Scale percision
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sketchUp free version not Pro question.
I've selected the architectural feet template.
-In Preference: I set Precision to 1/8, Units to 0.000.
-I draw a rectangle.
-I put dimensions to the x, y,
-now I want to scale it to an exact size. 54'3" by 130'
-I can't get the value I want due to the snapping.
-I get 54'1/4
-I move the mouse a hair and the value jumps to 54'7"
-WHAT THE ?????So how do I SCALE to an exact size??
Is this possible in none Pro?? -
After you start the scale operation, type
54'3",130'then hit Enter (although you do not say what exactly you are trying to scale - unless the "dimensions" which I do not understand then - the above would be for a rectangle). -
@gaieus said:
After you start the scale operation, type
54'3",130'then hit Enter (although you do not say what exactly you are trying to scale - unless the "dimensions" which I do not understand then - the above would be for a rectangle).Slight problem I've noticed with that workflow - the Shift key is needed for the ", but is also a Scale tool modifier. So you can't use the Shift in the middle of a scale operation.
So you need to finish the scale operation, then you can enter the lengths including the " mark.
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Gaieus and Jim thanks for your quick reply.
Sure you can change the dimensions value to what you want. But it dose not update the size of the rectangle. Let's say I have a rectangle 2'x 5' with dimension markers on it. I click the text 2' and type 6 and hit enter. It doesn't update the rectangle to 6'x5'.
What good is doing a 3d CAD if the values are not real?
Again thanks for your time
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You are right, editing and overwriting the dimensions will not affect the model. You have to use the Scale tool for that.
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Thanks, for that confirmation. A youtube showed you could scale it via text entry, that maybe Pro.
So can one scale an object to a precise size in non Pro?
Please disregard the following as a RANT
My experiences with sketchup could be summed up in one statement "What do you expect for free"I've got to say the time I've wasted with Google products is amazing. I got an android phone and it has taking me down a disappointing and frustrating road. I'm managing a project with five people. We all have the same phone. I thought what a great time to use all the online tools from google to manage the people and project.
I started learning Gmail, Calendar, Blooger, Picasa, sketchup and the android tools and apps. The term "you can't get there from here" is my best reply. Did you know you can't share tasks in "Calendar"? Have you ever tried to up load photos from you smart "HA" phone to Blogger via Picasa?
This latest disappointment from sketchup on the lack of this fundamental function "scale". This really make my mind up on google. No thank you. Ether google is putting out free products that lead you to the pro version or they just don't get it. There was a time when software companies would tell you the difference be free and pro.
The only reason I wanted to use the google tools was the promise of interaction. Everyone could login and review, comment, post ideas and updates. They all lost interest due to the awful tools, slow 3g network and incompatibility between the applications.
Back to 3dsMax, dreamweaver, flash, photoshop, thunderbird and my own server to manage this project.
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There is absolutely no difference between the pro and free versions from modelling point of view (maybe the latest solid tools are exception). So you should be able to draw precise rectangles for instance with the free version, too. When you visit the help center and start reading about the different tools, there is always some description on how to do it precisely. See the Rectangle tool here:
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94837
or the scale tool here:
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94906
These always apply to bot the free and pro versions. When something is Pro only, it will be labelled as such with this small image:
like with most of the solid tools:
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=1004120
(The last, "Outer Shell" tool is actually available in the free version, too, it seems to be a documentation error there).As for the text input / scaling, you may have seen a plugin called Driving Dimensions. It has a free and a pro version, too.
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@othoap said:
........What good is doing a 3d CAD if the values are not real?....
That's why Architecture requires shims, and trims (sorry, just my lame attempt at humor:-).When I first began working with cad, it bothered me that computers had built in errors because of floating point math. Over time, I got used to it. After all, scaled manual drafting, and construction often results in greater deviations. When you use the computer to dimension, you still have to check it.
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And no one ever complained to the manufacturer about pencils paper and hand held scales being inaccurate
All of which I still use and enjoy, along with Autocad(don't necessarily enjoy), Sketchup, Gimp, and Inkscape. -
@jim said:
@gaieus said:
After you start the scale operation, type
54'3",130'then hit Enter (although you do not say what exactly you are trying to scale - unless the "dimensions" which I do not understand then - the above would be for a rectangle).Slight problem I've noticed with that workflow - the Shift key is needed for the ", but is also a Scale tool modifier. So you can't use the Shift in the middle of a scale operation.
So you need to finish the scale operation, then you can enter the lengths including the " mark.
If I am not mistaken, GSU numbers default to inches, so you don't need to touch the shift to get 54'-3", just type 54'-3. Works for me anyway.
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Well, as I am in metric, I just wanted to make sure. With the Scale tool, unless you type the units, it scales by ratio. The more units you type, the safer it is.
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@othoap said:
Thanks, for that confirmation. A youtube showed you could scale it via text entry, that maybe Pro.
So can one scale an object to a precise size in non Pro?
As Csaba said, the functions of the Scale tool are no different in the free version than in the pro version.
@othoap said:
I've got to say the time I've wasted with Google products is amazing.
This latest disappointment from sketchup on the lack of this fundamental function "scale". This really make my mind up on google. No thank you. Ether google is putting out free products that lead you to the pro version or they just don't get it. There was a time when software companies would tell you the difference be free and pro.You've already made up your mind about SketchUp without bothering to find out the truth. That's too bad because you are wrong. I wonder what else you've decided is no good because you couldn't be bothered to actually learn to use it.
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@unknownuser said:
If I am not mistaken, GSU numbers default to inches, so you don't need to touch the shift to get 54'-3", just type 54'-3. Works for me anyway.
On most Tools, if the units modifiers are omitted, the units are taken to be the current Model Units. The Scale tool is a little different in that if the units modifiers are omitted, the values are interpreted as scaling factors. To Scale to lengths, you are required to enter the units modifier (", ', mm, cm, m).
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More then one person has said "Pro and Non are the same in the respect of scale" I want to learn and use all these tools that's why I'm asking. So if anyone I can tell me how I can do what they're doing in this video. Please scrub to 2:16 and watch how he types in the value and the model changes scale. Also notice the sketchup version in the grab bar "PRO". It all so says "EXPIRED" Maybe this is one of those beta's never to be seen again interfaces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uqvPu7fp_0
Dave R, I am sorry if I insulted you. That was not my goal. I'm just frustrated that the tools are not behaving like the tool I've used for over 20 years.
You said "You've already made up your mind about SketchUp without bothering to find out the truth. " Then what would you call taking the time to try it my self, read the directions, experiment with all the settings. Go online to search the forums. Join a forum. Make a post, wait for the post to be approved because I'm a new user. Don't I get any credit for all that?
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That video is for a plug in called 'driving dimensions'. It has little to do with how the scale tool works.
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@othoap said:
-I draw a rectangle.
-I put dimensions to the x, y,
-now I want to scale it to an exact size. 54'3" by 130'aside from the ranting and scaling talk, this is sort of a weird workflow to get an exact sized rectangle..
if your goal from the onset is to draw a rectangle 54-3 x 130 then enter those values before leaving the rectangle tool.
select the rectangle tool
mouse click to set the first corner
move the mouse in the orientation you'd like your rectangle to go
type 54'3,130' enteryour rectangle will be drawn to that size.
of course, learn the scale tool and it's functions but the above is probably pretty important to know as well. -
@othoap said:
I'm just frustrated that the tools are not behaving like the tool I've used for over 20 years.
Hehe, most of us are very very thankful that SketchUp does not act like 3dsmax. We consider it SU's strength, not its weakness
Stop thinking about shapes as primitives that must be manipulated through dialog windows and think about shapes as objects made up of lines, as if you were drawing them with a pencil. Its a bit of a mindset shift coming into SU from most other modelers. -
@bmike said:
That video is for a plug in called 'driving dimensions'. It has little to do with how the scale tool works.
See the bottom of my post here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=293331#p293331Now othoap, if you wish to try that plugin, there is a free version of it but you do not necessarily need it as creating precise geometry can be done several ways in SketchUp. Just ask what you exactlywant to do and these guys currently scolding you will turn into very helpful folks, believe me.
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@othoap said:
More then one person has said "Pro and Non are the same in the respect of scale"
That is absolutely true.
@othoap said:
I want to learn and use all these tools that's why I'm asking.
Your posts did not come off as questions but as statements of fact that SketchUp doesn't work. If you actually take some time to read the forum, you'll see that there are many people here who are more than willing to help anyone who wants to learn the program.
@othoap said:
So if anyone I can tell me how I can do what they're doing in this video. Please scrub to 2:16 and watch how he types in the value and the model changes scale.
Did you happen to notice that the video to which you linked refers to a plugin called Driving Dimensions? A simple Google search will take you to the website for the plugin. It is not a Google product.
http://drivingdimensions.com/SketchUp/Also notice the sketchup version in the grab bar "PRO". It all so says "EXPIRED" Maybe this is one of those beta's never to be seen again interfaces.[/quote]
How is it that you manage to come to that erroneous conclusion? The person making the video was using an expired version of SketchUp Pro. If you had read the SketchUp website you would know that there is an 8 hour trial period for SkewtchUp Pro. When the 8 hours have elapsed, the program reverts to the free version. It just continues to tell you that the Pro trial has expired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uqvPu7fp_0[/quote]
[quote="othoap":1686llkp]Dave R, I am sorry if I insulted you. That was not my goal. I'm just frustrated that the tools are not behaving like the tool I've used for over 20 years.[/quote:1686llkp]
I wasn't insulted. I just find it annoying that people make statements as if they are factual when in fact they are not. It's alright to be frustrated but instead of diving in here proclaiming that the Scale tool doesn't work, you could ask how to use it. And you've already been given instructions on how to use it accurately. Just because it works differently than other programs you've used is no reason to say it doesn't work.
[quote="othoap":1686llkp]You said "You've already made up your mind about SketchUp without bothering to find out the truth. " Then what would you call taking the time to try it my self, read the directions, experiment with all the settings. Go online to search the forums. Join a forum. Make a post, wait for the post to be approved because I'm a new user. Don't I get any credit for all that?[/quote:1686llkp]
Your first and subsequent posts did not give the impression that you are trying to learn to use the program. Your rant didn't help matters.
[quote:1686llkp]This latest disappointment from sketchup on the lack of this fundamental function "scale". This really make my mind up on google. No thank you. Ether google is putting out free products that lead you to the pro version or they just don't get it. There was a time when software companies would tell you the difference be free and pro.[/quote:1686llkp]
This doesn't read like it is written by someone who wants to learn to use the program. Your statement gives the impression that you already know the Scale tool doesn't work and you even said your mind is made up. What do you want us to believe? And if you had actually taken the time to read the Google SketchUp website, you would know what the difference is between the free and pro versions. It is clearly spelled out.
If you really want to learn the program, ask questions. People will answer them. If you just want to make the kind of posts you've already made, don't waste your time and ours.
In case you haven't found it, there's also the Help files conveniently accessed through the Help menu. You might find this helpful. For example Scaling Precisely. You shouldn't need the Scale tool in the first place for what you've described wanting to do anyway.
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Othoap,
As a woodworker who drew by hand for more than 20 years, I can testify that what Chris Fuller say's is abosolutely dead on.
"Stop thinking about shapes as primitives that must be manipulated through dialog windows and think about shapes as objects made up of lines, as if you were drawing them with a pencil. Its a bit of a mindset shift coming into SU from most other modelers."
Sketchup was the first program I tried that drew the way is most natural to me. Is it perfect? No. But it's a super program that after using for 18 months I'm still learning new things every day. And I could not have done it without the help of the good folks on this forum. Always get quick and in my case patient walking through of whatever problem I've had. If you're using it professionally, become proficient at the basics before you run into a deadline, or you'll surly become dishearted at the program. The # of tutorials out there coupled with plugins make Sketchup a winner in my book.
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