Medeek Wall Plugin
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The new post module is really a plugin within a plugin when you think about it. The assemblies it creates (similar to the beam module and stair module) are standalone assemblies within the wall plugin.
One could argue that I should split all of these modules out into separate plugins (ie. windows/doors, beams, posts, stairs, trimming tools). I do think the trimming tools (currently found in the Truss plugin) should be split out into a stand alone plugin since it can find application with any SketchUp geometry and not just Medeek related groups/assemblies.
On the flip side one could argue that with so much functionality included within the wall plugin it is good value for the money.
All in all, I'm very excited to not only get the post module completed (its been on the todo list for quite some time) but also to quite unexpectedly enable a classical column feature.
Now that I've got the post module monkey off of my back I'm giving some more serious thought to extending the window and door modules to include non-Medeek walls or Generic Walls as I like to call them. I've already had some experience (and code) doing this sort of thing with the electrical plugin so it isn't impossible, however there may be a few hurdles or technical challenges I haven't foreseen yet.
I don't know, I'm still rolling it around in my head this morning. If it feels right I may take the plunge.
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Version 1.3.4 - 04.14.2020
- Added transoms for all rectangular door types.
- Enabled all grille options for door transoms.
I may need to finesse the various grilles to better suite the transom window (dependent on its aspect ratio) but for now it is generally working as it should.
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Adding a transom for an arched doorway (with or without sidelites) is an interesting permutation on the problem. In that case the transom would be arched however the door (and sidelites) would be rectangular as usual:
There are some variations to this though:
It gives me a headache just trying to figure out how to commit all of these possibilities into code. At some point if a door assembly becomes to "custom" I probably just need to leave it to the user to insert their own assembly/component.
I also need to enable arched doorways for doors with sidelites but no transom, the work never ends:
Without a doubt the rectangular doors are so much more linear and boring.
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Updated todo list (as of Apr. 14, 2020):
1.) Gable and Shed Walls
2.) Move the Estimating module to the new Medeek Project extension, and further develop this module as it relates to the wall plugin.
3.) Complete the Wall Join tool.
4.) Convert the Window, Door and Garage Door Draw menus to HTML.
5.) Move the Fixtures module to a the new Medeek Interior extension.
6.) Compete the standalone columns/post tool.
6b) Classical columns for the post tool.
7.) Start work on the integrated Medeek Engineering extension, start with window and door headers for vertical loads.
8.) A generic Blocking module is still a good idea in my opinion, I will need further feedback on this one.
9.) Transom windows above doors with and without sidelites.
10.) Shear Wall module which will ultimately integrate with the engineering plugin.
11.) Complete the Wall Stretch tool (75% complete as of 02/24/2020)
12.) Additional door and window types as requested (eg. bi-fold, sliding glass, double and triple single hung windows).
13.) Spend some time on the new tabs in the global settings, currently showing an Under Construction sign.
14.) Presets for Windows and Doors
15.) Making the Window and Door modules work with generic walls, not just Medeek walls.
16.) Multi-layer gypsum
17.) Stair module permutations: U, L, T etc...
18.) Further "idiot" proofing of the plugins: (zero value, nil values, checking for impossible geometry, etc...)
19.) Wall Justification
20.) Interior trim added to Medeek Interior extension.Items in strikethrough have been recently completed.
A full list of what has been added or updated can be viewed here:
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Version 1.3.4b - 04.15.2020
- Added transoms for arched door types.
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Door with transom and sidelite and wall trim:
Arched door with transom and wall trim:
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I've added a parameter which shows the leg height of the transom or arched door way, it is currently not a user editable parameter but I will test it further and may make it user definable if that makes sense:
The arch leg height is defined or calculated by the following three parameters:
door width (w), transom/door height (h), arch radius (r )
and given by the following equation:
L = h - r(1-cos(asin(0.5*w/r)))
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First look at an arched door with sidelites and transom:
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I'm trying to wrap up the whole arched door (with sidelites) issue. I'm currently looking at the situation where you have sidelites but no transom, this turns out to be the more complicated situation since both the door and the sidelites follow the arch of the doorway.
As nearly as I can tell an arched door always will have double sidelites and not a single sidelite:
Correct me if I'm wrong.
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Version 1.3.5 - 04.18.2020
- Enabled single and double sidelites for arched doors with a transom.
- Added a leg height parameter to the door edit menu for arched doors.
- Enabled double sidelites for arched doors without a transom.
Along the way I also addressed some minor bugs with regards to door openings and the exterior wall trim. I highly recommend upgrading to this latest release.
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Tutorial 11 - Split Wall Cladding (6:49 min.)
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Version 1.3.6 - 04.22.2020
- Resolved an issue with UTF-8 encoding.
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After some further analysis it would seem that I need one additional "end" wall condition, see image below:
In this situation you have multiple walls coming together at a single location. The exterior walls constitute an inside corner however the interior wall is not a normal "tee" intersection. If one uses the "end" condition then the end of the interior wall is wrapped with gypsum as shown and the gypsum on the exterior wall is not removed. It you try to use a "tee" condition the interior wall top plate wants to remove part of the exterior wall's top plate, so this doesn't really work either.
I am going to call this wall condition a "terminal" wall condition. Essentially it is identical in behavior to the "end" wall condition however it does not get a gypsum wrap (interior walls), but it will also still remove any gypsum/sheathing/cladding of any wall it terminates against.
See model here:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/0ab6f9a1-e1ff-43c2-bcff-96db69cb1438/Terminal-Wall-Condition
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Version 1.3.7 - 04.25.2020
- Fixed the HTML tabs of the global settings (page 2).
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Version 1.3.7b - 04.25.2020
- Added a Global Reset button in the General tab of the Global Settings.
No more messing around with registry entries, plist files and JSON files. Just click the button and you start with a clean slate, why didn't I think of this before.
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Version 1.3.8 - 04.26.2020
- Added additional logic to the blocking and insulation modules for short wall panels.
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Version 1.3.9 - 04.28.2020
- Added a "Terminal" end wall condition.
The principal use of this end condition is for interior walls terminating against multi-wall corners as shown above.
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Version 1.4.0 - 05.01.2020
- Enabled a second layer of gypsum for interior and exterior walls.
This update adds an optional 2nd layer of gypsum to the wall assembly. By disabling the first layer of gypsum one can create an air gap between the 2nd layer of gypsum and the framed wall.
This update also addresses a minor bug caused by the updates in Version 1.3.8.
This latest update will require the user to recreate their wall presets since three new parameters have been added to the wall attribute library.
View an example of double gypsum walls here:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/fca7d773-6c68-4b86-b51e-68492cef6ce4/Double-Gypsum-Walls
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Version 1.4.0b - 05.01.2020
- Fixed a critical bug with the tee intersection ladder blocking with walls with no openings.
- Added a "Rustic Shiplap" built-in material into the material library.
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The Wall plugin has been slowly maturing over the last few months, however I am quite sure there are still a few more bugs that I am hoping to uncover and resolve.
In an effort to flush out these last remaining bugs I will be offering a "Bug Discovery" incentive program. If you find and report a bug and I then verify that it is indeed a bug in the code (not an unfinished feature/module or user error), you will then be entitled to an additional year added on to your current update expiration date of your license/serial number.
This program will also be extended to all other Medeek plugins. The credit can only be applied to the plugin(s) in which they were found.
Hopefully this will encourage users to help find and report bugs and ultimately make all of the plugins that much more robust.
Please send all bug reports directly to me at nathan@medeek.com
Please do not include any SketchUp models large than 2 MB or large video files or MS Word documents. Screen shots and output from the ruby console is always very helpful.
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