SketchUp 2013 ;)
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@tomasz said:
Right. The "extension warehouse" will reach much broader audience... but it doesn't work in SU8 ((free) for commercial use)
Really? Wow... That's a mistake.
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For the record form.z is (and always was) an architectural modeler first and foremost -- however due to it's fine modelling tools it can do almost anything... however it would not be my first choice for figure work. It is also currently 64-bit... I do wish people would check facts before posting false statements just to try to prop up SketchUp.
As I said before, it(form.z) has it's faults... and it's not even my likely replacement for SketchUp. For my needs Modo is likely the software I will move to, however I acknowledge that Modo is a bit more powerful and complex than the average SketchUp user would want or need.
I was asked what software I though could easily replace SketchUp for architectural work, and form.z (or bonzai3d) would be my pick if coming from that POV.
Obviously, if you are very tied into SketchUp via paid plugins then it will be hard to move. However if you are one of the many former free-version users who are now looking to pay $595 for a software that really isn't worth it, and want an alternate option I would recommend checking bonzai3d (and form.z). At $100 less it has more power and the company is growing the tool at a much faster rate than Trimble is growing SketchUp. The workflow is very similar, and the modeling tools are much more powerful... so I think that is a valid recommendation.
If you are really open to new options I would also recommend checking Rhino, MoI3D and Blender. Each have great strengths and all are more worthwhile to invest your time and money into if you are now looking at a $595 (+ $95 each year) bill just to use the same SketchUp you were using for free.
If you are really tied to keeping your workflow free then you should absolutely make the switch to Blender and never look back.
Best,
Jason. -
@notareal said:
@bbrown said:
Sounds like "Zoom In More" is the thing for me... cannot remember how often I have been frustrated with the broken zoom. But if trimble will now release a new version yearly (as paid upgrade), maybe I'll wait the next one that actually offers more than some bug fixes. Sure, LayOut did get a proper update (or so it sounds), but I never use it... and with sketchucation plugin store, I hardly find Extension Warehouse interesting.
Not much here for free users, user that don't use layout or improvements. IMO
Think this is a new platform to start separating free & pro. -
@jpalm32 said:
@notareal said:
@bbrown said:
Sounds like "Zoom In More" is the thing for me... cannot remember how often I have been frustrated with the broken zoom. But if trimble will now release a new version yearly (as paid upgrade), maybe I'll wait the next one that actually offers more than some bug fixes. Sure, LayOut did get a proper update (or so it sounds), but I never use it... and with sketchucation plugin store, I hardly find Extension Warehouse interesting.
Not much here for free users, user that don't use layout or improvements. IMO
Think this is a new platform to start separating free & pro.I think the new toolbar system and the overall program development in the background of the software are all you get with Make and you can't use it for Professional use, a huge mistake in my opinion.
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@kwistenbiebel said:
@alan fraser said:
@tomasz said:
Right. The "extension warehouse" will reach much broader audience... but it doesn't work in SU8 ((free) for commercial use)
Now when I think about it, there can be more reasons for this: financial, summer holidays coming in the northern hemisphere... I know well that a middle of a summer is not the best time for a release.
The Extension Warehouse wiindow in SU is just a web dialog box. It works anywhere. You can get to it by merely typing the URL into any browser address bar.
Am I reading this right and does Trimble actually consider Sketchucation as a competitor?
If so.....OMG ! LolHow could you possibly infer that from anything I’ve written…especially when I stated earlier that there is no ‘competition’. The SU userbase is orders of magnitude greater than Sketchucation’s.
I’m quite sure the dev team look upon Sketchucation as they have always done…a useful point of contact between a good many of their most avid users and talented 3rd party developers…very useful for almost instant feedback and a source of ideas for future development.As for the complaint by Tomasz that the Extension Warehouse doesn't work in V8, which software company has EVER rolled out a new version of its software with new features that could be used in earlier versions...especially a version that was released under different ownership, with perhaps all manner of conflicting revenue and royalty implications. That's plain crazy. Isn't that what a new version is all about? And as I said earlier, it does actually work anywhere...just not in the program itself.
While I'm not personally convinced of the advisability of actually charging for this release, it does mark a new direction after the wilderness years with Google. Overdosing on negativity isn't particularly helpful.
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I remember when Google acquired SketchUp from @Last and made a free version...
Back then users were very upset that there was going to be a free version...
Please remember that the first free version was also limited to non-commercial work...
When Google decided to accept commercial work when using the free version, with only a few limitations (i.e. no import/export of various formats), users were again upset and discussions went on...Now Trimble have acquired SU from Google and they're taking a step back and once again the free version can't be used for commercial work...
Once again the debate is raging...
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@alan fraser said:
I don't think it's any coincidence that the Sketchucation version appeared on the very same day as the Beta trials started...and certain people here got to see what was coming.
Check the start date of the Beta Testing.
Now check this...
...so please don't suggest that anyone here used any type of insider knowledge to beat SketchUp to the punch.
A working solution for installing plugins was in our hands since last December. Prior to that SketchUp were well aware we were developing a plugin solution for members.
Just so the members here are very clear on the FACT that those involved in developing the PluginStore were NOT using insider info at any point.
An incredible amount of work went into this and it's a great tool for community members.
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New 2013 reminds me release of ad's softimage 2013 or 2014. Softimage team slightly change and 2014 was weak release. Heh...
Hi Chris(Kwistenbiebel), there was wonderful time with @last
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@alan fraser said:
As for the complaint by Tomasz that the Extension Warehouse doesn't work in V8
It was not a complaint! I have just stated the fact in favor of SCF plugin shop.
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@rich o brien said:
An incredible amount of work went into this and it's a great tool for community members.
( about PluginStore )
And much more now for the people who have not upgraded to 2.013 version .
Indeed it isSo please keep it up
Cheers
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I'm not suggesting any kind of sneaky insider knowledge, Rich...just the SketchUp dev team and a 3rd party working on similar ideas simultaneously. Apologies if it is taken any other way. Need I mention the 3D Warehouse opening shortly after FormFonts? I'm quite well aware that months (if not years) of development work go into such things...so a difference of a few days in a public release is neither here nor there.
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The SCF Plugin Store and the Extension Warehouse both have their strengths and weaknesses. Favour and competition don't enter into it.
The EW will reach a much greater userbase of SU users than SCF can hope to reach (ie. every single person that uses SU2013 Pro or Make)
On the other hand, despite its ability to give developers a great shop window to display their wares...complete with extensive Description, links to websites and blogs, Comment section etc. it does not offer the intensive back and forth dialogue between developers and users that is possible here on SCF...the ability to beta or fine-tune a plugin to perfection.
The two facilities complement each other; they are not in competition. In fact, if anything, via its links, I suspect the Extension warehouse may well drive more users to SCF than ever before. -
My biggest problem with Sketchup is the materials palette under OSX. Its a major slowdown. I have been hoping for years that this palette would get a makeover.
Imagine hovering your mouse over colored blocks, waiting to see what the materials names are to figure out what is what. Or the extremely slow behaviors of this palette even with a few materials added. Or importing a few warehouse models completely rendering the palette useless with a horrendous overflow in the amount of materials and no way to organize them. Dozens of greys and white making it impossible to see what is what. Or the fact that its not possible to see what material is active because the slightly blue frame around the material does not show or is very hard to detect. Or having to delete dozens of materials one by one in a painstakingly slow manor.
Bluntly ignoring a major flaw like the material palette (under OSX) does not add to a warm welcome for a new release. Haven't checked the new release yet so maybe I am all wrong....
I am aware of plugins working with materials that partly make up for the lack of proper material management in Sketchup. But this is definitely something that should properly work in Sketchup itself.But I like the look of the new website with the extension warehouse. Seems to browse fast and quick to find things there. Also the website looks well taken care off and fits Sketchup very well.
Francois -
If I had to make a wish list for Sketchup it would be.
- Able to handle 10x more geometry without dying
That's it. Does the new version offer potential for larger more complex models?
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@krisidious said:
@jpalm32 said:
@notareal said:
@bbrown said:
Sounds like "Zoom In More" is the thing for me... cannot remember how often I have been frustrated with the broken zoom. But if trimble will now release a new version yearly (as paid upgrade), maybe I'll wait the next one that actually offers more than some bug fixes. Sure, LayOut did get a proper update (or so it sounds), but I never use it... and with sketchucation plugin store, I hardly find Extension Warehouse interesting.
Not much here for free users, user that don't use layout or improvements. IMO
Think this is a new platform to start separating free & pro.I think the new toolbar system and the overall program development in the background of the software are all you get with Make and you can't use it for Professional use, a huge mistake in my opinion.
Ironically it was the free and open source Ruby programming language that helped increase Sketchup's usefulness and popularity. Imagine if you will if Yukihiro Matsumoto had decided to allow people to use his Ruby programming language with a footnote of "not for commercial use." Where would Sketchup be today? It was the free and open access of Ruby and Ruby developers that provided their work for free to the Sketchup community and continue to this day. It is their work that makes Sketchup and while there are many "payware" addons the majority and the most popular of these are free and those come with no limitations as to their use.
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Absolutely correct -- and I'll go one step further and say that if it were not for one particular ruby developer I would have left SketchUp long ago: Fredo6.
Take his plugins out and SketchUp loses a huge amount of modeling power.
Best,
Jason. -
@jason_maranto said:
For the record form.z is (and always was) an architectural modeler first and foremost -- however due to it's fine modelling tools it can do almost anything... however it would not be my first choice for figure work. It is also currently 64-bit... I do wish people would check facts before posting false statements just to try to prop up SketchUp.
As I said before, it(form.z) has it's faults... and it's not even my likely replacement for SketchUp. For my needs Modo is likely the software I will move to, however I acknowledge that Modo is a bit more powerful and complex than the average SketchUp user would want or need.
I was asked what software I though could easily replace SketchUp for architectural work, and form.z (or bonzai3d) would be my pick if coming from that POV.
Obviously, if you are very tied into SketchUp via paid plugins then it will be hard to move. However if you are one of the many former free-version users who are now looking to pay $595 for a software that really isn't worth it, and want an alternate option I would recommend checking bonzai3d (and form.z). At $100 less it has more power and the company is growing the tool at a much faster rate than Trimble is growing SketchUp. The workflow is very similar, and the modeling tools are much more powerful... so I think that is a valid recommendation.
If you are really open to new options I would also recommend checking Rhino, MoI3D and Blender. Each have great strengths and all are more worthwhile to invest your time and money into if you are now looking at a $595 (+ $95 each year) bill just to use the same SketchUp you were using for free.
If you are really tied to keeping your workflow free then you should absolutely make the switch to Blender and never look back.
Best,
Jason.From http://www.formz.com/support/faqs.html:
"On Windows 64, you can access 4 GB of RAM with the 32 bit version of form·Z, or up to 128 GB RAM with the 64 bit version. With OSX, form·Z versions 4.0 and later can access 4 GB RAM.."
This doesn't sound like 64bit to me on OSX..
Jason, you should know that I'm using Modo within my work pipeline for several years already - mostly for organic modeling and visualization. It's probably the best SDS modeler you can get out there. The program itself evolved from a modeler into a complete and very competitive package within the last years. But fact is, that Modo is not really suitable for pure architectural modeling - you can do most stuff quicker and more precise in SU. And I know that many architecture related Modo users would wish for the automatic snapping behavior and some sort of reshape tool from SU for instance..).
Also Modo isn't really competing with SU but rather with Maya, Cinema4d and 3D Studio.To end it here - What I and many other users want is an updated, new version of SU in the near future. With new, innovative features, less limitations and more performance and not a software which incorporated all these characteristics 10 years ago the last time..
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@archheni said:
From http://www.formz.com/support/faqs.html:
"On Windows 64, you can access 4 GB of RAM with the 32 bit version of form·Z, or up to 128 GB RAM with the 64 bit version. With OSX, form·Z versions 4.0 and later can access 4 GB RAM.."
This doesn't sound like 64bit to me on OSX..
OSX is a problem for many developers to convert to 64-bit -- so I'm hardly holding that against them. Clearly Windows users, who comprise the vast majority, will benefit from 64-bit right now by a switch, whereas SketchUp may never make that leap.
I never recommended Modo here -- I simply said that was what I will most likely switch to... I have always tried to make it abundantly clear that I am not an architect. Furthermore, I clearly have stated I recommend bonzai3d or form.z for that use (for anybody who is interested in switching).
I do find it so tiresome that people keep wanting to twist things to somehow prop up SketchUp -- It should not need you to defend it, if it was truly a worthwhile upgrade then it would be obvious. The fact that you feel the need to do so speaks volumes about the weakness of SketchUp... at this point it is (and has been) a dying program that is being completely kept alive (read as "relevant") solely through the efforts of a devoted community.
Best,
Jason. -
@alan fraser said:
On the other hand, despite its ability to give developers a great shop window to display their wares...complete with extensive Description, links to websites and blogs, Comment section etc. it does not offer the intensive back and forth dialogue between developers and users that is possible here on SCF...the ability to beta or fine-tune a plugin to perfection.
The two facilities complement each other; they are not in competition. In fact, if anything, via its links, I suspect the Extension warehouse may well drive more users to SCF than ever before.I think Alan is correct in his prediction. EW belongs to Trimble and users will not get the ear of Trimble like they can the SCF store and the SCF forum. It's a corporate solution and corporations don't listen or take part in discussions. And they certainly don't help third party developers with problems.
Further, I just looked at the process for getting a plugin on EW. It is quite onerous. The success of the SketchUp Ruby API was that users of SketchUp could quickly fill a functionality gap by writing some code. They didn't need to be a professional software engineer. They could then share that code with other users, almost always for free, and those users could use it at their own risk. Yes, some poor code got into the mix. But the huge success was the creative users that provided functionality, not based on their coding expertise, but on their expertise in the area in which they work. This was a tremendous success. That creativity is now going to be stifled in favor of coding expertise unless the developer base continues to use SCF store or simply distributes their own code, each in their own way.
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@chiefwoodworker said:
Further, I just looked at the process for getting a plugin on EW. It is quite onerous. The success of the SketchUp Ruby API was that users of SketchUp could quickly fill a functionality gap by writing some code. They didn't need to be a professional software engineer. They could then share that code with other users, almost always for free, and those users could use it at their own risk. Yes, some poor code got into the mix. But the huge success was the creative users that provided functionality, not based on their coding expertise, but on their expertise in the area in which they work. This was a tremendous success. That creativity is now going to be stifled in favor of coding expertise unless the developer base continues to use SCF store or simply distributes their own code, each in their own way.
I think the requirements is a good thing. Because we keep getting issues with new plugins causing conflicts. And that's been in part due to lack of guidelines from good practices. The people who use this forum do try to encourage best practices we're worked out over the time but it's been a bumpy road and it's very hard for new developers to discover. Now there are clear guidelines which means that developers can develop plugins from the start that plays nice - as oppose to all the plugins that's had to be re-worked due to clashes. (TIG has been involved in such a re-write project for instance - ask him how fun that was...)
I have personally spend a lot of time myself scanning through code of new developers looking for problematic code and recommending amendments. I'm glad there's an official instance that takes care of this now. Tedious work to say the least.
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