That did it--thanks! Apparently, Sketchup had installed itself to open jpegs, so I changed the settings and it's back to normal!

Dear Chris, Go to: http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/em_geo_page.htm and then download angle_between.rb Regards, Bob

I've posted this bug on the tester's forum. It is present with the rotate tool as well as the move tool. When a group or component is "selceted" you can't inference (click on) a point that is within the selection. It is particularly annoying in a rotate/copy or move/copy. This is not the way it was in older versions so it is definitely something that got broken in V6. I knnow they did pay attention to the bug and have it on the list to fix. BTW, the bug works differently on different graphics cards I have found ( I teach across Canada and the same excercise behaves differently on different computers). With some Graphic's cards it works fine. With others, if you find the inference point first (touch it with your cursor) and only then select the component and then click on the inference point, SketchUp will remember the found point. On other graphics cards that doesn't work either and you need to draw a segment to the point ( outside of the group or component) and then you can find the inference when the component/group is selected. Bummer, but that is the way it is.

I dont think a glossiness/roughness scale would add too much to the interface, its pretty self explanatory really.

Dear Jean, Thank you for your clear example. These small work-arounds make all the difference. Kind regards, Bob

Hi Dirk, Please, try this "test": go to (menu) Window > Preferences > OpenGL and uncheck hardware acceleration. If the performance is improved, it means that you should find a video driver (i.e. updaet your driver) so that your system can handle OpenGL better. This is a common issue with drivers and Vista and I only hope you can find a driver that solves your problem. If not, kee4p HA off until you find one.

I was just looking for something like this yesterday, I'll use it today. Thanks Daniel!

You should be able to by drawing over one of the segmented lines of the circle. Can you attach an image for clarification? Welcome to the forum.

Nice! Thank you.

When doing big calculations in SU (like using the Comp Spray Tool) never leave the Outliner open because it may slow SU down considerably for it tries to update itself all the time. Other than this, it is really handy and sure I should use it more often (just like shortcuts).

Im a L.A. and I need tree graphics all the time. Check out http://www.vyonyx.com for some really good free high res things... look under the download section... they recently added a bunch of new trees and they measure around 10" by 10" at 300dpi, pretty dam good!!!! Keep in mind you owe me for telling you my "secret" site!!!

Thank you so much Solo for the tutorial and especially for the quick response. I am fairly new to SketchUp so the first three stages I was able to do, but ruby techniques is something I need to study up on. I am reading the SketchUp Ruby API Deveoper's Guide now. Hopefully I will be able to complete the last stages of the snake tutorial you so graciously provided me after reading the guide. I now see the range of designs capabilities with SketchUp are far beyond what I thought. Very impressive program and community forum. I am hooked.

Hi thanks , have done and sorted

@architekturn said: If you just want to see the tumbnails... just download the program "3d Photo Browser". That will allow you to see tumbnails of 3d max, sketchup, 3ds, etc... thanks for submit good stuff. that 's great tool. I think that is good software for who use windows xp64 bit http://www.download.com/3D-Photo-Browser/3000-2193_4-10264200.html

Ah, well I think I may have reversed the faces, applied the material to that side too then reversed them back again. That could very possibly be the explanation, Biebel.

Thanks Gaieus, I'll have a go at it. A bit silly that such a problem needs workarounds though.

I have the same problem all the time... Mostly because of file sizes... so purging, deleting, etc... all helps!

Ok sorted out I think. I had the camera set to Parallel Projection, I think the default is Perspective. In perspective mode my FOV was like 150 degrees or so, which made it hard to use. I set this back to between 30 and 35, and the clipping has disappeared - nice one Gaieus. Thanks again, Chris Hilton South Africa