Hi folks. If the object being measured is not exactly up to the precision of what you specified in your Units, you will get this ~ (approx.) symbol. For example, if you specify 0.0 mm and the object measures 3.001 mm, you will get this ~ symbol. Just push the precision to more decimals (3 in this case). Even if you did not enter such numbers, dividing a line or generating curves, for example, can lead to such numbers. Just ideas.

Hi Oscar, hi folks. See this SU file for ideas. Tiles ideas.skp

thanks Gaieus! thanks all!

The plugin on 1001 bits is nothing to do with me. This one is freeware, not a trial: http://www.freesketchupplugins.co.uk/springtool.php

I made a video to show how to do it. (No sound) [flash=800,475:2bre8gtc]http://www.youtube.com/v/mIsaATIedtI&hd=1&fs=1[/flash:2bre8gtc] Chris

You need to draw something for the image to project onto first. So import the image, then line up the grips and bars and stuff, then start drawing. Then you can project the image onto the geometry. Chris

Nice one! Smart detailing with png's! It is a little bit floating however [image: 5DwS_float.jpg] Also, sometimes GE goes nuts when you save the file (before export) at such a sharp angle close to the ground. Not in this case but it's just on the edge of it.

Check your email too, but I would suggest keeping the conversation public here so others can chime in! Essentially yes, SketchUp is capable of doing all of that. The Lat/Lon coordinates might be the toughest to get at, but SketchUp does work with geo-coordinates and a plugin probably already exists to help work in lat/lon coordinates. If not, something could be written to help meet your needs. Chris

Hi, lexje, There are plugins that can help you with staircase building, like http://www.1001bit.com/products/products.shtml There is also the stairmaker plugin somewhere on the Ruby Library Depot http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubylibraryDepot/Ruby/en_arc_page.htm You can set the radius, bulge distance and the number of segments in the Value Control Box.

Whoops. Sorry, Eamonn. I read your post too fast, and assumed that you had the stringer figured out. Anyway, maybe you can use the rails narrative when you get to that point. Others might reply besides the two you have received.

Hey Todd Tig always comes to the rescue. Have Fun with the survey in SU time. Good weekend to everbody. Dave

To me, autofold has never really worked as desired. Often you need to manually correct/flip edges in order to get it right.

Hey Jeff, Keep in mind too, that a lot of guys find better results by exporting a 2D image at a really large pixel size (4-5K) and then reducing the size with a photo editor. Depending on your graphics card, sometimes, SU's built in Anti Aliasing can still leave things a bit choppy if you zoom in at all and saving it larger than needed and then reducing it after will leave a really crisp lined drawing, especially for printing. Also good when using them to send to clients who you know they are going to zoom in and "look around". I know other members were also finding it took longer to save a file at a moderate size with AA turned on, than it did to save a file at three times the resolution with no AA. Just something to keep in mind when you play around with the export settings. Best of luck!

thank you for your help!

I've lost count of how many CAD programs I've tried over the years hoping to find a good layout tool to go with Sketchup. Just recently TigerCAD, TurboCAD again after many years, DoubleCAD, FelixCAD. Bottom line I think DraftSight is it. I thought it was 2D at first, but scanning the manual it is actually 2.5D! and it opened a 12mb dxf model from SU perfectly with layers. It makes nice vector PDFs and .dwgs that open well in other programs. UI is different and still figuring it out. Also imports images and you can reference external files. All the stuff required to do layouts and drafting. And it's free. DoubleCAD imports the skp model but you can't actually do anything with it, too clunky and slow. My two cents. I normally use ArchiCAD by the way. EDIT: Update. Upon further review DoubleCAD isn't working out. Now, I'm export 2D drawings extracted from the model in a preliminary sheet layout in dxf. Then open in DraftSight to add images, Word docs, etc. No 2.5D, just 2D. One issue is although it prints to pdf very well, the file is 15mb! I found that printing an svg, open that in Inkscape and save as pdf makes great quality and 141kb. TurboCAD Designer also works for this, but not free, about $40.

As far as I can remember, SU 6 Pro imports & exports DWG/DXF. As for the SU animate, I think there is a 10 day evaluation version.

First, try to add material at the ceilling and then a transparency material at the top, so the sunlight can reach the interior. Second is to set the scene you want and make some walls to hidden groups or use section slice, to delete the walls for sunlight. Otherwise use renderapps, suggested before. For windows try the youtube videos as suggested, but also my videos on youtube called Fenster1 and Fenster2 which exclaim how to make windows in double walls. Although it is in German language you could find it usefull.