Least used function of SU

utiler · 8 Sept 2008, 03:57

gee, chris that's quite a list!!!

I agree on the 'display crosshairs'.... enough going on without them adding clutter....

kwistenbiebel · 8 Sept 2008, 05:33

@chris fullmer said:

metric units - who needs that stuff? lol (please send all hate mail to ChrisFullmer@theinternet.google.com.usa)

hate mail sent .

least used function: inches
By consequence probably the most used function by me is ModelInfo > Units > (change to) decimal> centimeters...to change to metric for each new model as inches is set by default.

Also least used: protractor, tape measure, dimension, zoom icons (I use mouse),Google earth link, fog.

bertu · 8 Sept 2008, 06:30

non metric units - where on the dark side of the moon are they still in use?
animation - it's not my hobby.
instructor - no need

tbd · 8 Sept 2008, 06:36

@unknownuser said:

kwistenbiebel: to change to metric for each new model as inches is set by default

you know that you can save the template in metric and you can have a menu item with this line for those "pesky" models

Sketchup.active_model.options["UnitsOptions"]["LengthUnit"]=4

Gaieus · 8 Sept 2008, 07:47

@kwistenbiebel said:

...probably the most used function by me is ModelInfo > Units > (change to) decimal> centimeters...to change to metric for each new model as inches is set by default...

kwist, you don't use metric/decimal templates (by default)?

plot-paris · 8 Sept 2008, 07:51

definitely "flip along Axis" - thats what I use the scale tool for.

fog - I never really got the hang of it. allthough I once used it, to disguise the end of a city model so that the buildings vanished in fog. quite a nice effect

the auto-save function - it saved my life quite a few times, when I simply forgot to save and got an unexpected bug splat. but it was the cause to crash SketchUp with big models at least as often too. would it be possible (for SU7) to have that function as a different processing thread? or is it possible to just save changes and not the whole file?

things like the instructor - I don't use it. but I did; and it showed me quite some new features (especially some modifier keys I was not aware of, like the ones for the eraser tool). I think it is definitely a good thing to learn SketchUp.

I totally agree with kwistenbiebel: inches... what a silly thing, really

thomthom · 8 Sept 2008, 08:38

@alan fraser said:

I'm not sure about the least used function, but I can tell you what my most hated function is....the default template with Bryce in it.

I reckon at least 90% of all models submitted to the FormFonts Exchange have to be purged of Bryce and his materials before I can pass them onto the site. I've killed his effigy so many times it's a wonder the guy hasn't dropped stone dead by now.

I took him out last week when I decided to set up a custom office template. No more Bruce, no more Boulder CO, no more "Architectural Units", no more resource hogging 3px outline by default.

I think Fog is high up on the list of not used functions.

As oppose to many others I find FLip along very useful. It mirrors objects around itself without offsetting the object as oppose to what Scale -1 does. Two different methods of mirror for different purposes.

I think my most use feature, except the modelling tools them self is Purge. Purge is my religion.

remus · 8 Sept 2008, 08:39

Where to start:
-delete all guides
-layers
-fog
-photo match
-2 point perspective
-flip along axis

Lots of them are just because ive never really had the need of them, others are because i didnt know they existed until very recently.

oh, and the default template, thats the first thing to go on a new SU install.

Alan Fraser · 8 Sept 2008, 08:47

I'm not sure about the least used function, but I can tell you what my most hated function is....the default template with Bryce in it.

I reckon at least 90% of all models submitted to the FormFonts Exchange have to be purged of Bryce and his materials before I can pass them onto the site. I've killed his effigy so many times it's a wonder the poor guy hasn't dropped stone dead by now.

kwistenbiebel · 8 Sept 2008, 11:25

Remus,

It's odd you don't use 'layers' as I just can't live without some decent layering to overcome SU's disability to have 'high poly' on screen.
You know, trees on layer 'trees', cars, etc...

remus · 8 Sept 2008, 11:32

I would use them more if i needed to, but fortunately for me i rarely do large models, its more small producty type things.

plot-paris · 8 Sept 2008, 13:19

@thomthom said:

As oppose to many others I find FLip along very useful. It mirrors objects around itself without offsetting the object as oppose to what Scale -1 does.

for that I press Ctrl, when scaling to -1; that scales arround the centre and therefore does the ame as "flip along axes".
I would just like to have one less entry in the context menue

@ remus:

I even assigned a keyboard shortcut to "Delete all Guides" honestly, I use it all the time, cause I use guides quite often during modelling process.

2 point perspective is very useful to get all vertical lines parallel. thats how you should present images of buildings ideally, unless the perspective effect is a particular desing element. you will find most images of architecture photographers corrected in post-pro to have all verticals aligned.

I used to correct my SketchUp exports in photoshop until I realised there is a 2 point perspective available

about photo match: I HATE it! I try to use it every now and then to match an existing model to a photo. I allways end up using the photo as a watermark and roughly aligning the view, because photo match failed me again (perhaps I simply don't know how to use it properly though)

oh, and kwistenbiebel is right. you should start using layers. the satisfaction of switching off the roof or outer walls or all the trees - in a perfectly structured model - is something wonderful

david_h · 8 Sept 2008, 14:51

It mostly has to do with what uses SU for. Since I model for other types of presentation I rarely use the STYLES--especially the preloaded color ones. UGH!!!! I can't imagine a situation where anyone would use them. . .

Jitters & Extensions
DIMS AND TEXT. .once in a while
LAYOUT!!!! Needs more work
OUTLINER. . .unitl it works better with editing and Hiding Nested objects, I have no use for it.
SANDBOX. . .rarely--but its okay

I have about 975,000 plugins and I think I use about 7.

Anssi · 8 Sept 2008, 15:47

I have a collection of a zillion components, and I almost never use them, the same with Rubies, except about three.
Styles
Inches
Export file formats except JPG, PDF and DWG
Dimensions very seldom.
I never need an area in square millimeters-square meters would be good (when using mm as the model unit)
I have toyed with Fog about two times, and Layout about the same.
Animation-it generally just distracts people or makes them seasick.

Anssi

remus · 8 Sept 2008, 20:45

Plot, im not arguing that these arent all useful features, its just that i dont have any need for them the vast majority of the time.

Layers for example, when ive needed them they are really good, but i just dont need to use them most of the time, so i dont bother.

kwistenbiebel · 8 Sept 2008, 20:49

I forgot 'Da' least used function of SU (for me).
For sale, as it is never used: Layout !

As a note: If someone would be smart enough to pop the 'most used' features question, I'll have my answer ready: "Ctrl-Z" and "Ctrl-S" for sure

david. · 9 Sept 2008, 01:20

I also wonder why "Flip Along" would get least used, since I use it quite a lot for mirroring. It doesn't get much easier if that's what you're trying to do. That's my favorite way to create objects that have symmetry (ie, draw half, then select, move/copy, flip).

As for my least used, there are many that I don't use much. But, of the standard tools, I don't use Freehand that much.

david_h · 2 Apr 2009, 19:17

Maybe this post should get moved to the Ruby Forum. I have brought this up before but It didn't get much play, but my all time favorite wish for just the improvement of my Sketchup workflow would be to be able to use the outliner to be able to view a nested compoenent and its parent but still have the rest of the model hidden. I know thru outliner you can do something like it but it seems laborious as Plot expalined at one time and it really doesnt get me where I wanna be. To able to Move up or down the heirarchical tree and edit as I please but only showing the next parent up or 2 generations or 3 depending on how I toggle it. And it should be some kind of easy toggle. Am I comin' thru here? is there something I just don't know how to do taht all you guys can do? Tell me. . .I want to know. . .

Daniel · 3 Apr 2009, 19:48

Imperial and metric units are not so much functions as they are settings, so I wouldn't include them. For me, the least (as in never) used functions would be:
polygon
fog (although I can see where it might be useful)
walkthrough
outliner

PKast · 4 Apr 2009, 01:34

Until I heard it mentioned above I didn't know what my least used tool was. The mention of "freehand" set my light bulbs off. I don't think I have ever used it except once to play around with. After that fog, and outliner, but I do like fog and I do not wish it to go away.