How do I make Points?

Blastfurnace

Here is the situation:

I am a sketchup user who also uses Trimble robotic Total Stations. We are looking into a new Total station and the 773 uses a tablet with a software called Field Link.

This software can load sketchup models and then the RTS can have you stake out the model locations in the real world. The issue I am having is I want to be able to put 'points' in my model while in sketchup. Not a line or shape but simply coordinated points that have a N,E,Z

I can import CSV files with a point cloud plug in and it will have points as simple black dots but I would like to be able to enter coordinates somehow while in sketchup and it make a point (node?) at that location.

They are waiting for me to advise them on what model RTS to buy. I can get the scaled down one that I know how to run with the basic LM80 software but I am leaning towards the 773 that can use 3D models but this point thing is an issue and since the 773 is a considerable amount more than the 655 I'm concerned.

Thanks for any advice you can give me,
M

Dave R

Maybe TIG's [Plugin] Coords Text Tag from Datum v2.3 20130611 would work?

cotty

Maybe a plugin with something like this together with a UI?

Blastfurnace

@dave r said:

Maybe TIG's [Plugin] Coords Text Tag from Datum v2.3 20130611 would work?

Yeah, there is a way to set that up so that it would work. The Add Coords by tag works when I change the value. The plug in does way more than I need but that's fine by me.

Thank you for your help.

Now I need to see how the Trimble Field Link software sees the Cpoint when it loads it.

It's a shame when you are looking at a 40 thousand dollar machine and need to get plug ins from the web to make them work easier but when they took "input plan" out of their software these are the hoops I have to jump through.

Don't pay any attention to my complaining it's nice to have these high tech toys to take home on the week end to lay out the neighbors new garage.

Again thanks for your help! And if anyone else has any tips please leave them, I need to be able to enter coordinates in feet or feet inch fraction and have a guide point at the co ordinate. But it's going to take a pretty specific plug in to do it better than the Text Tag one.

thanks again,
M

tt_su

@cotty said:

Maybe a plugin with something like this together with a UI?

Jim created such a tool many years ago: http://sketchuptips.blogspot.no/2008/02/plugin-construction-line-tool.html

But since it's hosted only on his site I think it's somewhat overlooked. But it's one of my must-have tools.

mitcorb

I am not sure if you need something more elaborate, but see this by Todd Burch:
http://www.smustard.com/script/AddConstructionPoint $4.00, I believe.

Alternatively, Didier Bur's cpoint tool within his Projections set. Again, not too elaborate. Can be found at RubyLibraryDepot.

Chris Fullmer

This might not be completely relevant, but Chris Dizon from Trimble wrote a station point importer that is pretty cool.

SketchUp Extension Warehouse

Your library of custom third-party extensions created to optimize your SketchUp workflow.

(extensions.sketchup.com)

Chris

Blastfurnace

@chris fullmer said:

This might not be completely relevant, but Chris Dizon from Trimble wrote a station point importer that is pretty cool.

SketchUp Extension Warehouse

Your library of custom third-party extensions created to optimize your SketchUp workflow.

(extensions.sketchup.com)

Chris

Thanks Chris! It's interesting that you post this because I was just this week in Pittsburgh meeting with a Trimble guy. He was at a local distributor giving them a class and he agreed to meet with me to discuss Trimble total station purchase options.
We talked extensively about Sketchup integration and he said "Chris just wrote a point importer that's really nice." I said "Fullmer?" he looked confused and said "Umm, no. Chris". I decided him explaing his Chris and I explaining mine was not worth it, so I said "Well send me a link to it." Which he forgot to do.

We are trying to decide between a Field Link which uses Sketcchup and CAD or an LM80 which doesn't but has a really easy point entry interface. If I can use Sketchup in the same way I used to use LM80 then it's a lot easier decision which to buy.

what I need to do is a two step process.
Take points shot with an RTS and develop new points based on the shot points.
I.E. "From point 3 turn 90 degrees (based on a line that is drawn from point 4 to point 5) then move 4 feet and make a new point.

Step Two: Load those points, that were both shot and created, into an RTS to be staked out.

So I am rambling. I'm sorry. Thanks for your information I heard about it but didn't know where to find it.

Thanks!