Password protect locked component / group

CarlS

Hi,
I've searched for something like this and don't even know if it's feasible. We're an architecture firm and do a lot of coordination with master planners who also use sketchup. Is there a way (ruby script?) that you could attach some sort of 'read-only' or password protection to a group / component when you lock it? I know that the files can be read only, but it would be great to have something essentially 'lock' the model so we can share it without any concerns of it being modified externally.
Thanks
Carl

solo

There was a thread recently where this was discussed, I just cannot find it.
Apparently there is something on the lines of what you require however the limitations there is that even though it cannot be edited in SU it can be exported to say .3ds and re- imported into SU as a new mesh which then can be edited.

juju

I hope Google SketchUp implements something to this effect in version 7 seeing that this has been requested soooo many times already.

Gaieus

I could imagine a different file format which could only be opened in the SU Viewer. Since the free version of SU was released, I guess the SU Viewr has had way less significance.

Alan Fraser

Technically, it ought not to be that difficult (he said, in a blasé tone). You can lock a group in the Outliner, so that could be extended to being unable to copy it, export it etc...at the same time making the unlocking password protectable. That way, you could group an entire model and render it completely inert.

Fletch

this would be really good... hopefully in SU7 this will be a part of the "sharing a model" process?!

Al Hart

There is a new, free, product called eZ which lets you import SketchUp models and share them with your clients - either by emailing them an eZ file, or by using them in an interactive Net meeting format (eZ-meeting is not free).

eZ-meetings "claim to fame" is that it operates a CAD net-meeting, where all participants can spin, pan and zoom on 3D models, as well as marking-up (arrows, notes, etc.) all documents being observed.

eZ-meeting exports to documents themselves to the participants machines, which makes it easier to pan, zoom, and spin the documents then in a traditional net-meeting format - which has to transmit raster images each time the screen changes.

Take a look at: http://ezmeeting.com/

eZ-meeting imports SketchUp models, as well as many other formats such as DWG, PDF, DOC, etc.

kwistenbiebel

There is a risk to 'locking' components.
I for one would hate it when 3dwarehouse would be filled with 'locked' geometry, as it would be against the whole concept of sharing ....

I can understand people wanting to protect their copyrighted designs, but I am more in favour of a new file extension for sketchup in that case. A file extension that is only to be read with a 'Sketchup viewer' and not by the main Sketchup software.
In that way you can give such a 'viewer' file to your client that he can't edit or load in his free sketchup version.

But a geometry lock within sketchup itself? Please NO.

linea

@unknownuser said:

I for one would hate it when 3dwarehouse would be filled with 'locked' geometry, as it would be against the whole concept of sharing ....

I don't want to high jack this thread but can I make a point on the the subject of copyright? I'm all for sharing, but copyright in what context?

I have been concerned for some time that the 3d warehouse policy is unclear. What does it refer to, the SU model or the design content?

The terms of service document at http://www.google.com/intl/en/sketchup/3dwh/tos.html says:

@unknownuser said:

Google claims no ownership or control over any Content submitted, posted or displayed by you on or through the 3D Warehouse. You or a third party licensor, as appropriate, retain all patent, trademark and copyright to any Content you submit, post or display on or through the 3D Warehouse and you are responsible for protecting those rights, as appropriate.

Sounds ok but the next line says:

@unknownuser said:

By submitting, posting or displaying Content through the 3D Warehouse, you grant Google and its end users a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to exercise the rights in the Content, as stated below:

to reproduce the Content;
to create and reproduce derivative works of the Content;
to display publicly and distribute copies of the Content;
to display publicly and distribute copies of derivative works of the content.
Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubt, Google reserves, and you grant Google, the right to syndicate Content submitted, posted or displayed by you on or through the 3D Warehouse and use that Content in connection with any of the services offered by Google. Notwithstanding the above, end users may not aggregate the Content obtained from the 3D Warehouse for redistribution,...........

What does that last phrase "aggregate" mean? Does that mean that the model cannot be turned into a real world object or does it mean something else?

I'm all for sharing but this should be clearer. As I understand it, a copyright certificate usually only protects a design in its country of origin. An international design patent is needed to stop manufacture somewhere else. But I think even this is jeopardised by circulating the design prior to manufacture.

Obviously this doesn't apply to the majority of models in the 3DW that are of generic things that already exist, or the design elements are site specific so they wouldn't have a transferable real world value. But bespoke furniture is regularly posted. I think it's great that people want to share their creations. But I'm concerned that naive people, maybe design students, are posting work there with no idea that the design (not the model) could have a financial value that they are giving up.

Some clarification would be nice.

Fletch

@unknownuser said:

What does that last phrase "aggregate" mean?

Aggregate means they don't want anyone but themselves having the right to create and sell or give away 'packages' of content. ("Vegetation package", "Best of GW3D Furniture Content", etc.) Most likely someone could benefit by selling CDs of packaged content from the Google warehouse.

Al Hart

Also, some "search engines" aggregate content by trying to provide a better way to serach it and find it, and, of course, perhaps adding their own advertising to the search pages instead of the Google Ads which you have to suspect will appear someday.