Layout: adjusting viewport size

jalsina · 25 Jun 2011, 01:47

I am trying to reduce the size of a Sketchup viewport in Layout 3 to 97% of its current size. When I try to do this by dragging a handle on the viewport, it jumps from 100% to 94.3%, and only then does it start reducing size smoothly. When I try to enter precise scaling factors from the keyboard, they show up in the text entry box, but when I hit <return>, it says "invalid string" no matter how I've formatted the information. I've tried with and without leading zeros, different numbers of digits after the decimal point, etc. Arg! Finally, I gave up. What am I missing? Thx.

jeff hammond · 25 Jun 2011, 01:54

for me, i just move the scale handle to an arbitrary scale factor then let go of the mouse button..
type .97,.97 (point 97 comma point 97) and hit return.

and it scales to that size.

[pretty much the same way you'd use the rectangle tool to get an exact size in sketchup]

ArCAD-UK · 25 Jun 2011, 10:25

I've had a similar problem with the string format in various LO tools. I found that adding a space after the comma seemed to cure it
e.g. "0.97, 0.97".

jeff hammond · 25 Jun 2011, 15:04

@arcad-uk said:

I've had a similar problem with the string format in various LO tools. I found that adding a space after the comma seemed to cure it e.g. "0.97, 0.97".

strange.. maybe it's a difference in operating systems but i can enter it either way and it's accepted.
(but i don't see why operating systems would matter in this case?)

ArCAD-UK · 25 Jun 2011, 21:57

Hmmm, can't seem to duplicate the problem in a new drawing Jeff. May be one of those odd bugs that raise their head every now and then just to frustrate. Definitely had it though and the added space was the only way to get the string to be accepted.

jalsina · 30 Jun 2011, 00:23

Thanks, guys. I tried all the formats mentioned so far, and none worked for me. I'm using Windows 7.

jeff hammond · 30 Jun 2011, 00:34

Does the format work for you if you're using the rectangle tool in sketchup?
I think some languages(?) require a semi-colon ; instead of a comma.

Are you clicking the mouse in the measurement box or are you just typing the numbers?
(just start typing is the way I do)

johnwmcc · 17 Mar 2016, 23:12

Just come across this post years later, as I was having the same difficulty - viewport edge was jumping, and I couldn't see why.

Turning off Object Snap in the View menu in Layout fixed it for me - I could then make small smooth adjustments with the mouse.

Dave R · 17 Mar 2016, 23:37

@johnwmcc said:

Just come across this post years later, as I was having the same difficulty - viewport edge was jumping, and I couldn't see why.

Turning off Object Snap in the View menu in Layout fixed it for me - I could then make small smooth adjustments with the mouse.

Very good, John.

I'm not sure why scaling the viewport precisely would be useful since it would typically be the model size you'd be interested in. You set the scale of the model in the SketchUp inspector and adjust the borders of the viewport as needed to show what you need to show.

JQL · 18 Mar 2016, 09:39

@dave r said:

I'm not sure why scaling the viewport precisely would be useful since it would typically be the model size you'd be interested in.

I use it for joining to viewports with ortho views of sections that are at different levels.

Example:

2nd Floor plan has one level at 6m and the other at 4.5m;
At a given place the section that works for 6m ceases to work for the 4.5m floor;
I have to create 2 floor plan scenes for each level;
Inside LO I stitch the scenes with precise viewport through an axis or a model reference...

This shows the need for precise placement, however I always create a line in LO for reference so I have to have snapping on and with the line there I have no problem with scale.