Capturing different views of same model.

Gaieus

For whatever reason the download appears as a Zip file on a Mac

Note that Layout files are actually (renamed) ZIP files so it may make sense that your Mac recognises them and renames them. I've seen such glitches with our forums software's attachments on Macs so it's more likely phpBB and some weird Mac setting colliding here.

Tasman

@kmead said:

For whatever reason the download appears as a Zip file on a Mac, instead of trying to unZip the file, delete the .zip file extension and it will be a Layout file and will open in Layout. Odd, but one of those things.

Karl

Thanks Karl that solved the problem.
Tasman

Bert

Hi Guidon

Dave has a very good method, but there is one more method that I have used a couple times and it works quite well

What I do is:

In Sketchup

create a scene for the part you want to show dimensions
create all the dimensions you need on every faces (Probably you will want to put those dimensions
on a dedicated layer)
in the Model/info/dimension goto "expert dimension setting"
activate "Hide when Foreshortened" You may have to adjust the slider for the proper level
Now if you rotate your model (part) the dimensions on the others faces will be hidden

In Layout bring in the part, position it for the first view you want, only the dimensions for that view shoud appear
copy that part for the next view, rotate the part to suit your need and again
you shoud have only the dimensions that are visible for that view

Hope that is clear because I am not too good qith English

Tasman

G'day Bert

Thanks for your tip, this is really a very smart way of hiding the dimensions in LO, much better than my method of creating Layers. Works like a charm.

Regards
Tasman

Gidon Yuval

Thank you so much guys!
I used a little of each tip and I am very happy with the results.
There are a couple of issues that came up while I was playing around with all your suggestions.

1.I found that making a template for myself is easy enough but LO only brings it up for the cover page. Inside pages start off completely blank. I found a work-around whereby I duplicate the cover page a number of times and then insert the appropriate scene or scenes on each page.
I imagine there's a way of making LO use the template for ALL the pages but I haven't found it.

2.For new page I have to go to File>insert>the model in question. Then I go to the scenes box and choose the one I want. I have to go through this every time I want to add a scene. Is there a tool that I'm missing that'll shorten the process?

3.How do I control the size of the printed area? After I put several items on a page I wanted to see what it would look like if printed. To my surprise the print preview showed that not all of the LO page fits on the printed page. I chose an A4 paper size but some of the ellements close to the edges don't show up in the preview. How do I overcome this?
Is there a difference between a LO A4 and an actual A4? This problem is even more acute when trying to use A3.

Sorry for the long post but LO looks like it's going to be an important tool for me so I'd like to make the most of it.

Dave R

Gidon, I sent you a PM regarding your questions.

Gaieus

Hi Gidon,

As for templates with cover and inside pages, start a pre-made template to explore first; how it is built up, what layers and kind of pages it has. To create your own template actually an existing one is the best and easiest to use as well. If you have a look at the screenshot attached, notice the Layers in the Tray; how there are layers which appear on every page (these are generally locked by default so you won't accidentally modify them on any page).

2. As for adding scenes; once you inserted your model (which has scenes), you can easily copy the inserted "Model window" and paste it into several pages in LO. Now if you click on any of these model instances on a page, at the SketchUp model in the tray, you can select which scene to show o0n that particular page.
Well, maybe there is (should be) and option, when sending a model to LO from SU to create pages from the SU scenes automatically so that you don't need to do this manually. But even this way it's not that big deal actually.

Note that in a LO model, there are two settings under the Files menu; Document setup > Paper... and Page setup. If you want to use an A4 paper for printing, make sure both are set accordingly and properly.

And yes, from what Dave is using LO for instance, it is perfect for Woodworking drawings. Architects may be tied to certain conventions LO doesn't properly provide but thank God woodworkers (and archaeologists ) are more flexible

Gaieus

@dave r said:

Gidon, I sent you a PM regarding your questions.

Oh, Come on, Dave, this is not fair. We also wish to suckle on your wisdom!

Dave R

wisdom? me?

I showed him with a "live" demo. Figured it was easier than writing about it but I basically showed him the same stuff you wrote about.

Gidon Yuval

Dave hi,
I can't thank you enough for helping me with getting started in Layout.
That on-line lesson you gave me via Skype was amazing.
Thank you so much.

Dave R

Gidon,

It was certainly my pleasure. I'm glad it helped.

Cheers,

Dave

pbacot

On the print preview issue. LO sets a print size based on the template you chose. The printable area for this template may not be supported by your printer, or you may need to choose an option such as "borderless printing".

I find by default with a new setup, the paper chosen by LO (in Mac) is not associated with a printer in the Page Setup. The page size IS specified. It could be standard printer size but you have to check it with your printer and the supported print area available. I'd save a template that works best with your printer, once you get it working.

Dave R

Wow, Peter, this is an old one you've dredged up.

pbacot

How the.....????

Never too late to be helpful or is it?

I have NO idea where I came across this.

Dave R

Nope. It's never too late.

mwm5053

Well it had some good pointers though.

Gaieus

@pbacot said:

...Never too late to be helpful or is it?...

Never.