Old Version 8.0.16845

DamaTheCat · 24 Dec 2018, 16:07

Hey Folks,

First my computer is a Mac Book Pro using OS 10.12.5.

I use SketchUp v8 because I'm woodworker that only draws 'build-to' layouts. No glamor, shaping, rendering, coloring- I just build my plans for design, dimensions and cut list. So, even if I could afford SU 2017 I just would not do it justice and it would be a waste on my humble drawings. Not to say that I'd wouldn't love to have it. It's just my wife gave me the option of buying it and losing my beer allowance for a year or keeping what I have. Well,,,,,, a boy gotta have brewskis.

For years this version worked perfectly without any 'glitches'. Recently it developed a very annoying issue. I cannot open "Preferences" or "Model Info". When I select the 'dropdowns' nothing happens. I don't use either functions often, but sometimes it would be nice to have the ability.

Also, I have a Apple iMac 24' using OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 that the same version and SU works perfectly. I can use all functions of "Preferences" and "Model Info".

I apologize for asking advise involving such an old version, but I thought that maybe one of you SU veterans may have some input. I promise that when I hit the Lotto I'll instantly buy the latest SU version.

Mike

Dave R · 24 Dec 2018, 16:43

It sounds like Preferences and Model Info are opening off screen. Look around the edges of the display and see if you can see even a little corner of them that you can grab them by. Also reduce the size of the model window and look to see if these panels are just behind the main window. I've heard of that in the past. If these don't succeed, you can hunt for the .plist file and delete it. Do it after quitting SketchUp and then reopen SketchUp. It'll make a new .plist.

DamaTheCat · 24 Dec 2018, 18:10

DaveR,

I tried your suggestion of the screen. No joy. I did a HD search for '.plist' and found lots of them, but could not identify any because their naming. On my Apple would you have an idea of what the name of the .plist I would be looking for.

Sorry to be so ignorant in the file names. I really thank you for taking the time to make suggestions.

Mike

Dave R · 24 Dec 2018, 18:25

It's been too many years since SU8 was replaced on my MacBook to remember but I would expect it's got SketchUp in its name. Probably under User/Library/Application Support.

slbaumgartner · 24 Dec 2018, 20:27

I think the relevant SketchUp 8 plist was kept at

~/Library/Preferences/com.google.sketchuppro8.plist

(Maybe without the pro in the name if you had only the free version). It contains sizes and locations of the various inspector windows.

Dave R · 24 Dec 2018, 20:47

Thanks Steve.

DamaTheCat · 24 Dec 2018, 22:12

You Folks Are Great...... Tomorrow I'm on the sent....

I can't say thanks enough for your interest let alone for input.

Mike

slbaumgartner · 25 Dec 2018, 01:27

I forgot to mention the preferences are cached by the system so just deleting or editing the plist file will have no effect until you cause the preferences to flush. Logging off and then back in is probably the simplest way to flush the cache.

sfto1 · 25 Dec 2018, 01:53

@damathecat said:

Hey Folks,
It's just my wife gave me the option of buying it and losing my beer allowance for a year or keeping what I have. Well,,,,,, a boy gotta have brewskis.

Mike

Maybe a solution would be half brewskis a year over two years. You know the saying "man does not live on liquid bread alone" or something like that

DamaTheCat · 26 Dec 2018, 22:36

Hey All,

Thanks for the interest to a 'dead' and probably buried version of this great program. Again I say that the old v8 really serves my very modest drawings well. My 'Prom-Date' would be to have the latest 'Pro' version and even with*'sfto1'* suggestion I still think it would be a waste on me.

I've taken 'DaveR's' and *'slbaumgartnwe's'*suggestions and still have no 'Preference' or 'Model Info' drop downs.

I did go to my iMac which has a good working v8 on it and did the following:

Copied and pasted the .plist file from the iMac's '~/library/preference' folder to by MBP. No Good, the v8 still worked the same.
I then copied and pasted the SU folder from the iMac '~/library/applicationsupport/googlesketchup8/sketchup' folder to my MBP and still no good.
Next I copied the complete SU v8 program from the iMac's '/application' folder to an external HD. Plugged it into the MBP and fired up v8 from the external HD..... still no Preference orModel Info drop downs.
I can, using SU v8 on the external HD, open it on the iMac and it runs great, no issues.

Now I believe that there is something going on with my OS X Siera install in my MBP, but I have no issues with my other programs.

It's not so much that a part of v8 doesn't work on the MBP, it's more that* I can't find the reason*.... Things like this drive me crazy. My wife stops talking to me and my dog hides. (I don't mind the first part, but I really like my dog.

Again, thanks to all that gave some input or at least suffered through my lament .......

Mike