Smart way to have alternative plans?

cheeryble

Hi there

I am going to renovate an apartment I have in Chiangmai Thailand. I intend to change the layout considerably.

I would like to first form a basic floorplan of permanent features such as support columns, service columns, shared walls, and not-to-be-touched walls.
I would like this basic plan to be available to refer back to and "start again" or try other arrangements.

Then I would like to form a 3D plan as is NOW

and the NEW 3D layout (and possible other alternative layouts)

So I would like to end up with three or more SU drawings.....

I am quite capable of using Sketchup I think, but unsure the best way to use layers/components/groups/whatever to do as I wish.

What would be smartest way??

thanx v much
Cheeryble

kwistenbiebel

Concerning the modeling part, I would work with layers and different scene tabs.
(Each scene tab can have different layers visible).
Most architects will consider making the plans you refer to as within their task.

Jean Lemire

Hi Cheeryble, hi folks.

Make a group for each of these:

Basic floor plan to be used as a reference.
Actual 3D;
Alternative 3D #1;
Alternative 3D #2;
Etc.

Then, as written by Kwistenbiebel, you can assign each of these group to its own layer (that you must create) and then create as many scenes as you want, to rapiddly switch layers on or off as required. Dont forget that layers in SU do not separate geometries, they are mostly used to control the visibility of objects. You could probably forget the scenes and simply switch the layers on or off from the Layers dialog window since you will have only a few layers. Personnaly, I often do that since I leave the Layer dialog continously visible.

Just ideas.

honoluludesktop

Hi fellows, Not sure myself, but wouldn't it be better to make the existing (not to be affected) parts of the model a component? Having an external copy of this part of the model could be of benefit.

Gaieus

Also, beside what was suggested above, you can always lock the elements (after grouping or making into a component) that you shouldn't change like

@cheeryble said:

...basic floorplan of permanent features such as support columns, service columns, shared walls, and not-to-be-touched walls.

Then model the rest of the existing building finally you can develop different variations of the modifications.

cheeryble

Thankyou all for your kind replies.....

I shall try to understand them better later....
I found a sort of solution. I made the original "base" floorplan, saved it, then made a copy of it to make the "as is" drawing from. I was thinking of doing the same for the "to be#1","to be #2" and so on. In other words make separate drawings but saving repeat work by using a copy.

Hmmm
please stay tuned as I don't yet have my head round this properly....not sure about groups and layers....but I'll get there with your help!

Cheeryble

Gaieus

You can go along that way but it would be even better to have the option to move from one version to the other within the same file. You could solve everything by using layers and scenes.

cheeryble

@gaieus said:

.........it would be even better to have the option to move from one version to the other within the same file. You could solve everything by using layers and scenes.

I'm thinking you're right Gaius and I'll definitely work on it.

Whilst I'm here I was just about to raise the walls from the floorplan on my "as it will be" copy, but can't seem to be able to pull the walls upwards. Nor can I select anything to pull, either a wall or a room. Now one room could have a bit of unconnected geometry, but not all of them. I even tried just making a rectangle on the floor and selecting it to push/pull and it wouldn't get the dotted pattern selection thing.......any ideas?

thanx again
Cheeryble

BTW for future reference is it possible to present a SU file such as the one I'm working on here to show problems?

Jean Lemire

Hi Cheeryble, hi folks.

@cheeryble said:

BTW for future reference is it possible to present a SU file such as the one I'm working on here to show problems?

Absolutely. This is one of the reason that such forums exist. Post your file using the "Upload attachment" button.

Just ideas.

cheeryble

@jean lemire said:

Hi Cheeryble, hi folks.

Post your file using the "Upload attachment" button.

Just ideas.

Oh sorry better open my eyes next time

Gaieus

So where is that file? From your last description, I'm not sure what the problem may be (unless you are trying to PushPull a group or curved surface) so we'd better have look.

cheeryble

@gaieus said:

So where is that file?

I'm going to create 3 super simple example drawings....

floorplan
present 3D
future 3D

which should cover the principles of what I'm trying to do.......and present them to get advice exactly how to use groups and layers in that context....
(if I may )

Coming Soon....

Cheeryble

Gaieus

@cheeryble said:

I'm going to create 3 super simple example drawings... (if I may ).

Please.

cheeryble

Actually Gaius
I include a drawing to give you the idea. It's not perfect and columns A and C should be shown as rectangualr and outside the bounds of the apartment....still good to give you a visualization....

Let me try to describe better and do it right first time.

I want to lay a floorplan of permanent unmovable features....columns, party walls, utility ducts.
I need a 3D of the present layout similar to what I have attached. This will be No1 plus some dividing walls which are not necessarily permanent (though I will keep some of them.)
I need a 3D of the proposed layout. This will have removed some of 2, some of the non-permanent features like a partition wall near the bathroom door area, and added walls or sliding doors in new places.

Hopefully in layers....

Now if I lay down No1 in layer0, I don't see how I isolate that for further use as the basis for both 2 and 3. If I "make group" of No1 I cannot pull the floorplan upwards for 2 or 3.

Perhaps we could start with that.

Thx
Cheeryble

for Sketchucation.skp

Gaieus

First of all,forget about floorplans. Floorplans (in a 3D software) are only the basis of the 3D structure so make your No. 1 (permanent) things into 3D first. Keep everything on Layer 0 at this time.

When you are done, make a group of what you've made, create a new layer (say "Permanent") and move the group onto this layer. Note that the geometry inside will still be on Layer 0 and leave it there. This is important. Leave the visibility of this layer on (since it will be included in both/all versions)

Now right click on your group and choose "Lock". This will make sure you cannot make any changes on this group in the future.

Now (still on Layer 0) model everything that you have now (this is No. 2) apart from what's already on the "Permanent" layer. When done, group all geometry here as well but don't include (what's in) the previous group. Now make a new layer say "Current" and move this group to that layer (note again that what's "inside",i.e. the "raw" or "Primitive" geometry is still on Layer 0 and should remain there). Turn off the visibility of this layer (since you will make your next version and you don't want to display both at the same time).

Now start building your No. 3 and follow the steps you did with No. 2 except give the layer you put the final group of it a different name like "Proposed" or what.

Now comes some additional and tricky tips:
Open your scene manager (Sketchup menu [Window on a PC] > Scenes) and uncheck "Include in animation" and "Camera location". You can put it aside now (or keep it open for renaming your scenes - see below).

Now set your layers with the following visibility: Layer 0 - ON; Layer "Permanent" ON; Layer "Current" OFF; Layer "Proposed" OFF and make a scene (View menu > Animation > Add scene). Name it "Permanent"

Now Turn Layer "Current" ON (note that Layer 0 and Layer "Permanent" are still on) and add another scene - name it "Current".

Now turn Layer "Currnet" OFF and Layer "Proposed" ON and ad another scene and name it "Proposed".

From now on,when you click on any of the scene tabs,you will see what they say. Important; if you wish to make any changes to any of the geometry, always edit the group in question an never ad any further geometry outside of the three groups. If you need to make any changes in the "Permanent" group, you will first need to unlock it (also in the context menu or in the Edit menu after selecting it).

I hope all the above makes sense. If not, I can show in your model attached but I'd rather like you to find your way (and also I need to leave for work soon).

cheeryble

Thx for the excellent reply Gaius.....above and beyond!

I'll work on it and let you know my progress (or lack of it)

cheers Cheeryble

cheeryble

Thankyou for the brilliant detailed reply Gaieus.

I'm just back in action after a stinking rotten rather exotic (well it is Thailand) mycoplasma http://www.rain-tree.com/myco.htm infection.

I shall get back on the case and let you know what happens.

cheers John

Gaieus

Hi John,

That mycoplasma doesn't sound good.
Hope you're well (otherwise we won't ever know how you succeeded! ).

cheeryble

Thanks Gaieus

OK first question

I have a Macbook with 2gb RAM.....should be plenty!
SU seems to run normally, then after the drawing gets modestly detailed will decide to start clamming up for the spinning wheel for about 5 seconds with each action, say drawing a line or rubbing something out or rotating the view with the middle scrollwheel held down. This didn't use to happen when I first did a burst of learning SU a year ago.
Comments any Mac users?

cheers John

redinhawaii

I have a MacBook Pro with 2gigs of ram, and I am crashing constantly.
Even on a small file.
Components seem to really compound the issue.
Layers too.
At this time I do not know if it is hardware/software related or my model geometry/layers/group organization.
But yesterday I crashed more than 10 times...
any insights would be most helpful.
Oh, I did get a tip from a "Genius" at the local genius bar.
Go to user, library, application support, sketchup and put that folder on the desk top.
It stopped my initial crashing,
(be careful, do NOT go to MacHD, library...)
if that helps...
aloha
red