FlexWindow 2.1 - dynamic component

[halroach]

Flexwindow 1.1 is out! - [highlight=#ffff80:14yns36y]Dynamic pillars added![/highlight:14yns36y]

To make Flexwindow a 'little closer' to reality when creating large facades, there is now an option to add pillars. (vs. the earlier version in which I used the vertical profiles as pillars).

Pillar options:

• (a) pillars are centered with the vertical profiles.
  (note: If pillars are larger than 2*framewidth, they are no longer centered exactly but distributed in an equal distance between the boundaries of the component.
• (b) freely specify number of pillar divisions between the frame.
• (c) pillars OFF.

Additional features:

• frame width can be set to 0 - and it disappears!
  note: **1.**It will affect how pillars are centered in option (b). **2.**frame depth still affects component boundaries.
• Using the interact tool:
  on profiles - adds divisions
  on frame - subtracts divisions.
  note: You can click as many times as you want on the frame to subtract and it will always stay with the minimum of 2 - don't worry about clicking too much.

note for those who have purchased flexwindow 1.0, you should be able to use the same links to download the updated flexwindow 1.1. If there are any problems, let me know.

I'll be glad to hear some feedback, opinions, suggestions for additional/better/easier/clearer features...

[halroach]

Flexwindow 1.2 is out! - [highlight=#ffff80:be77ejqe]Window sill added![/highlight:be77ejqe]

New in this version:

• window sill added
• specify sill width, depth, protrusion to the sides.
• set sill width to 0 makes it disappear.
• interact tool on sill - toggles side protrusions. note: protrusions should be toggled to off when scaling the component.
• improved pillar positioning in relation to frame width minimum - (option (a))
• restyled options window to take less real estate.
• rearranged options to make them more comfortable.
• totally rewritten to accommodate further development...!

Those who have purchased previous versions can now download this version as well.

Enjoy!

[attachment=1:be77ejqe]<!-- ia1 -->flexwindow 1.2 component options window<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:be77ejqe]

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[erikB]

Very handy dynamic component for quick and easy use. Especially with the new feature (window sill).
Concerning the glass. As far as I am concerned I do not mind it running trough the mullions BUT speaking for myself there even should not be double panes. It is hardly visible in a sketchup drawing (only with a close-up) and when rendering (p.e. thea) double panes are rarely used because it only creates extra time and no significant difference in the outcome.Come to think off it in sketchup the double panes also gives a extra thick line when using a section cut.
But all in all, congrats for this very useful component,

erikB

[pbacot]

By Double panes--is each glass component two surfaces or insulated panes that are two surfaces separated by 1" or more...or four surfaces?

[erikB]

No, I mean the glass is draw as 2 planes (representing the two panes I suppose, or perhaps giving the one pane some thickness? Either way for my the use a simple plane (1) (representing 2 separated glas panes or thickness if one pane was intended ) would have been enough. (cfr. windowizer here the glas is also only represented by a simple plane.
erikB

[halroach]

@erikb said:

No, I mean the glass is draw as 2 planes (representing the two panes I suppose, or perhaps giving the one pane some thickness? Either way for my the use a simple plane (1) (representing 2 separated glas panes or thickness if one pane was intended ) would have been enough. (cfr. windowizer here the glas is also only represented by a simple plane.
erikB

Hi Erik,

Yes, the window is simply a 1cm wide box. You can easily convert it to a single plane by double clicking your way into it, selecting all the geometry and deleting the "thickness" - basically replacing it with a single face. Just make sure to place the face right on the axis of the component!

Let me know if there is any problem with it... it should work just fine!

[Pixero]

You could perhaps make a setting for glass thickness where 0 is just a single plane.

[halroach]

@pixero said:

You could perhaps make a setting for glass thickness where 0 is just a single plane.

Yep, that could easily be done. I'm just afraid of having too many settings on the 'component options' window. And it will add yet more hidden geometry which I'd like to keep to a minimum.

As it is now, I feel there are too many settings. The window barely fits on my screen (1200 pixels vertically), and I'm thinking of adding even more features and setting in future versions... Like beams between the pillars (they are kind of missing I think) I'm not sure where all the settings are going to fit...
suggestions for real estate optimization methods are welcome!

How about, if I make the glass one surface to begin with. And if anyone wants it to be think, just to push pull it in the 'natural' direction and it will center itself (like it does now)? It's a small difference than how it is now, but easier for the end user I think.

[Pixero]

For rendering it is better with glass who has thickness.

[srx]

Very useful fast windows creator. Thank you. I only miss the option to make casement windows.

[rv1974]

Looks appetizing enough to buy
Please could you add some smart solution for corners (L shaped window with\without mullion in the corner).
2. Mullion-less window: only large glass panels with thin layer of sealer between plates. With option to add glass ribs in the interior side. The columns behind the window you've already have.. are they created as components? It could give us option to add some details afterwards.
3. Most mportant: LMM! Special Lock Module (between mullions) Mode. Thus only first and the last portions of the window will diverge from defined module.

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[halroach]

Yes... there are many many types of windows out there!
But I'm ready for challenges!

I believe each window type/category would eventually require a 'specialized' dynamic component. It's hard for me to see how I could incorporate all these into one.

1. For casement windows, srx, if you could send me an example of how you would want it to look/work. So I'll have something to think about...

2. rv1974, A corner window...with and without a mullion that could be interesting to make!
   Right now, with a mullion, you can easily take two of the current flexwindow and stick'em together and it works pretty well (not ideal, but it works).

3. Ever since I started working with the Flexwindow as a facade generator (and not just for single windows) I have been dreaming of when I'll make the all-glass mullion-less facade, or mullion-less banister/railing... like you've just suggested. The tricky part is introducing the connectors in a way that won't make it too slow for calculation... I'll see what I can do. Also in this case, I believe it would be a separate component from the current version. I don't want to add too many options in one - it will make it too complicated to use.

Thanks for the ideas and support guys! Keep'em coming!

[pbacot]

@pixero said:

For rendering it is better with glass who has thickness.

So some people use thickness and some don't. I have done both. Thickness for closer shots, but I haven't seen a problem in many cases using one face, sometimes none, depending.

[erikB]

I am with you pbacot concerning the thickness of the glass when rendering. If not a close up it only leads to longer rendering times and no significant better quality of the render.(at least not were I use them for)
erikB

[halroach]

1. I just discovered this topic:
"vray makes sketchup slow! (dynamic components)"
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=322%26amp;t=60187

Yes, disabling Vray makes them (so much) faster! (highly recommended).

2. If one wishes to fine tune a DC - to move parts that don't necessarily move where you want them to. Instead of exploding everything and losing the component definitions, you can 'strip them away from their dynamic attributes':
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=42923

and,
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15%26amp;t=40538%26amp;p=592702#p592702

• Added both of these to the 'notes' in the first post
• I have also updated the download link.

Good Day!

[agrazdi]

I copied several times the window example and modified one of them and i was expecting that all of them would be modified. I am not familiar with dynamic components. Am i doing something wrong, or thats the way they work, and i need to modify each one sepertaly ?

Thanks

[halroach]

@agrazdi said:

I copied several times the window example and modified one of them and i was expecting that all of them would be modified. I am not familiar with dynamic components. Am i doing something wrong, or thats the way they work, and i need to modify each one sepertaly ?

Thanks

Dynamic components work a bit differently...

Once you change one of the dynamic components (that you have copied), it becomes a new component. ("#1") is added to the end of the 'definition name' (see in the entity info window).

If you wish to edit multiple dynamic components and wish that they all change in the same way, you must select all of them, and then make the changes. Note, that it won't always work like you'd expect it to - because it really depends how the dynamic component was written.

In the case of FlexWindow, currently, if you select all of them, then make the changes in the 'component options window', they will all change to look the same! even if one of them wasn't in the same proportions to begin with...

Also, editing multiple dynamic components in this way, may cause some unwanted side effects which I am currently looking into... some 'setting' can kinda stop working...

I actually intend to introduce in the next update to Flexwindow, a sub-version where one will be able to change settings to multiple instances, without affecting their scale. (thanks to user feedback!)

[halroach]

@agrazdi said:

I copied several times the window example and modified one of them and i was expecting that all of them would be modified. I am not familiar with dynamic components. Am i doing something wrong, or thats the way they work, and i need to modify each one sepertaly ?

Thanks

And... To make things easy, you could simply insert the dynamic component into a 'regular' component, and copy the 'regular' one all over the place, and they will all be the same... even if you edit the one inside...

[agrazdi]

And... To make things easy, you could simply insert the dynamic component into a 'regular' component, and copy the 'regular' one all over the place, and they will all be the same... even if you edit the one inside...[/quote]

Thanks, it worked perfect.

Any date for Corner Window + Door + Slat realese ???

[halroach]

@agrazdi said:

Thanks, it worked perfect.

Any date for Corner Window + Door + Slat realese ???

Glad that worked!

I have a few more fixes and updates I wish to add to the current FlexWindow.
In the coming week or so, I hope to introduce FlexSlat! (it's almost done), and the rest will follow... and maybe even more than just those mentioned...