@majid said: also an small tip about those 2d trees of sketchup (i.e like ths one : http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=225cd184c144ad3189319f015ffd8b7&prevstart=0) :to achieving shadows for trees , for sure, you must have those trees above the ground. i.e 2m (or more, to preventing intersection with cars, like the first image) above the ground level. and delete the shadow part from your model. That is exactly what i do, Majid. See the attached component. 2D-Shrub01.skp 2/components nested within one, 2D elevation component casts and receive shadows. The 2D Plan component cast shadows but does not receive shadows. Both 2D elevation and 2D plan components is set 600mm above the ground plan and is on a unique layer. This is done so when in plan view the elevation component can be switched off. [and visa versa for elevation view] There are three layers; Master layer for Landscaping - LANDSC Layer for 2D elevation component - LANDSC-Elev Layer for 2D Plan component - LANDSC-Plan Finally, both components have materials that are minimum of 70% opacity. That way they both cast shadows.....

@escapeartist said: I see all new heights in forging Mom and Dad's handwriting for a get out of school free pass! I know! But I see a more criminal scheme in this... "I Told you I have the government permission to go here, see here is his writing! Now can I see those aliens?"

Thanks you. That is the first DC that I have found was of any use to me. Made me want to dig in and see what I can do. So thanks for the DC and the urge to investigate making DC. Ken

Does this program create the threads?

Any time, mate. Here is the link: http://www.google.hr/imgres?imgurl=http://openfootage.net/Openfootage/Vorschau/ContactSheetpaving.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.openfootage.net/%3Fp%3D65&h=800&w=800&sz=115&tbnid=ykaikAYi4FqPrM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpavement%2Btextures&hl=hr&usg=_5cN2P87RQ20pdQ-95py2QDJWqaY=&ei=jQkkS7uwMcqN The original file size is much larger. Cheers!

like you zoomed in? then you don't have a mouse with a scroll BUTTON, you have a scroll WHEEL. Then if the scroll tool appears then change your preferences

@eddyld said: Hi folks , this is my first post to the forums, I have been trying to do a Model of a PVC Loop green house, I have the plug-in "Tube Along Path" which works very well. Question is the ark I start with does not have enough segments to make it look like a smooth curve. Any way to make more segments in the ark tool? eddyld I found it !! The "tube's" arc can have as many segments as you tell it to have in the startup dialog - just set at the same time as you set its radius etc.. [I wrote TlongP...]. It's almost impossible to reset an arc's segments AFTER it has connected non-planar faces - just get it right at the start... That fixes the tube's cross section... You set an arc's segments during its creation typing NNs as you make it - e.g. 12s => 12 segments, 99s => 99 segments. To reset an arced path's segments AFTER you have drawn it simply select it and get Entity Info and type a new number for the segments - IF the arc has connected 3D faces [i.e. non-planar] you cannot then change the segment numbers...

rclub24.....Thank you

http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=60107 Here you'll find the v6 Pro that'll resort to the free version once the trial period is over!! And here you'll find a discussion on this very subject http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=24045

I don't know much about Mac OSX, but it seems that quite many people have problems with the importers not showing up in SU Pro under OS X. The recommended solutions range from deleting the preferences file and repairing file permissions to re-downloading and re-installing SU. Anssi

Solo, Here is a trick I do, just in-case you need it.

@chris fullmer said: I foten take the best info I can get. In your case, that is the .shp files that are outdated. Then go through and identify all the areas that are innaccurate. Then see if Google Earth has image info for those blocks. If it does, then use G.E. to trace the footprints of all the buildings. Also update any city block outlines that need to be updated. And also any road centerlines that need to be updated. Just make sure to keep everything organized well. Keep the same layers that you got from the .shp files. They probably gave you a block outline, road centerline, and hopefully bldg footprint files. So when you add your data, just follow the same scheme so that it is all organized correctly. Then you can export your block layer (or component) out as a .shp file. And same for all the other layers you have changed. To recap: Take base .shp file info Determine the blocks, parcels, roads, buildings that need to be updated. Use Google Earth Images as a new base for those areas. Just trace what Google Earth shows Export everything as .shp files. And that is probably how I would approach it. If there are areas that Google Earth is not current on either, you will just have to go out and measure it by hand if possible. Thanks so much Chris, Used older version of SketchUp (version 5 with .shp plugin) to read the shapefile, and saved it to a skp file. It shows building foot prints, and that is all. They are like a component, and I can double click on them to open them, and then right click to edit, and pull up a building. The zip file I got from the city has other files besides the shapefile. How do I read those, and glean the information from them? Can I overlay a graphic pulled in from GE with the shapefile now turned .skp file, or the reverse so I can reference one with the other? The city says the GIS file I recieved is all they have, and would be more then happy to get updated information, and also mentioned getting that information of GE would be accurate enough for them. Is that true? And can I export a Sketchup model out as a shapefile? OK! The biggy Chris. Can I get you to create a plugin that could automate all of that? LOL! I heard you could! Chris

And for more fun : Components Stringer by Chris Fullmer Advantage: your have 3 possibilities of the size of the Components along the lines: Uniform, Stretch or none! And they follow the "orientation" of the curves - lines! Random Painter always by Chris Fullmer You can of course take also a simple divided line with it! (Right Click on the line / Divide) [image: XYXM_afull.jpg]

You can always just simply save the image when the render is done but AA is not yet.

@Anssi: Yes, you are right about the limitations of the hardware for in/out transactions, not to mention the physical plugging in and out. Thank you for your comments. @mac1: Yes, I understand the skp/skb file structure. skb is the backup file, and is used by SU to retrieve work after a crash. I do not believe that the version of SU is part of the issue for this thread. I mostly use the last version of SU6, because I have free version at home and Pro version at work. Since I do not have SU7 pro, I do not do as much in that version, so Dynamic Components do not exist for me, nor does the new Collada export, which replaces the dxf/dwg export. And, of course, Layout is not part of my workflow--currently. I do understand and appreciate the GoogleSU policy about promoting newest versions, however, expounding on this is probably for another thread. Thanks to all who responded, mitcorb

thanx for testing it seems wild enough for outdoor scenes. (I've seen it also included in some interiors, nicely)

thanks for the replies!

Is this what u re looking for? [image: nknv_spring.jpg] [image: leaV_springs.jpg]

I even have some customized right-click context-menu scripts of my own [very short and simple] that Invert-Select, Erase-Coplanar-Edges, De-Select-Edges, De-Select-Faces, Add-Faces-to-Edges etc which are even quicker than using a menu item...