[Plugin] SketchUpBIM: Building Modeling made easy!

thomthom

TIG, Thomthom, could you confirm if there are any problems?

I haven't used SketchUpBIM myself yet. Just noticed the query from the user when I moderated the post.

Does it extend of modify the core classes that comes with SketchUp? (I've written some notes on why this is unsafe: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/golden-rules-of-sketchup-plugin-development/ )

Does it make use of Observers? (I've tried to map out bugs and quirks with observers here: http://www.thomthom.net/software/sketchup/observers/)
If it does make use of observers, what does it do? Does it just monitor, or does it attempt to make changes to the model? The Google developers has mentioned that modifying the model on observer events can very likely cause unforeseen issues.

SUFractal

@d_e_x said:

SketchUpBIM, Instant Roof, and SectionCutFace put together - are working fine. I did not notice any crashes or any other issues. I have tested this on Windows 7, 64 Bits. Next, I am going to try this on the Mac. At this point, NO ISSUES HAVE BEEN FOUND.

In the attached screen-shot, SketchUpBIM elements (columns, walls etc.) are working fine with a "Barn Gambrel" roof from Chuck Vali's Instant Roof and a cyan colored section cut from TIG's 'SectionCutFace'.

[attachment=0:r3r61rfx]SBIM_SectionCut_InstantRoof.png[/attachment:r3r61rfx]

TIG, Thomthom, could you confirm if there are any problems?

Also, the SketchUpBIM plugin has been tested with SuPodium, and Ledas Driving Dimensions, and no issues have been found. If there is anything, then it might be platform specific; or is related to other softwares and/or privileges on some specific computers. (random hunch!)

d_e_x:

TIG and TT suggested that I try upgrading to a newer version of SU (Version 8.0.11751) ... which I have done. That seems to solve the problem with the other plugins.

I'm embarrassed that I didn't think to check that first.

Keep up the good work ... looking forward to using your great tool again.

Thanks!

pjdorger

wow looks awesome

d_e_x

Hi All,

The appended blog talks about the common support issues related to the installation and first-use of SketchUpBIM.

http://sketchupbim.blogspot.in/

Hope it helps the community
Dex

brookefox

Thank you, d_e_x, for sharing this set of integrated tools.

Any plans for wall intersection corner clean-up?

eccowboy

I tried downloading SUBim, but when I was done the plugin wasn't in my SU toolbar,
I'm working in pro7, does this plugin only work with Pro8.

Thanks....

brookefox

You checked the install and can verify that the plug and the folder are in the plug directory?

TIG

Assuming you do have the files/subfolder+files properly in Plugins [and not some 'compatibility files' location because you don't have 'full' properties>security-permissions to the destination folder]...
then have you checked to see if it's an Extension that needs a one time activation from Menu > Window > Preferences > Extensions, and if so perhaps a one time activation of its Toolbar from Menu > View > Toolbars ?
If none of this works... have you tried using the tool's own web site? where they have a support page and tutorial pages, or even try a PM to the author here...

d_e_x

@eccowboy said:

I tried downloading SUBim, but when I was done the plugin wasn't in my SU toolbar,
I'm working in pro7, does this plugin only work with Pro8.

Thanks....

Eccowboy,

SketchUpBIM works with SketchUp 7 and 8, both Free and Pro Versions.

Please browse to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins"
on your computer, and see if the following files exist inside this folder: (i) SketchUpBIM.rbs file (ii) SketchUpBIM sub-folder. If not, then please re-install the software using the installation file. If you still cannot see the SketchUpBIM files even after re-installation, then you might not have admin privileges to install softwares into your "Program Files" folder or you might have multiple versions of SketchUp installed on your computer. If this is the case, please send me an email at support@sketchupbim.com. I can send you a link to the zip package of the plug-in (otherwise discouraged to facilitate installation upgrades). The zip package can be easily un-zipped, and the files can be copied to the SketchUp plug-ins folder.

d_e_x

@brookefox said:

Thank you, d_e_x, for sharing this set of integrated tools.
Any plans for wall intersection corner clean-up?

Hi Brookefox,

clean-up of wall corners, and other intersections has been requested by a number of users. it's on our list of things-to-do. Hopefully, we'll do so in one our future releases. I will notify as and when it is added to SketchUpBIM.

Dex

etong

Hi,

Tried to make this plug-in work but I really can't.
I already reinstalled my SUPro 8.0.3117 to scratch, installed only SUBIM as plugin but still no luck.
Running in Win7 64bit.
I have SketchUpBIM.rbs and subfolder SketchUpBIM in my Plug-in Folder.
Also did Preferences/Extensions but didn't find any SketchUpBIM there... I only have: Ruby Script Examples, Ocean Modeling, Utilities Tools, Dynamic Components, Sandbox Tools, Solar North Toolbar, Photo Textures as choices.
I just dunno what else to do now.

thomthom

@etong said:

SUPro 8.0.3117

I recommend you update to the latest service release of SU8 - got lots of bug fixes.

As for the plugin, can you post a screenshot of your plugin folder?

etong

@thomthom said:

@etong said:

SUPro 8.0.3117

I recommend you update to the latest service release of SU8 - got lots of bug fixes.

As for the plugin, can you post a screenshot of your plugin folder?

Ok, already downloaded the latest SU. Unfortunately still the same issue.

Here's my Screenshot of my SU8 Plugins Folder

Folders:

Examples
Ocean
SketchUpBIM
SU_Podium_V2
Utilities

Ruby Scripts:

examples.rb
ocean_extension.rb
SketchUpBIM.rbs
SU_Podium_Browser.rbs
SU_Podium_V2.rbs
SU_Podium_V2_Render_All.rbs
utilities.rb

Didn't made a screenshot as there's only a few of ruby plug-ins as I am trying to eliminate the probable rb in conflict with SUBIM.

Thanks!

micione

SketchupBIM not allow "LightUp" to work well. It seems that the conflict concerns the layers. Has anyone noticed this problem?

Pixero

@micione said:

SketchupBIM not allow "LightUp" to work well. It seems that the conflict concerns the layers. Has anyone noticed this problem?

Yes, this was the reason I uninstalled SketchUpBIM.

micione

Thank you. I uninstalled. pity ...

d_e_x

@micione said:

SketchupBIM not allow "LightUp" to work well. It seems that the conflict concerns the layers. Has anyone noticed this problem?

@pixero said:

Yes, this was the reason I uninstalled SketchUpBIM.

Hi Micione, Pixero,

LightUp / SketchUpBIM conflict has been reported by some other users as well. We will investigate this issue, and get in touch with the LightUp team to fix this issue. Apologies for the inconvenience. We'll have this fixed in the upcoming release.

Dex

etong

@etong said:

@thomthom said:

@etong said:

SUPro 8.0.3117

I recommend you update to the latest service release of SU8 - got lots of bug fixes.

As for the plugin, can you post a screenshot of your plugin folder?

Ok, already downloaded the latest SU. Unfortunately still the same issue.

Here's my Screenshot of my SU8 Plugins Folder

Folders:

Examples
Ocean
SketchUpBIM
SU_Podium_V2
Utilities

Ruby Scripts:

examples.rb
ocean_extension.rb
SketchUpBIM.rbs
SU_Podium_Browser.rbs
SU_Podium_V2.rbs
SU_Podium_V2_Render_All.rbs
utilities.rb

Didn't made a screenshot as there's only a few of ruby plug-ins as I am trying to eliminate the probable rb in conflict with SUBIM.

Thanks!

Still not working for me .

Ineshtine

@d_e_x said:

LightUp / SketchUpBIM conflict has been reported by some other users as well. We will investigate this issue, and get in touch with the LightUp team to fix this issue. Apologies for the inconvenience. We'll have this fixed in the upcoming release.

Dex

The problem is usually with your global variables. If you use $pluginDir = "c:/BIM" and another plugin uses $pluginDir = "c:/Other" then the last one who load will change the variable $pluginDir in all loaded plugins. So make sure you name your global variables accordingly. For example, use $bim_pluginDir instead of $pluginDir

thomthom

@ineshtine said:

The problem is usually with your global variables. If you use $pluginDir = "c:/BIM" and another plugin uses $pluginDir = "c:/Other" then the last one who load will change the variable $pluginDir in all loaded plugins. So make sure you name your global variables accordingly. For example, use $bim_pluginDir instead of $pluginDir

No - the best thing is to not use global variables! Ever! Play nice with the environment your plugin live in and wrap everything in your own unique namespace module. No global variables and no global methods or constants that gets added to the Object class and inherited throughout every other class.
I wrote down some guidelines for avoiding clashes with other plugins etc: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/golden-rules-of-sketchup-plugin-development/