Fractured 2-D Surfaces on Large Files

[rubytuesdaytexas]

Dear Group:

Invariably and without exception when a I build a large complex file, I find that some of the two dimensional surfaces, such as floors, will begin to fracture, forming multiple entities adhering to each other but without bounding lines or boundaries. This is very annoying. As you try to select one surface, for example in order to paint it, the selection yields only a portion of, what used to be, the surface. Has anyone encountered this problem?

I made sure that all my surface entities belong to the same layer and fall on the same elevation (as much as possible) but still I have a surface made up of a number of fractured entities all falling on the same elevation. Very very frustrating. Please help help!!!

[Jean Lemire]

Hi Rubytuesdaytexas, hi folks.

First, layers, in SketchUp (SU), are not meant to separate geometries. They are only used to control the visibily of geoemetries.

Secondly, if a face is fractured, it may be caused by quite a few possibilities.

One frequent problem is when one moves an endpoint inadvertently and cause this endpoint to loose its coplanarity with the other endpoints on the same face. The Autofold feature of SU kicks in and triangulates the surface so that this endpoint is still attached to the others. The result, however, is not very good. Show hidden geometry to see that.

If you can post a SU file it would help in visualising your problem.

Just ideas.

[EscapeArtist]

I must admit I have had a similar difficulty. It's always on a large and complex file and it causes no end of frustration, usually resulting in misaligned edges or verticies early in the project that aren't found until later in the project. By then the damage is done and the work takes forever to repair or redo. I wish I could blame some SU glitch, but I'm afraid it's likely my fault for the reasons Jean says.

I get around it by making the base geometry I'm working with a component. That way I can use it as a "work surface", and there is almost no risk that I will accidentally change the geometry while working on the rest of the project.

Don't know if this helps, but I feel your frustration!