SketchUp 2013 Gripes & Bitchin' ONLY ;)
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Sorry Dan, I have 2013 installed just haven't had a chance to really use it much. I am disappointed in it and really haven't seen much in upgrades since 7 for me to get excited about it as much. There were a few new items in 8 that were cool but not earth shattering.
I agree with much of what Jason has said. I did in fact get Bonzai3D v3 recently and I might move to it more with it's advanced tool set. I will say that it (Bonzai) is no where as easy to use as SU but nothing really has been.
I don't use SU Layout so no real incentive for me to buy it once the 2013 demo is gone. -
[quote="jason_maranto"]
"The public perception is "Hey Trimble is giving away all this free stuff so the cost of Pro isn't so bad".
Just look at the Extension Warehouse with a clear eye -- does it say clearly anywhere that the plugins are not made by Trimble? I can't find that without looking very deep into the website . A user who is not experienced with such things is not going to have a clear understanding that Trimble is not financing these in some way. The implied impression is one that heavily benefits Trimble and the SketchUp team -- whereas the reality is that SketchUcation has done more to support these developers over the years than SketchUp itself has... however we see no mention of that anywhere."I was amazed at this! They didn't even mention the names.
They have search by name but who's going to do that.
If you know the name, you probably found it here. -
Keep in mind that only a small fraction of plugins here or elsewhere actually deliver the advertised function let alone actually solve a problem. Unless somebody either starts to enforce plugins (delivers as advertised) or Trimble states clearly "ah ah ah....I know what you are thinking...does this plugin actually do anything or not....well being sketchup and the plugin community is basically the wild west...you got to ask yourself one question....do I feel lucky"
Seriously, I am not going to call out specifics....but there are authors here that have 10 or more plugins that range from the "gee that was false advertizing" to the "it works some of the time" to the "this just does work at all" My favorite is the plugin (wont say exactly what it is attempting to do) that does 2 things. First, it apparently swaps or inverts ALL the geometries in the Z direction. Second, totally disables selection of any kind (and corrupts the file...only way back is to use an older version of the drawing and redo the work hoping it doesnt mess things up again). And this plugin is highly regarded on this site....nice!!!!
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@vojo said:
Keep in mind that only a small fraction of plugins here or elsewhere actually deliver the advertised function let alone actually solve a problem. Unless somebody either starts to enforce plugins (delivers as advertised) or Trimble states clearly "ah ah ah....I know what you are thinking...does this plugin actually do anything or not....well being sketchup and the plugin community is basically the wild west...you got to ask yourself one question....do I feel lucky"
Seriously, I am not going to call out specifics....but there are authors here that have 10 or more plugins that range from the "gee that was false advertizing" to the "it works some of the time" to the "this just does work at all" My favorite is the plugin (wont say exactly what it is attempting to do) that does 2 things. First, it apparently swaps or inverts ALL the geometries in the Z direction. Second, totally disables selection of any kind (and corrupts the file...only way back is to use an older version of the drawing and redo the work hoping it doesnt mess things up again). And this plugin is highly regarded on this site....nice!!!!
That's a little harsh.
When I used Sketchup (since version v.3 and stopped using it half a year ago), I heavily depended on some of the plugins here on Sketchucation.
To name one :Fredo's Surface Operations (in combo with CPhillips' JointPushpull)
Without it ,and disregarding it's limitations, it would have been impossible to draw roads/siteworks on curved sites.
I would not have been able to do my work in Sketchup without it.And there are many more examples.
Yes, there are a lot of B class plugins too, however isn't that why the Sketchucation plugin store and EW are now intended for ? To sort them , assess them and create guidelines for new plugins so underperforming plugins won't make it? -
Dojo.
There is normally a disclaimer in the plugin like:
@unknownuser said:
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.That is no JOKE!
That doesent mean developers should be arrogant and ignore best practices while developing the plugins (we often get hints if off target around here).
But as long as the developer hasent broken any golden rules the "as is" clausul means it is up to YOU to take a risk at testing if the plugin does what it is intended to do.I don't think it's a good idea to start generalizing about plugin performances here at this community since we(devs) all have such a different level of knowledge and experience.
Some are longtime proffesionals and some are quite new to this.
Ruby is slow, the API and it's documentations is a bit sketchy so problems are bound to happend like it or not. -
Mmmmm ..... this is not exactly a 'gripe or bitch' about 2013. Its more about the folks that gripe / bitch about some of the not so great plugins.
Most of these plugins are available for free download and use. Donations are hoped for and gratefully accepted BUT from my research not even 5% actually make a donation and this figure is more than likely 3%!
Maybe when the freeloaders get a little conscience and make some effort at supporting the developers financially these developers will be able to allocate more time and rectify any short-fallings their plugins have.
I personally would be very slow to criticise the efforts of folks that produce donation-ware. I think if a particular plugin user sees potential in a plugin but finds it not working properly, they would do well to send a few bucks to the developer with a request to fix the problems ....... I'd say the developer would bend over backwards to facilitate if few a few more did this.
I know what I'm talking about in this regard as it often gets tiring facilitating freeloaders that just take, take, take and make no efforts to give anything in return. Still, its the small percentage of generous minded folks that make going on worth while.
Mike
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Don't think it's even a percent...
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1/1000 !
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I'd much rather someone set a price, at least then I know I have not insulted or offended them by innocently undervaluing their work.
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@unknownuser said:
Mmmmm ..... this is not exactly a 'gripe or bitch' about 2013. Its more about the folks that gripe / bitch about some of the not so great plugins.
Yes, sorry. I had a strong desire to respond Dojos post. In a polite and factbased way if possible.
In my experiences frantic topics like this always brings up a wealth of other issues deep buried within our souls
Thomthom I would guess it's even less than 1% ? (OT again, d#mit!)
edit: gees.. this thread is moving fast.
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ooooops....i'm off topic
i'd better have a bitch
....second thoughts, i am happily single now, and there is no room for a bitch...!!
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@gareth said:
i am happily single now, and there is no room for a bitch...!!
you still got 99 problems though....
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I stand corrected! Wow, 0.1%
You guys would be better off getting your cup out and going on the High Street. I imagine you would get better support there
Still, its the 1 in a Thousand that makes it worthwhile
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@gareth said:
I'd much rather someone set a price, at least then I know I have not insulted or offended them by innocently undervaluing their work.
Gareth, I think many may feel this way and end up not supporting. The non commercial ruby developers for the most part do not do the work for big financial rewards but they do like to have their work appreciated and 'tipped'!
I think that an awful lot more than 1 in a 1000 would gladly buy TIG or ThomThom a cup of coffee or a drink if they met them out and about!
So, the simple answer is to cover them for the price of a coffee or a drink if your flush! I can guarantee they will not be in the slightest bit insulted
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Wooooooaaaah.......i just checked one of my favourite Plugins, Shapebender
it has been downloaded more than 34,000 times (no doubt there are some plugins which are even more popular)
even for a very modest $10.....that would have been a nice little earner
but what is it really worth ?....much more I would suggest...!!
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@mike lucey said:
@gareth said:
I'd much rather someone set a price, at least then I know I have not insulted or offended them by innocently undervaluing their work.
Gareth, I think many may feel this way and end up not supporting. The non commercial ruby developers for the most part do not do the work for big financial rewards but they do like to have their work appreciated and 'tipped'!
I think that an awful lot more than 1 in a 1000 would gladly buy TIG or ThomThom a cup of coffee or a drink if they met them out and about!
[attachment=0:913hky15]<!-- ia0 -->Support Creativity - Buy me a Coffee.jpeg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:913hky15]
So, the simple answer is to cover them for the price of a coffee or a drink if your flush! I can guarantee they will not be in the slightest bit insulted
Good point Mike....and I'd be quite happy to provide them with a place to stay if they ever visit 'Down Under'....!!
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No amount of money, no matter how small, is an insult...
But 'Nothing' is the insult - even 'Thanks' is 'something'...I get donations ranging from ~£1 to ~£100 - but usually modest sums.
But if I get £1 from some poor student in Africa, then it is actually worth more to me that the £10 from a Western professional - who has probably saved himself hours of time/angst using one of my tools, but chooses to donate only a small fraction of his total saving... but then at least he gave something!I write 'commercial tools', often costing several thousand pounds... but you rarely see them, or perhaps you use them as part of other tools without realizing my involvement...
My 'donationware' plugins were never intended to make me rich anytime soon... but they are given in a spirit that sometimes I wish was perhaps more reciprocated that it is...
A 'Thanks' now and again is welcomed...
Occasional 'advice' is also welcome.
But the 'complaining' I can really do without -
oooops....sorry again for not bitchin'
....I guess i just can't get angry enough....!!
....I promise, I'm working on it..!
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