SketchUp 2018 - first impressions

Dave R · 9 Dec 2017, 21:25

Still if rebuilding the engine is supposed to allow better performance, I wonder why it hasn't yet.

It actually has improved performance, though.

Bobmirdiff · 10 Dec 2017, 00:15

A quotation from an old Boss comes to mind. "How much do Microsoft and AutoDESK pay ME to Test-Drive their Software?" Trimble appear to be following the same route!

Dave R · 10 Dec 2017, 00:27

No one is forcing you to use SketchUp. If it's such a problem, there are other programs out there.

ValmontR · 10 Dec 2017, 18:44

I have been extremely happy with the progress in the new versions. Sure, not a lot of new features have been added, but speed and stability are generally much better. With the new engine (2016 or 2017?) came the ability to create drawings with nearly unlimited numbers of lines and faces. Going WAY back, SU had limits in the hundreds of thousands, and before the new engine about 3 million lines and it choked. Selection became increasingly difficult, triple clicking for a solid ceased working, etc. The improvements in some tools have made the program far easier and less frustrating to use: finding the center of an arc now works most of the time, in the past it was hit and miss; the tape measure tool has become awesome—it's almost thinking ahead of me. Save times can still be extreme so I turned off fixing problems on save—the change in time is dramatic. Since I regularly check my models while drawing and purging there has been no problem. One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update. Frequently I draw parts in a separate drawing and to maintain the same materials I copy them from the original drawing to the new one, but on paste the original drawing adds a new material.

pbacot · 10 Dec 2017, 20:22

@valmontr said:

One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update. Frequently I draw parts in a separate drawing and to maintain the same materials I copy them from the original drawing to the new one, but on paste the original drawing adds a new material.

I agree about the palette. Mostly it's the problem that there is no display of material names Unless you mouse over for the SLOW response popup names. Have you tried saving the work in a component with "save as" and "reload"instead of "paste." I don't believe I've see the problem with materials in regards to bringing work into the model.

I consider myself a fanboy.

driven · 11 Dec 2017, 01:04

@valmontr said:

... Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update...

I find using hot corners or switching windows and back, updates the 'Colors' panel...

it similar to when Finder fails to update a pane...

john

L i am · 11 Dec 2017, 09:20

How many people find navigating in Sketchup frustrating..........like I have said before: scroll wheel smoking as I try as I might to get trough than invisible wall made of viscus mud. It can be fixed, connexion 3D mouse has solved with software, so It can be done. Why has it not been fixed. It is a fundamental problem.

pmolson · 11 Dec 2017, 15:44

The only time I experience behavior that sounds like what you are describing is if I happen to be directly behind an inserted image or some other obstacle right in my face. A quick orbit to the side or up/down and i can quickly navigate past.
Maybe you are experiencing a unique problem.
I find navigation to be fast, responsive, and easy.

p

charevir56 · 13 Dec 2017, 02:21

@unknownuser said:

ValmontR
One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update.

Oh!, I thought this behavior was on my end, but like driven I learn that switching windows and back, updates the 'Colors' panel... too bad specially when the model is getting bigger.

drw12333 · 6 Jan 2018, 23:30

Are all 3D Warehouse items going to be "2018" only. All that I've tried will not open in 2017.

Dave R · 8 Jan 2018, 10:29

@drw12333 said:

Are all 3D Warehouse items going to be "2018" only. All that I've tried will not open in 2017.

No. How have you tried opening them? If you get them directly in SketchUp, they will open with the version you are using as long as it is 2014 or higher. If you are downloading them directly through your browser, you'll have to choose the version you want.