A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

merlin7777777 · 13 May 2011, 12:07

I think i must have a different problem - i can't actually see the zip file in explorer. I can see the .rb file though.

Any thoughts?

mitcorb · 14 May 2011, 03:54

Well, that is odd to me. You show that you are using Vista OS. I cannot imagine it being any different than xp, unless perhaps you have some permissions setting issues? I am guessing here. Or it is somehow redirecting to the wrong destination? Check your destination/ path before committing the "save to". Should be eg c>programfiles>Google>Sketchup8>Plugins. Or you can plop it on desktop. Rightclicking on the zip the flyout says eg winzip>extract to, or extract to here. Or if you open the zip extractor program console, check your path/destination within that to be sure its not sending to fred over in dumbflat, or somewhere.

Occasionally, I have had a condition where connection dropouts or server hiccups will show the target file as filename.php, instead of .zip or .rb or .rbs But that would not allow you to download or deploy, and you certainly would not see the rb file.

Anybody else? I am stumped. Of course it don't take much.

merlin7777777 · 14 May 2011, 19:06

When I downloaded models I put them in the resources subfolder by mistake. When I went to windows explorer to move them into the compnents folder they didn't show up. I assumed they hadn't downloaded but when i tried again and the save dialog came up... there they were. What am I doing wrong with explorer? (vista and

i think this is related to the problem i posted earlier about zip files not showing up i.e. an explorer problem rather than a download or sketchup issue.

TIG · 14 May 2011, 20:14

You should download the zip file NOT open it or extract it!
The zip contains this file and a subfolder Put the file and subfolder into the Plugins folder.,,
Restart Sketchup an look in the Plugins menu, perhaps under the 'clf tools' submenu - depending on want other clf tools you have loading...

merlin7777777 · 14 May 2011, 20:51

Thanks for this TIG but i'm still not quite with you.

I have only downloaded the file that's on offer to the plugins folder which is a zip file. when i go to explorer to unzip it there's nothing visible for me to unzip anyway.

do you mean that i should download the zip to the plugins folder then restart SU and it'll do the extraction itself?

Sorry to be thick...

bupaje · 14 May 2011, 21:10

Try downloading another zip

Here is a 1 mb zip file on my site with 2 textures
http://stormvisions.com//modules/download_gallery/dlc.php?file=36&id=1251519768

see if you can extract the 2 image files. If not it may be that it is a file association issue - if you can take a screen shot of the page that results that might help as well.

merlin7777777 · 14 May 2011, 22:05

ok - i clicked on the link and the open/save dialogue came up or textures082809.zip.
I saved it to the plugins folder and during this process i could see all the files i've saved there.
i went to this folder in explorer and i can't see these files.
i used 7-zip and i could see your 'textures' folder and the wood and soil textures within it. however when i looked back in explorer the folder can't be seen (I did refresh).
I tried moving one of the jpgs to the plugins folder thinking a jpg is bound to show up but this jpg doesn't show either in explorer in the plugins folder or even if i search on the filename for it.
i'm mystified.

merlin7777777 · 14 May 2011, 22:08

in fact, no files show up in explorer in the plugins apart from the ones that originally installed with sketchup!

bupaje · 14 May 2011, 23:23

Use these settings to temporarily show hidden files and folders (you'll want to change this setting back when you are done with this test).

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Then see if the files now show. If they do right click on them and select properties and see if the 'Hidden' check box is checked. If it is then either there is some weird Vista error (do you regularly apply updates?) or you may have a virus (do you have anitvirus/anti malware and practice safe computing?).

If it is a Vista problem there are several good places to ask questions. The above referenced link is one and the Leoville forums another.

http://towncommons.twit.tv/

TIG · 15 May 2011, 10:13

A zip file is a file containing data that can be used to rebuild files and folders that have had their data compressed into this special format.
When you open a zip file in your zip/unzip program it will display a window showing files and subfolders within it, BUT at that point it has NOT extracted these files - it's simply showing what's in it and what COULD be extracted.
Most zip/unzip programs have obvious options to 'extract' their contents - perhaps by a button or file item on this window displaying the contents [you might have to select the contents displayed in the window first] - then usually you are then prompted for a destination for the extracted files/folders, which is usually a new folder named after the zip itself, located on your Desktop or some other location you have set in the program's preferences. Many programs allow you to select all of the zip-file's contents in this display-window and drag+drop them somewhere else - like Plugins... Many such programs also have a right-click context-menu to extract the contents of a selected zip-file. Once you have got all of the files/folders extracted relocate them into the Plugins folder in the Sketchup folder. Files that are loose in the original zip-file go directly into the Plugins folder, folders of files within the zip-file are put unchanged into the Plugins folder, as these files need to be inside their predefined subfolders for them to work... You do NOT put the zip file into Plugins and hope it magically fixes itself... please read the installation instructions provided with a downloaded tool AND the general post on manipulating zip-files... You seem to be making this more difficult that it is, or needs to be

rlcgrn · 16 May 2011, 05:26

Just saying "Hello" as a new "noobie". I'd really like to learn to use SketchUp at a reasonable proficiency and use some of the hacks I've come across to convert SketchUp drawings to .dxf format for use at my company. I'm running Sketchup 8 with WINE on Ubuntu and am not what you'd consider computer savvy, so it's been a huge learning curve all around. I'm currently working on a design for a tomahawk I plan to have produced as an initial entrepreneurial endeavor; I also have some initial designs for some other products, but I find getting the results I want are cumbersome with my limited knowledge so far of SketchUp, so it's all about finding tutorials for me to learn from.
Thanks in advance for all the resources here!

PauloFlatland · 16 May 2011, 07:09

Hi Everyone..

Im Paulo Gepulango from philippines.. a new member of this forum.. just want to ask if how can i render my drawing with thick shadow? or and what is your advice on this drawing? heres my previous render.. thank everyone..

cheers!!!!

Gaieus · 16 May 2011, 07:40

Hi Galt and Paulo and welcome!

Galt; whenever you have any particular question, do not hesitate to ask. There are some folks with quite some experience with Linux here (not myself though...)

Paulo; and what are you using for rendering?

mitcorb · 16 May 2011, 11:19

@Galt:
Welcome. There are tutorials available here in this Forum. You may also find the series of tutorials by Aidan Chopra helpful. They are posted on YouTube. Google has a series of tutorials, too. Enjoy your journey.

PauloFlatland · 16 May 2011, 14:57

@gaieus said:

Hi Galt and Paulo and welcome!

Galt; whenever you have any particular question, do not hesitate to ask. There are some folks with quite some experience with Linux here (not myself though...)

Paulo; and what are you using for rendering?

Thank you sir.. i am using sketch-up pro 8 and vray 6 for rendering.. i know that i am amature to this any tips sir?

Gaieus · 16 May 2011, 15:21

@pauloflatland said:

...any tips sir?

Well, since I do not use V-ray myself, my "best" tip is to scroll down on the main forum index and post your V-ray problem in our special V-ray subforum under the Extensions... main forum:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewforum.php?f=322

PauloFlatland · 16 May 2011, 15:27

@gaieus said:

@pauloflatland said:

...any tips sir?

Well, since I do not use V-ray myself, my "best" tip is to scroll down on the main forum index and post your V-ray problem in our special V-ray subforum under the Extensions... main forum:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewforum.php?f=322

oh ok sir.. thank you so much.. ill go tour around this site for any help tips..

cheers!!!!!

Gaieus · 18 May 2011, 10:00

@greenbelt said:

Hope this helps other Newbies like me. Could a forum member (me?) edit someone else's post to add the updated link? Is that allowed?

No way. Imagine hat would happen if members started to edit each other's posts!

greenbelt · 18 May 2011, 10:25

Hi. Decided to spend this morning re-reading some forums and tutorials. I was having trouble with finding Materials/Textures and am still learning. Found an old link in this post %(#0000FF)[**
@unknownuser said:

**.] - here is the new link.

http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=94956
Sketchup User's Guide - Paint Bucket Tool

Hope this helps other Newbies like me. Could a forum member (me?) edit someone else's post to add the updated link? Is that allowed? Or is this way better?

P.S. Answered my own question. Cannot edit other posts. Here is a link to a list of textures elsewhere on the forums.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=486
I am still a little confused about adding my own textures.

One way is to go on-line and copy images from the web (mindful of copyrights, etc.). I use IrfanView. I save these jpgs in an organized set of folders with my other Sketchup Stuff. Then using File -> Import dialogue window, I browse over to my previously saved jpg file and open it. In Sketchup, my curser becomes a paintbucket and I'd better have a face ready to paint or I have to do it again. (annoying)
Second way that sometimes works is to use the Window -> Materials dialogue -> Open or Create Collection. Again I browse to where I keep my collection of textures. But this time I can only open a folder/directory containing .skp files. I cannot go to one specific jpg file nor can I successfully open a folder containing jpg files.

So more experienced users out there... am I doing this correctly. Is there a better way?

FYI: Learned something new at one of the about listed sites for textures. Creating textures to be used on models is an art in itself. hoo neeoow (who knew?) (my old Wisconsin accent) There are issues regarding tiling etc. Amazing!

Thanks for reading and answering my doubts.

justinplunkett · 20 May 2011, 08:48

Hi everyone.
I'm an illustrator and often use SU for my work, love it. I also use SU-podium for my rendering. Thanks for the plug-ins - have tried out a couple and will try out some more.
Cheers
Justin
http://www.justinplunkett.com