folders in v8 [do not mess with anything in the 'tools' folders - the v8 ones will not always be identical to v7's]; your current shortcuts in v7 should be auto-replicated into v8 [but check after the install] and check that the v8 preferences for folders etc look to the correct v8 folders - some might still [wrongly] look for the v7 equivalents and the image-editor etc are set as in v7...

i just tried a workaround with the trial version of the new keyframe animation plugin. though its intended for object animations it has a tween feature that automatically creates all the transition frames between scenes in a separate file with a specified framrate. after creating the new file with all the tweened frames i exported the file again as an animation with transition and delay set to zero, which the plugin also does automatically. sensational result: the animation export to png with imagesize set to full screen resolution took only 15min at 25fps. the creation of the tweens went nearly instant. this is great, i think i will invest into this nice plugin. only downside, the tweening process ignored hidden objects in some scenes. i will have to see if i can find out why...

Hello Evan, thanks for replying to my thread I'll look into your software

@mitcorb said: This looks like very common importation problems having to do with long distance from SU origin... I am almost pretty sure that's the case here, too. Make sure that when importing CAD files, you do not preserve their drawing origin (this is step 1 of the trouble shooting process as there may be any stray geometry elsewhere as well as groups/components may have their origins in outer space somewhere but start here) [image: ZNQB_PreserveOrigin.jpg]

@tig said: Paypal doesn't accept beer! However, I do Could you point me to it, please? @tig said: If you ever plan to be in the NE let me know... Love Northumberland, went to Newcastle uni and lived up there for 6 years, on and off, in total. Even proposed on Holy Island. Lot's of happy memories.

@benha said: ....So I was scaling this by using the tape measure tool..... When you do this, you get weird results.... Same here, I went for the "easy" approach, the 'Tape Measure' tool and not the scale tool where you need to input 0.00333....(repeat3). So I couldn't help you out. But both methods don't seem to give the exact same results! The 'Tape Measure' method fails, while the 'Scale' tool still works (except for e few softened edges) Thanks for bringing this up.

@dave r said: Oh. The only things you can change are those you can make in the display settings under the Control Panel. You won't be able to change the button appearance though. I was afraid you'd say that! I wonder if we can add a manifest file to the .exe?

+1 on that

Hi There Following all the help I had on this (thanks again!) I've successfully modelled and completed the project. Ive posted the renderings in the gallery if anyones interested there's a link below thanks again http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=39465