Hi Sheir, hi folks. Very good result for a first animation. The only problem I see, unless my eyes play a trick on me, is that the model seems to float a few centimeters over the ground plane where all the shadows can be seen. For example, there is a gap between the car tires and the ground as well as between the base of the columns and the ground. Try moving the whole model on the ground plane. And, by the way, welcome to SCF and keep up the good work.

View>Toolbars>Sandbox Click 'View' in the menu bar Highlight 'Toolbars' From the drop down menu check the 'Sandbox' Option You should have the icons on your Toolbar Happy Island Building

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5692&p=32649

Try Unity it's free And the result can be interactive directly on the web if you want

Thanks very much again, that was the issue.

@ecuadorian said: That doesn't look like "status bar and VCB"; it looks like simply the measurements bar. @tig said: Try maximizing your SUp window ? shame on me! so confused you where right both of you. When I was opening Su7, it was seemingly full screen while it was reduced. I have been mistaken by the fact in SU6 there is only one status bar + vcb!! [image: http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/Spendauballet/SketchUp/Su6.jpg] [image: http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/Spendauballet/SketchUp/Su702.jpg] [image: http://forums.sketchucation.com/download/file.php?id=37095] I don't find this "reset workspace" button ( but i'm sure of nothing right now ) @ecuadorian said: Hey, my SU version number is 7.1.4871, where did you get that number? I think it's the last version available in french.(v 7.0.11018). You point something I haven't take care. I'm going to install the last english version. Many thanks to both of you. *simon

I know this is digging up an old thread, but at least it's mine to dig up! After having the issue of the sketchup.exe process not unloading since the original post, the issue seems to have resolved itself. What I did was to update/install several of Chris's plugins (of the "Chris Fullmer Tools" variety) that I had installed, and the Kerkythea exporter. I'm not sure which one of these scripts/plugins caused the issue if any, but if anybody else is having the issue and has some of these installed, they may want to try updating their files as well. Absolutely no other system changes were made (Windows updates, etc...). Using SU version 7.0.10247. Files changed: SU2KT component stringer * perpendicular face tools * Greeble 2 3 line tools * Scale & rotate multiple * Select outer edges * Components onto faces * new install, the rest were updates.

Thank you so much Alan

I would think about 2 options: Use a autolisp-routine to rename the autocad-block to include the wanted ATTDEF-info in the blockname. Then a ruby can parse the component-definition-name and store it where you want. Use a autolisp-routine to write some ruby's on the fly which does reference the block-name and store the wanted data back to the components.

oh, and it was working few days ago when i was using it...just started to act weird on me today

Thanks for the quick replys guys! I'll check that spray tool out right away.

Sorry about that Solo, I should have been a little more clear (or just attached a pic); anyway, i think found something that'll work...the Slicer ruby script. I should have done a little bit more researching before posting. But, thanks for the help all!

Guys, when trying top make a group/component using the context menu or trying to flip something, always make sure to select more than one entity otherwise it doesn't work (the menu items are not only greyed out but don't even appear). Make a test this way: create a sphere right click and find that you cannot make it a group/component or flip it. you can still make a group/component from the edit menu or a component from the "Principal" toolbar > Component button (I consider this not necessarily a bug but an inconsistent behaviour and keep reporting it every time a new version is being tested but so far nothing has happened) if you triple click on the sphre so that its hidden edges are also highlighted as selected, you can make group/component and flip it from the context menu. Now as for menu items that should be available but greyed out, I have no idea what causes it. Supposedly it's a plugin (and Thom also suspected that it was his selection toys at a time) but I for instance have never experienced it although I have this plugion (as well as Twilight, which was also mentioned above). Maybe it's not even an only plugin but a conflict between some plugins which of course, would make it even harder to spot.

Dont know why its not exporting properly, but as a workaround you could use screen capture to record your viewport as you play the animation through in sketchup. Something like this would do it: http://camstudio.org/

I'll be blunt: SketchUp is not for creating toons. There are plugins for very limited animation like Mover.rb, but it's nowhere near as good as a properly implemented animation system. I recommend you look elsewhere before you waste too much time trying to do something SketchUp is not designed for.

I have been thinking about the naming of components and I dont think that the name is the key. I think the layer the component is placed on is what will solve the problem ( as per tigs suggestion . Thanks Tig) of organising components for an organised estimate (BOM). We have been working on a ruby that will actuauly take off square meters, lineal meters and componets all in 1 go. It is very efficient and will do a 5+ meg model in seconds. There are a lot of bugs and things to sort out and it is not yet ready for public consumption but I think it will be in the next couple of months or so.. fingers crossed see how I go with my busy work flow (out side Sketchup that is). standardisation when it comes to layers a at this stage it is not important. Changing of names can be done by the individual user to suit there own needs if the UK and the US can not agree. Us damn Aussies will probably come up with some other rediculous method that will have some relation to beer some where. I guess the main thing is the job gets done efficiently for end users. If designers and architects dont draw custom components and use 3d warehouse or formfonts it will be necessary to re assign a layer to component anyway. The ruby I have been working on does not require standardisation as it looked as though no one would agree 100% any way. I shall keep you all posted on my progress.

There are many reasons a CAD import won't split into obvious faces. In no particular order... The lines aren't all 'flat' - i.e. coplanar There are 3rd party tools available to 'flatten' them... Alternatively move the group of lines up in the Z(blue), drawn a big rectangle below them, use the Sandbox Drape Tool to drop the lines onto the new face, erase the old lines and the new face should contain a set of 'flat' lines - erase the outer edges you don't need... Now if these don't face after selecting all and intersect with model try using a style that shows all vertices marked as 'ends' AND has a distinct line difference between profiles and other lines.... This makes it easier to see the unfaced lines and any 'gaps... Zoom into any gaps and use Move Tool [with nothing initially selected] and move the wrong line ends to snap to their intended target... If the gap is big then just try drawing a bit of new line in to close the gap... My 2D Tools include an Adjust Tool that lets you select a target-line and wipe across any lines that have a gap and they are 'healed'... Basically whatever you do to fix this you are trying to get closed loops of all lines so that they 'face'....

Thanks for the tips, all. I am just going to use Premier to do some post for this project, but this would be a neat feature to have in future versions! Cheers, Jason

I was opening a V6 version when the Updating message appeared (I have some versions 6 or 7 As nothing special arrive before that I thouth that a new version 7 was born Next time I will wait another posts

The best book for advanced SketchUp users. There is a very good chapter about components: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596155100 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Making Multiple Copies 1. Copying in Linear Arrays 2. Creating Linear Internal Arrays 3. Building a Nonorthogonal Linear Array 4. Copying in Circular Arrays 5. Creating Circular Internal Arrays Chapter 2 Following Paths with Follow Me 1. Extruding a Follow Me Face to Cut Volume Along a Path 2. Using Follow Me to Add Volume Along a Path 3. Keeping Original Objects Intact During Follow Me 4. Using Follow Me When Faces and Paths Are Not Adjacent 5. Creating Objects in the Round 6. Creating Spheres 7. Using a Follow Me Path in 3D Chapter 3 Intersection Edges: Cutting and Trimming 1. Trimming an Object 2. Cutting All Intersected Objects 3. Using Groups or Components to Create Cutting Objects 4. Intersecting with Groups and Components, Without Exploding 5. Intersecting with Both Intact and Exploded Components 6. Intersecting Only Selected Objects 7. Intersecting Within a Group or Component 8. Using Intersect to Trim Components with Themselves Chapter 4 Advanced Intersect and Follow Me Techniques 1. Creating Temporary Faces for Follow Me 2. Rounding Corners 3. Creating Lathed Shapes 4. Roofing with a Uniform Slope 5. Creating "Dummy" Follow Me Paths 6. Extending Follow Me Paths 7. Using Intersect to Create a 3D Follow Me Path Chapter 5 Roofs: Constraints and Inferences 1. Creating an Overhanging Roof 2. Creating Dormers 3. Working with Roof Intersections 4. Creating Overhangs with Autofold Chapter 6 Groups: Protect and Defend 1. 2. Ungluing Faces 3. Unsticking Edges 4. Protecting from Edits 5. Cutting and Slicing 6. Two-Sided Coloring 7. Locking a Group Chapter 7 Components: Efficiency in Repetition 1. Creating a Component 2. Using the Components Window 3. Inserting a Component 4. Editing or Exploding a Component 5. Renaming a Component 6. Saving a Component in Its Own File 7. Accessing Local Components 8. Painting Components 9. Repeating Objects with Different Sizes 10. Aligning and Gluing 11. Using Components for Symmetric Models 12. Placing Windows in 3D Walls 13. Reloading Components 14. Replacing Components 15. Working with the Outliner Chapter 8 Painting, Materials, and Textures 1. Finding Materials and Images 2. Getting Images into Your Model 3. Creating Material Collections 4. Painting Multiple Faces 5. Changing Material Size and Color 6. Copying a Material 7. Using Translucent Materials 8. Painting Edges by Material 9. Positioning Textures: Fixed Pins 10. Positioning Texture on Round Faces 11. Creating and Editing a Unique Texture 12. Using Alpha-Transparent Images Chapter 9 Modeling with Digital Photos 1. Positioning Textures with Free Pins 2. Editing a Photo 3. Adding Faces to Patch an Image 4. Using Images to Make Face Camera Components 5. Using Free Pins and a Single Image to Paint a 3D Object 6. Using Photo Match to Model a 3D Object 7. Using Photo Match to Paint an Existing Model Chapter 10 Modeling with Exact Dimensions 1. Working with Lines 2. Working with Rectangles 3. Working with Circles and Polygons 4. Working with Arcs 5. Importing Graphics 6. Using the Tape Measure for Construction Lines and Points 7. Measuring and Marking Angles 8. Finding the Area of Faces 9. Creating a Grid 10. Measuring Lengths and Resizing 11. Resizing Models with Groups and Components 12. Resizing Parts of Your Model 13. Resizing a Model in Multiple Directions Chapter 11 Presentation: Showing off Your Model 1. Working with Layers 2. Working with Scenes 3. Working with Shadows 4. Sectioning Your Model 5. Using Layers and Scenes to Control Displayed Objects 6. Using Layers, Scenes, and Groups for Different Design Scenarios 7. Studying Shadow Movements 8. Walking Through Your Model 9. Creating Animated Sections 10. Creating Staged Sectioning Animation Chapter 12 Displaying Your Model 1. Hiding and Softening Edges 2. Changing the Style 3. Creating a New Style 4. Saving Styles 5. Saving a Style As a Template 6. Mixing Styles 7. Adding a Watermark 8. Creating a Sketchy Edge Style 9. Using Styles in a Presentation Chapter 13 3D Warehouse and Google Earth 1. Finding Models in the 3D Warehouse 2. Refining Your 3D Warehouse Search 3. Uploading Models to the 3D Warehouse 4. Creating Collections in the 3D Warehouse 5. Controlling Model or Collection Privacy 6. Adding Models or Collections to Your Collections 7. Taking Credit for Your Model 8. Manually Georeferencing Your Model 9. Georeferencing Your Model by Using Google Earth 10. Getting Your Models into the 3D Buildings Layer 11. Creating a Placemark in Google Earth 12. Relocating a Georeferenced Model 13. Downloading Buildings That Appear in Google Earth Chapter 14 Dynamic Components 1. Finding Dynamic Components 2. Interacting with Dynamic Components 3. Investigating Dynamic Component Options 4. Scaling Dynamic Components 5. Modifying and Replacing Dynamic Components 6. Sizing by the Reference Point