Component linking

TIG

If you have several components that are effectively the same geometry but have very different axes then it is difficult to 'unify' them into being instances of one component definition as their replacements might jump around unexpectedly, BUT assuming they are all in the same orientation (like columns on a façade) to give them all the same axes you can do this, in turn to each one [it works best/quickest with shortcut keys set up]... It might also be best to group all of the components requiring 'unification' and have the rest of the model hidden whilst doing this...
Select one Instance.
Explode it.
Immediately use 'Make Component' from the highlighted Entities
Accept the defaults and OK the dialog
Select the next one etc...
Quickly you will now have a set of similar components with similar axes.
Select all of the component instances and then in the Component Browser hover over a definition that is as you want [the first one would be logical] right-click context-menu 'Replace Selected'.
All of the component instances should now share the same definition.
Tidy up by Purging the unused definitions...

This won't work if the components have been rotated in 3D but I think this is not the case here ?

pmolson

Chris & Gaieus,

You were correct. When I open the component "that" bounding box does shoot out to the axis for that component and it looks like all components in the model
are referenced to an origin that was set in Archicad. (about 2000 feet away)

Tig, the components jumping around is exactly what happens when I convert them to one instance. I can see now that my hopes of changing a large # of
individual but identical components into multiple copies of the same components and have them stay where they are positioned is not possible without
touching each component at least once.

There are very few components in this model that have the same orientation... columns follow an arc, roof panels follow an arch, a conical shape, and
a sphere. Seems the architect was not happy unless he was creating something....ummmm....grande!

I thank you all for your help. I think with the ideas and pointers you have given me I will be able to clean this .3ds model up enough to be productive
with the face lift.

I did attempt to create a cut and paste model for you all to look at, but I have crashed 3 times when in copy. In the past I have found this problem
to be a result of bad materials/textures. I am going to export a clean .3ds model from Archicad without textures to see if this helps.

I will post a chunk of the model when I get it cleaned up.

Thanks again.

p

Gaieus

Sorry to hear about the mess but let's see that example and what can be done with it later (though I am afraid you are right that you will need to do a lot of manual work here).

pmolson

Its all good!

I am using this project as a learning experience for myself and my Archicad using clients. I think
one of the keys to getting B.I.M. software to play nicely with Sketchup is knowing that the B.I.M.
model will ultimately end up in Sketchup and being disciplined in creating a clean model and tweaking
the export process to eliminate unnecessary complexity.

I will most definitely follow up with an end result and how we got there.

Oh, by the way, I know there is a plug in for converting archicad to sketchup, but we are at an older
version (9) of Archicad and it only exports to su 6. I could do that and and open it with 7 I suppose, but
I am already traveling down this road and I will finish this adventure first and look at the plug in next
go around.

pmo

pmolson

Hey Tig,

Thanks for the idea of exploding a bunch of selected components and then immediately making them into a new component.
It is a real time saver for applying materials to all those individual original components.

Thanks

pmo

TIG

@pmolson said:

Hey Tig,

Thanks for the idea of exploding a bunch of selected components and then immediately making them into a new component.
It is a real time saver for applying materials to all those individual original components.

Thanks

pmo

If you're doing it to apply materials only then you could just group them and apply the material to the group - the instances as contents should take the material is <default> ?

pmolson

I am off and running on the above discussed project. I have been making good progress using the tips
offered above. I have now run into a snag.

I can no longer make a component.

Every time I select a group of highlighted items and right click/make component/replace selection with.. and hit ok,
I lock up.

I have to crash the program to get out. This was not happening for the the first several hours of work. I can think of
nothing out of the ordinary that happened prior to this problem.

I have purged & run fix problems. No problems found. I tried drawing a simple rectangle and tried to make it a component
& had the same problem. I opened a new drawing and tried creating a component there and it worked flawlessly so I
know it is a model specific problem.

Any thoughts?

I can make groups, so I will plow ahead using groups, but it is like having my legs cut off not having the component feature.

My dead line is staring me in the face so I must just keep going, but if anyone has ideas i would love to hear them.

Thanks.

p

pmolson

hooray!

I saved a copy of the file with a different name and opened it and I now have component making feature working.

Amazing how one does not fully appreciate something until it is gone.

Thanks for the answer you all would have given me.

p

TIG

Model Info, Statistics - Purge AND Fix Problems might also help...

Gaieus

@pmolson said:

hooray!

I saved a copy of the file with a different name and opened it and I now have component making feature working.

Amazing how one does not fully appreciate something until it is gone.

Thanks for the answer you all would have given me.

p

Oh, come on,man - it's not even an hour between your posts (BTW I am really happy you have found some workaround for now - but this is definitely more serious than a deadline - even if for you, of course, that is more "deadly" - if you allow me such a pun...)

Any more details? An example file - ???

pmolson

Archicad model image su & podium When I said, "Amazing how one does not fully appreciate something until it is gone" I was Referring to the
component feature, not this forums fine help.

So, the architects and designers and clients are in the conference room as we speak
looking at the model that you have been helping me with.

I learned a lot during this process. This was the first time for me converting a B.I.M.
model into a format usable with sketchup. To complicate matters this home is a monster
coming in at 45,000 SQ. FT. living space.

I made many mistakes that I will share with this forum.

I will also try to put together a step by step process for going from Archicad, to 3ds to sketchup to podium with the
hope that those more knowledgeable than I will redline it and offer different & or better methods.

For now though, I am going to bed. I am getting to old for pulling all nighters.

Oh, and I know I forgot to add the water texture and i messed up the....well, you know how it goes.

Thanks for all you help.

pmolson

@pmolson said:

I am off and running on the above discussed project. I have been making good progress using the tips
offered above. I have now run into a snag.

I can no longer make a component.

Every time I select a group of highlighted items and right click/make component/replace selection with.. and hit ok,
I lock up.

I have to crash the program to get out. This was not happening for the the first several hours of work. I can think of
nothing out of the ordinary that happened prior to this problem.

I have purged & run fix problems. No problems found. I tried drawing a simple rectangle and tried to make it a component
& had the same problem. I opened a new drawing and tried creating a component there and it worked flawlessly so I
know it is a model specific problem.

Any thoughts?

I can make groups, so I will plow ahead using groups, but it is like having my legs cut off not having the component feature.

My dead line is staring me in the face so I must just keep going, but if anyone has ideas i would love to hear them.

Thanks.

p

The above quoted problem is from an earlier post in which I managed to find a work around. At the time, Gaieus indicated that this was a problem that
should not be ignored. I agree and would like to identify what was causing this problem because i will have to work with converted Archicad models in
the future.
So, my question is this. Gaieus, or others, if you are still willing to look at the file what is the best way to get this big honking pig of a file to you?

Its about 50 mb. If the moment has passed and you are no longer available to take a peek, that is fine.

Thanks either way

p

Gaieus

Hi Peter (Peter, right?)

Is there anywhere (any file sharing site or your own ftp server) where you can upload such a big file? I am afraid this is much bigger than it could be emailed or anything like that.

I have my own web-space where I can upload files so I am not really familiar with these file sharing sites. Anyone any (good) suggestion (with the least number of popup ads and waiting time for downloads)?

pmolson

Hi Gaieus,

It's Paul actually.
Peter is the poor soul who continuously gets robbed to pay me.

I do not personally have an ftp site, but I may have access to one.
I will check into it and get back to you.

Thanks

p

Gaieus

Okay, sorry for the Peter. I now realise that it is another member but his username is pmolsen.

Well, anyway, try to upload it anywhere and we'll see.

pmolson

Thanks,

I updated my control panel to include my name.

p