SketchUp 7 frustrations

dale · 20 Feb 2009, 14:50

I was just wondering if anyone else is finding SU7 annoyingly unstable and frustrating. I have been using SketchUp since @Last version, I have all my Open GL settings set as per usual, and I'm using the same computers ( SU Pro 7 on mac G4 laptop, and 24" Imac )that housed V6.
My list of frustrations are:
Crashes frequently and during unrelated operations. (I can't remember the last time V6 crashed)
Everything drawn suddenly disappears from the screen. (usually after rotating or moving,
sometimes command Z will get it all back, sometimes I have to take it into xray etc and then return to whatever mode I was previously in..
Clips really badly. Sometimes so badly that I can't zoom in close enough to say, erase errant geometry.
If it doesn't clip then when trying to zoom in it zips well past the geometry I am working on and send me off into space.
I have a huge white square at the tip of my cursor (which looks lovely against that green background ) but serves to actually get in the way of seeing the geometry I'm trying to choose.
Oh, and did I mention crashes really frequently (Freudian slip, but I almost spelled cursor curser)
I have been looking for patches etc, but my software update tells me I'm using the current version.
I took a long time to purchase 7 as I was working on a large project that I felt I really couldn't afford to have any problems with, and guess what.
Are there any fixes that anyone can suggest, or is there anyone going through the same frustrations, I would love to hear.

PRSS · 20 Feb 2009, 14:59

Hi Dale

I have a strong feeling that it is a graphic card driver issue.

With best regards
PRSS

dale · 20 Feb 2009, 15:21

I can't understand why Su6 would function OK, but Su7 would have problems with the same drivers though.

solo · 20 Feb 2009, 16:09

If it's any conselation I too am experiancing a lot of crashes with version 7, to such an extent that I have reverted back to version 6, I will wait a little until the stability gets sorted out with an update before trying 7 again.
I also found v7 to be slightly slower than 6 and the component browser just plain sucks.

...still love SU however.

Gaieus · 20 Feb 2009, 18:07

Well, it's windows here (like with Pete) but I don't have any problem with SU 7 at all. In fact, to me it is definitely faster (especially with rubies) than SU 6.

There have been some problems with some Mac configurations afaik but cannot really remember the details.

dale · 20 Feb 2009, 18:37

@solo said:

If it's any conselation I too am experiancing a lot of crashes with version 7, to such an extent that I have reverted back to version 6, I will wait a little until the stability gets sorted out with an update before trying 7 again.
I also found v7 to be slightly slower than 6 and the component browser just plain sucks.

...still love SU however.

Well they will have to pry SU from my cold dead hands, but I'm thinking of following you back to SU6 which was absolutely reliable on my machines.
I wanted to add also that it is happening on big geometry models (sandbox 3D site plans), and small residential renders, file size seems not to matter.
I looked to see if my drivers were up to date, and apparently they are.

Chris Fullmer · 20 Feb 2009, 20:43

I have no issues with 7 on the 2 windows machines I work on (1 Vista, one XP). But I hear lots of people with strange things going on, so seems like there could be something screwy going on in there. Especially for Macs, they seem to have all the threads in the bug forum.

Chris

honoluludesktop · 20 Feb 2009, 21:30

In the jump from 6 to 7, production system, no problem; home system, graphic problems. Primary difference in machines are the graphic cards. In the home system, OK graphics in 6 became a problem in 7 (no driver update issued, but older chips so probably no support). In any case, for now, found a work around.

thomthom · 20 Feb 2009, 23:16

On XP/Vista/Windows7 the experience of going from SU6 to SU7 has been that it's more stable. Maybe it's an Mac issue. Maybe related to graphic card drivers available?

fossa · 21 Feb 2009, 00:40

I'm at about the 80% completion mark in my first real SU7 project, a small site plan showing the building on the lot, and will be rolling back to SU6 after it's done. Main, and so far the only real reason being the component browser losing it's back button. Good lord 'n' butter thats a headache to navigate thru now. Until its returned I'm in 6 to stay.

No graphic problems, no speed decrease or increase, no stability problems. Just $100 dollars to have the back button removed.

I hope that can be fixed with a patch.

Daniel · 21 Feb 2009, 01:00

I have SU7 on three computers (XP Pro) and have had no problems so far. But, I agree that they screwed up on the components browser.

dale · 21 Feb 2009, 15:01

Maybe this is a Mac issue then. It does seem strange to me that you would need a different driver or video card from one version to another.
I haven't had a chance to develop dynamic components yet, or work with the new layout, but I'm thinking that if I do my main drawing work in 6, I can always export to 7 and take advantage of Layout, which I used a lot in 6 for presentation work.
I love this software, and the best answer for me (and so as not to become a SketchUp whiner) is to drop back to 6.

remus · 21 Feb 2009, 15:13

@dale said:

Maybe this is a Mac issue then. It does seem strange to me that you would need a different driver or video card from one version to another.

it isnt really, if you know how openGL works.

openGL is basically a library of methods that can be called from a program to draw stuff on the screen. problems start happening when the program asks the video card to do something it doesnt know how to do, better known as a bad driver (i.e. it doesnt interpret the openGL correctly).

Relating this back to SU and your problems, if their have been any changes to the rendering pipeline in SU (what SU is asking the video card to do, and how it is asking it to do it) then this could cause your problems.

dale · 21 Feb 2009, 16:02

@remus said:

openGL is basically a library of methods that can be called from a program to draw stuff on the screen. problems start happening when the program asks the video card to do something it doesnt know how to do, better known as a bad driver (i.e. it doesnt interpret the openGL correctly).

Relating this back to SU and your problems, if their have been any changes to the rendering pipeline in SU (what SU is asking the video card to do, and how it is asking it to do it) then this could cause your problems.

Thanks for explanation. So other than than toggling hardware acceleration, texture size, and fast feedback, is there any way of perhaps updating the "library of methods" or other tweaks you can do to get a better communication between the software and open GL ? (probably really showing how naive I am on the subject )

remus · 21 Feb 2009, 16:07

Drivers are the main thing you can do, as theyre are the bit which takes the stuff from the programme and tell it to the graphics card.

Its worth trying past versions of drivers for your cards as well, as openGL support often changes between drivers (not always for the better.)

bellwells · 21 Feb 2009, 16:37

@remus said:

.....openGL is basically a library of methods that can be called from a program to draw stuff on the screen. problems start happening when the program asks the video card to do something it doesnt know how to do, better known as a bad driver (i.e. it doesnt interpret the openGL correctly).

Relating this back to SU and your problems, if their have been any changes to the rendering pipeline in SU (what SU is asking the video card to do, and how it is asking it to do it) then this could cause your problems.

Interesting, thanks. I think Google should address whether therewas in fact a change to the "rendering pipeline".

dale · 21 Feb 2009, 16:54

I gleaned the following from the open Gl site. I was pretty sure that openGL updates came with regular system and firmware downloads on a Mac, and it appears it does.Thought I would post so others don't have to go googling.

jrhartley · 19 Mar 2009, 15:11

yeah, just to echo the OPs comments re: instability of SU 7 on an alu imac. I'm really loving the massive white cursor square at the end of the pointer.
makes it SO easy to actually see what I'm doing against the white background....

back to SU 6 we go. Seems like a recurring theme of developers at the moment, release something that's useless as a purported 'update'

vista
leopard
vectorworks 2009
su7

guess its symptomatic of the world economy - if they think they can get away with it, they will try it on.

Chris Fullmer · 19 Mar 2009, 15:39

Generally the big wite cursor issue is a graphics issue. Try changing the setting within SU to turn off hardware acceleration or something like that. You might also update your drivers if Mac's let you do that kind of stuff.