[Plugin] 1001bit Tools - Architectural tools for SketchUp

gohch

I haven't tried Chief Architect and Revit; however looking from the videos, they are standalone applications. I've heard that Revit is really good by the way...
Working as standalone application has its advantages because you are in total control of how users use the model, and you do not have to make room to capture things that are not created by your application. This allows you to integrate a lot of functions because you can be sure that all entities created/imported by your application has been properly 'prepared' and their associated parameters properly indexed and stored.
The downside is, you had better have a good team developing this because you will need to have almost everything an architect needs to use ready all by yourself.

Opposite of that are plugins, which handles only specific functions. Because of that nature, and that you cannot possibly be the single source to solve all users' need, a good plugin should (IMHO) be very clear on how it is intended to fit into a working environment where the users may very well have other plugins by other ppl installed. In my mind you should keep everything as open and neutral so that it is easy for others to pick up the model and continue working on it with some other plugins. This is the main reason i have been hesitant to assign material, or layers or adding attributes to the groups created using 1001bit tools. I do have plan to allow users the options to define layers in future; but that will only be on preference basis, not a rigid requirement.

I hope i haven't bored anyone to death yet....

bagatelo

Ok, I understand. Each side has their advantages and disadvantages.
I will post here in this topic some ideas that I have growing i my mind about your plugins.

Possibility to create and to save presets of tools. Possibility to export and import these presets.
Possibility to see in real time the alterations in the controls of the tool. It would be as the controls of tools of the photoshop, that allow to see in real time which will be the result of the taken action.
Possibility to edit the created objects.
I can translate your plugin to portuguese.
Possibilities to create grooves in angles, not just in the horizontal. Sometimes that I need to create Grooves in the vertical. Sometimes I need to create grooves in X.

For now is enough. Cheers

Elibjr

WOW Goh, this is really useful now. Thank you for such a great plugin!

@unknownuser said:

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

1001bit version 1.1.7 update is now ready for download!
http://www.1001bit.com/v1.1/download_registration_v1.1.shtml

3 new tools are added into this update:

Rectangular grille tools: convert edges into rectangular sections.

Circular grille tools: convert edges into circular sections.

both the grille tools only create grilles on a common plane defined by the first 3 points it finds from the selection.
any edges that are not on the plane will be projected onto the plane.

Extrude while maintaining tapering effect.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas, and all the best in the coming year!

[flash=][/flash] Now I can go from this ...

..to this...

...and combine it with Fredoscale and get this! Thank you!

gohch

hi Elibjr,
wow, that's some nice work there!

Someone asked me about creating standing seams for the roof of irregular shape.
I used the roof tool, set the rafter width to 5mm, height to 20mm and distance to 200mm and uncheck the batten/purlin
and here's the result with a single click:
standing seam created using roof (very tiny rafters)

Elibjr

That's great thinking Goh. Now I have a quick wat to create a standing seam metal roof! I have really appreciated the "modify selected vertex on entity" tool. It's great when you want to edit an irregular object one node at a time to get the exact shape. The "create screen" is truly my favorite for creating a simple continuous ceiling grid with ceiling panels. Thanks again.
EBell.

gohch

We've just launched 1001bit pro, and inside there's a metal deck tool which can be used to generate corrugated sheets, metal decks as well as standing seams

Take a look at the userguides on the tools in the Pro version at
http://www.1001bit.com/pro/userguide.html

onetoughkooky

Hi Goh! I'm a SketchUcation n00b and I just discovered your toolset. AMAZING!!!

I have one question though, I'm trying create louvers for a curved surface (since my building is curved and I'm putting the louvers on its south-facing wall). Right now I'm playing around with "View Hidden Geometry" and then generating the louvers on a per-surface basis, but it's taking me quite some time and doesn't look very clean. Is there any way to generate the louvers (both horizontal and vertical) from a curved surface?

gohch

hi,
I'm afraid there is currently no single function to generate louvres on a curved surface. What i would do, would be to use combination of 'extrude along sloping path' and 'linear array'
Step 1: select the path (can be different edges, but has to be connected)
Step 2: create a face on x y plane to define the profile of the louvre.
Step 3: use the 'extrude along sloping path tool'

Step 4: select the created louvre then use the 'linear array' tool to create multiple louvres

cheers!

gohch

hi everyone,
Haven't been doing much programming for the past few months... my day job has been getting quite crazy lately.
Anyway, I managed to work on the Panel Divide tool.
Previous version has issues of either conflict or simply unstable.
I have re-written the tool, and was hoping that this version works better
(this is a patch for the Pro version by the way. Once i'm sure that this is ok, i will write another for the standard version.)
Just replace the paneldivide.rbs file in your 1001bit_pro folder with this one.
Thanks and cheers!
Goh

paneldivide(16-Apr-11)_patch.zip

ken

Sir

How do I tell what version of your software I am using. The latest version is 1.1.7 however as you can see, that is not what the info screen shows.

Ken

ScreenHunter_01 Apr. 29 11.40.jpg

gohch

Ooops
I have not been updating that version information!!!
(just uploaded the corrected zip file);
the info should show version 1.2 if your installed with the latest zip file (from the above link)

Sorry for the confusion
GohCH

ken

@unknownuser said:

Ooops
I have not been updating that version information!!!
(just uploaded the corrected zip file);
the info should show version 1.2 if your installed with the latest zip file (from the above link)

Sorry for the confusion
GohCH

OK, I have tried to download Version 1.2. And again, I have now 30 day trial version has expired. And when I send in for another authorization number, I get that two authorization numbers have already been issued for this computer. Dam right, apparently I need a new number every time you upgrade the software. YOU HAVE THE LEAST UNDERSTANDABLE UPGRADE PROCEDURE THAT I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH.

So, one can not determine which version he has on his computer, because you don't keep track of the upgrades in the license info box, and when I do upgrade I have to go thought hoops to just get the software running again.

Dam, you have good software, just figure out how to do better with your license number. I went thought this not to long ago when I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7.

Pissed I am, Ken

It shouldn't be this hard to do an upgrade.

gohch

hi Ken,
My apology for this. I was trying to make the loading faster to by pass the command windows and there seems to be a bug there!
There's an incompatibility with some of the activation keys issued last year which i have just realised.
Sorry everyone, I am taking 1001bit Pro version 1.2 off for fixing for a few days.
will put it up for download when fix that bug.
Again Ken, really sorry about the inconvenience!

Goh

gohch

hi everyone,
Here's the patch for panel divider tool for
1001bit standard version:
paneldivide.rbs for 1001bit standard

and for 1001bit Pro
paneldivide.rbs for 1001bit PRO
(previous one has some bugs; please replace with this one)

on second thought, i recompiled all these into 1001bit Pro (v1.2); which also included the patch to
prevent the black command windows during loading and also speed up loading.
please download and try out from:
%(#FF0000)[Hi everyone, there's a bug on 1001bit Pro version 1.2 with activation keys issued in 2010!
I have taken the upgrade off for a few days to fix the bug.
Sorry for the inconvenience!]
comments, as usual, are always welcome!

cheers!
GohCH

ken

@unknownuser said:

hi Ken,
My apology for this. I was trying to make the loading faster to by pass the command windows and there seems to be a bug there!
There's an incompatibility with some of the activation keys issued last year which i have just realised.
Sorry everyone, I am taking 1001bit Pro version 1.2 off for fixing for a few days.
will put it up for download when fix that bug.
Again Ken, really sorry about the inconvenience!

Goh

Sir

Mr Hee let me apologize for my bad forum behavior. Guess I should have waited before sending the above note. To all forum members, Mr. Hee has sent me a new authorization code that works and has alway in the past responded quickly and in a helpful manner. Sir there was very little inconvenience, just frustrations in trying to keep a desktop and laptop in sync.

Again, let me thank you for you very useful plugins and your continued assistance.

Ken

gohch

Hi Ken,
Thanks and please do not apologize for anything.
I am really grateful that you raised a very important bug, as well as reminding me the importance of clarity and ease of use.
If not for your comments, there will be a lot more people having problem with the bug right now.
and, for every feedback on issues, there are always a lot more people who are frustrated with similar issues.

Thanks again, and thanks for sending me your old key for debugging.
I'll try to debug this so that we can get rid of the command window that seems to slow down the loading.

Cheers!
Goh C H

gohch

hi everyone,
I've just uploaded the debugged 1001bit Pro (version 1.2) for download.
http://www.1001bit.com/pro/download/1001bit_pro(v1.2).zip

The update contains the following:

panel divide tool (re-written, should work better)
startup loading; loads faster and should not show the black command dialog,
and also got rid of the request code.

Please try out
cheers!
Goh

thomthom

@unknownuser said:

hi everyone,
I've just uploaded the debugged 1001bit Pro (version 1.2) for download.
http://www.1001bit.com/pro/download/1001bit_pro(v1.2).zip

The update contains the following:

panel divide tool (re-written, should work better)

startup loading; loads faster and should not show the black command dialog,
and also got rid of the request code.

Please try out
cheers!
Goh

Cheers! I'll give it a whirl. I've come to the habit of having 1001bit disabled by default and only load on demand due to the load performance and flashing command windows. Now I might keep it enabled.

utiler

Thanks Goh, great stuff!!

gohch

hi everyone,
1001bit Pro Czech language pack is now available!

http://www.1001bit.com/discussions/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1131
Special thanks to Marek Raab for his hardwork and sharing!
(And he even translated the images!)