Need Advice About This Advice [Groups or Components?]

thomthom

@dave r said:

I've read comments about components cluttering up the In Model Components library. So what!? If you delete components and really don't need them back, purge unused. I run the Purge All plugin with a single keyboard shortcut which purges all unused stuff--and it purges unused components before purging unused materials so it takes care of all that, too.

It's not a matter about unused components. It a matter about unique objects that will never be repeated in the model being listed in the component browser.
For instance, if I have a few hundred unique buildings for a siteplan model I do not want them listed in my component browser. I want the component browser to list only the repeatable accessory object like cars, trees people etc. Often for a building I have a set of windows at different dimensions - I name the components according to specs to I can pick them from the list when I need to insert a new window - or replace one. Even just the useful components quickly pile up to a long list so I try hard to prune the list.

TIG

Jim made a tool to 'correct' the unexpected behavior of the Solid Pro Trim/Keep operations - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=356575#p356575
I agree that is should work as you've outlined for all of these tools, or at least offer the option on completion...

Dave R

Thomas, I appreciate your position. As I said at the beginning, I never tell anyone not to use groups. For my work, they just don't cut it. It's nice that SketchUp is flexible enough to allow different methods.

TIG, you're right. Jim's version of Trim is much more desirable. If the Google folks won't change the tools, I hope Jim will make the entire set.

TIG

Whether you use Groups or you use Components - the lesson is please, please, please, USE them!

Because Geometry sticking together when you want it to is great - it makes editing easier.
BUT Geometry sticking together when you DON'T want it to is pure pants!

So understand and use how Groups/Components will separate geometry.

Conversely, understand how Layers do NOT separate geometry, and that Layers are intended to control the visibility of geometry that is inside a Group/Instance by using a specific layer for the 'container' and NOT the 'contents'. Assigning Layers to 'raw' geometry is a speedy recipe for insanity...

JQL

I think the conclusion can be no other than... use components when you need them. Groups are better!

Dave R

@jql said:

I think the conclusion can be no other than... use components when you need them. Groups are better!

Let's agree to disagree on that.

cotty

@jql said:

I think the conclusion can be no other than... use components when you need them. Groups are better!

I hope you didn't need 987 days for this conclusion?

JQL

@cotty said:

@jql said:

I think the conclusion can be no other than... use components when you need them. Groups are better!

I hope you didn't need 987 days for this conclusion?

Ah! Unfortunately I just read this post yesterday!

Alas so much to learn, so little time!

I will use components someday this way... I... will... evolve! (it's just so dificult!)