Label and annotations text to change SketchUp model info
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I do like the auto label tool. I've been getting more in the habit of using it, by putting in information into the model, which I pull out within LayOut. It's a well designed system. However, more and more, I find myself going back to Sketchup to add/amend details (to a component description, more often than not), save model, refresh viewport in LayOut, before carrying on. This is a waste of time.
What has become clear for me in the pursuit of going more and more BIM, is that information about a model is more naturally manipulated within a paper layout (ie within LayOut). So users should have the ability to change the information in a SketchUp model from within LayOut.
I think the best way to do this is by expanding the features of the label tool. For example, if <ComponentDescription> is in the label text, the user should be able to, say, right click on the auto-text and select "edit property". Then the user edits the text of that property as if it was carrying on with a normal annotation, but the property gets updated on the model itself.
This changes the paradigm from "SketchUp to LayOut", to "SketchUp to/from LayOut", but I don't think this is a bad thing.
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I agree TommyK... basically its a good system. Could be better but has a lot of power built in. I am using Sketchup for space programming (bubble diagrams) and have found I can add custom properties to a component, then get Layout to report them. So, like when you have <ComponentDescription> you can change it to:
%(#FF0000)[<DynamicComponent(role)>
<DynamicComponent(staff)>]Where role and staff are custom attributes I created for my "bubble" component. Pretty cool! I just figured this out yesterday so there are probably way cooler things we can do.
BTW, attached is the bubble component if you are interested. You can change the area you want to change the size of the circle.
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