Noob seeks advice - starting point re: Text Tables in Grids

jrandell

Hi,

I am doing a series of training videos on the subject of data structure and am looking at using Sketchup.

I am overwhelmed by how much is out there in the way of templates, plugins, etc. I am concerned that what I want to do has already been thoroughly fleshed out, and that maybe documentation and examples are already out there (but flying under my radar).

I am specifically interested in showing data tables, pulling apart rows and columns, and showing intersections and joins.

I think just stacking cubes should be easy enough, but I would like to have the cubes (data cells) display data. Typing text into 3d boxes, for dozens (or hundreds) of rows and columns seems daunting, and I wounder if data can be imported into a 3d grid.

well, I think you get the idea.
I am not looking for any free consulting, but wondering if anyone knows of any resources (documentation, plugins, templates, etc) which I might want to check out before starting from scratch.

with great appreciation for any info you might offer,
-Jim

(www.linkedin.com)

[mod=:rdvq0pie]edited to remove phone number.[/mod:rdvq0pie]

pbacot

Do you have an example of what your end product will be? I wonder if SketchUp is the correct software.

jrandell

Thank for you help. Here is a QuickTime which crudely demonstrates what I'm getting after, using the Firefox Inspect Element: 3d Feature.
http://jimrandell.com/screenshots/3d_data_table_720p.mov
(this is arbitrarily created data, this is not a list of real people)

driven

first thought,
create an image from your date file and use it as a texture...

john

jrandell

thanks John, but if I did that would I be able to pull apart columns and/or lines, as if they were legos? Thats what I want to do, to demo how data is structured.

driven

this is what I was thinking,

text as paint... quick test

driven

here's the skp...
here's the skp as well
if your not seeing the attachment let me know here...

jrandell

@driven said:

here's the skp...
[attachment=0:jdgfsdyo]cvs_model.skp[/attachment:jdgfsdyo]
if your not seeing the attachment let me know here...

WOW, THANKS!
I opened it in sketchup and it sure looks like what I want.

I am so grateful, I almost hate to ask this, but can tell me the name of the feature(s), techniques, and anything else I can search on. so I can read up on it.

If I can find my way to the right documentation, I think I'm good to go from here.

Thanks Again (!!!)
-Jim

driven

post a representative sample of your csv file and I'll make a short tutorial...

basic are:

create an image from your data - open your data >> Print >> save as PDF >> open in Preview >> export Tiff .

in SU - draw a rectangle same digits as your image pixels [ i.e. 430, 660 in Measurements box ] >> 'push/pull' a little

open Materials >> Color >> New Texture and import your Tiff >> Paint the face

use 'line tool' to divide your face [ you can use others as well ]

push/pull your amounts...

john