A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

thelt · 8 Apr 2009, 14:56

Hi all, I'm Frank and am learning SketchUp. I use it to design woodworking projects that I want to build. I've design about four pieces so far and struggled through them. Looking to learn shortcuts and tips on the use of SU.

remus · 9 Apr 2009, 07:14

Hi frank Have you been using groups for your projects so far? if not theyre a very quick way to simplify the process of modelling.

Gaieus · 9 Apr 2009, 07:26

Hi Frank and welcome!

@thelt said:

I use it to design woodworking projects that I want to build.

That's cool. SU is particularly useful in woodworking. I have subscribed you to our Woodworking forum now so that you can access it when logged in, too.

@remus said:

Have you been using groups for your projects so far?

Groups or components?

Ghostbear · 13 Apr 2009, 12:44

Greetings Folks,

My name is Marc. Just stumbled on this site which is full of potential. I am an old AutoCAD user. (v12) I used it in my career in the USAF, which I spent 17yrs of my life. I'm brand new to SU and have barely loaded it up as yet.

Question for Admin: I seem not to be able to view attached files for some reason. I was in Ruby forum and trying to DL some free plugins. I'm sure it's just a permissions thing. Any way I hope to learn alot from the forum.

Cheers,
Marc

Gaieus · 13 Apr 2009, 13:04

Hi Marc and welcome.

When you are logged in, you should be able to see/download any of the attachments. Make sure (I mean double check) to be logged in because in rare occasions, the forum software logs some people out for some unknown reasons. Please, let me know if this still persists.

stardog88 · 13 Apr 2009, 15:39

Hi im new to the site i have sketchup 7 and im am having trouble with getting podium 1.6.1 started. im now on my laptop which has xp and my home computer has vista. any help out there much needed.

Gaieus · 13 Apr 2009, 17:37

Welcome Dor and nice to see you dropping by to say hello.

Best would be however to post your specific Podium question in the "Extensions " forum where I'm sure it would receive more attention than "buried" in this long topic here.

dcoop58 · 13 Apr 2009, 19:06

Hi, just joined the group!
Been using the free version for awhile, just installed V7 pro.

Started using SliceModeler 1.4 to make physical models....

remus · 13 Apr 2009, 20:22

Hi david. Those physical models sound rather intriguing, howd you go about cutting out the slices after youve cut up the SU model? Is it a case of printing out templates and using them to cut your slices or have you found a more elegant solution?

johnmw1 · 13 Apr 2009, 23:31

Hi,
Just passing through and having a look around. Not too sure if this is what I'm looking for or not. I have a small assignment I have to complete for college which asks for a sketch layout of an isolated campsite. It has to take into consideration environmental and safety issues and how I would lay the camp out etc. I'm guessing that no one else in my class would have thought of using this option, and I'm sure or hoping it would help with my grading also.

Now I'm guessing all that is really required is just a plain line drawing, and I was considering letting my 9yr old daughter draw it for me as I have absolutely no drawing skills whatsoever. Then it dawned on me in the middle of the night that there are programmes such as these, but whoa I can see that I'm already out of my depth and that there maybe quite a steep learning curve just to achieve a very simple drawing.

My biggest hurdle is simply time, I just don't have the time to take on something else to learn, I'm totally crammed now.

Is this the right type of programme for me, or is there something else out there?

Cheers
John

remus · 14 Apr 2009, 08:21

Sounds like sketchup is the programme for you, it's learning curve is relatively shallow

Feel free to start a thread if you need any specific help.

jcharltoncarp · 14 Apr 2009, 14:51

Hi,

My name is John. I've been taking advantage of the current economic down turn, to, amongst other things learn Sketchup. The reason I joined the forum is my interest in Fredo's amazing freescale tool. I'm using a Mac running Leopard and have been unable to install the downloads correctly in my plugins folder. I was wondering if someone could post a screen shot of the folder hierarchy properly installed? I have been following the posts on the Ruby forum and have tried several ways to do the installation, but no joy. All suggestions gratefully accepted.

Thanks John

Gaieus · 14 Apr 2009, 20:32

Hi John and welcome. Unfortunately I don't know the ins and outs of the Mac but I'm sure someone will be able to give a hand. Did you also post your question in the Runy forum?

johnmw1 · 14 Apr 2009, 20:39

@remus said:

Sounds like sketchup is the programme for you, it's learning curve is relatively shallow

Feel free to start a thread if you need any specific help.

Hi Remus,
Yes I probably will have to ask for lots of help. I guess the first question is where do I start, or how do I start?

Cheers
John

Gaieus · 14 Apr 2009, 20:44

Hi John,

"Stuck" up to the top of this forum is the "Getting started " topic. There there are links to various resources to video tutorials, the SU manual etc.

They are great places to start at (however back a fe years ago, when I started, I just started with doodling around and only went to the resources when I found out that SU may know more than I can imagine).

johnmw1 · 14 Apr 2009, 20:59

@gaieus said:

Hi John,

"Stuck" up to the top of this forum is the "Getting started " topic. There there are links to various resources to video tutorials, the SU manual etc.

They are great places to start at (however back a fe years ago, when I started, I just started with doodling around and only went to the resources when I found out that SU may know more than I can imagine).

Hi Gai,

Thanks for that, I was just having a quick look around, and now I'm beginning to think if this is really what I'm trying to do. Basically all I want is a plan drawing of a campsite with some trees scattered around, a campfire, a caravan, an outhouse, and an area for 3 4WD vehicles plus a few other bits and pieces added to it all to make it look like a remote campsite. Something that I will be able to print out and present as part of my assignment. I just feel I'm getting over my head for the so little time that I have.

But I will go and have a look at getting started as you suggested and see what I can come up with.

Cheers
John

Gaieus · 14 Apr 2009, 21:14

If you only want to "shovel" a couple of items like that together, you may want to ahe a look at the 3D Warehouse , download the necessary models and arrange them around. There are all the trees, campfires, tents, caravans, vehicles there...

johnmw1 · 14 Apr 2009, 21:24

@gaieus said:

If you only want to "shovel" a couple of items like that together, you may want to ahe a look at the 3D Warehouse , download the necessary models and arrange them around. There are all the trees, campfires, tents, caravans, vehicles there...

Thanks Gai, I shall go and have a look straight away, and yes I think you're right, I just want to put a few things together so I can get this assignment going.

Cheers
John

johnmw1 · 14 Apr 2009, 22:02

Just had a look at 3D Warehouse, also D/L SU7, had a very quick play and also D/L a 3D caravan, but that's where I have got lost, I don't know how to scale it down etc etc,

Cheers
John

Gaieus · 14 Apr 2009, 22:08

Why would you want to scale it down? Most probably (unless you are very unlucky),it is to-scale; i.e. 1:1.
Note that this is a virtual world so there's no reason to scale down/up anything (with rare exceptions not worth mentioning here) if you can work "in real world scale". Otherwise we would always find out what the original scale was and need to scale everything all the time.

How about zooming out with the scroll wheel instead?