"locking" layout viewports

[bobrsta]

Seems there always more to learn... hoping the knowledgeable crew here can help!

For starters, I recognize that the accepted method of importing particular Sketchup views to Layout is to create a scene in SU then reference that scene in LO. And, in many instances this works quite well and I make use of it in many situations.

However! Since SU does not have any hierarchal structure to the scene window or scene creation with which to organize scenes into discrete "groups" (or the layers window, for that matter), creating a scene for every possible view of a model that one might want to reference in LO becomes pretty unwieldy when one approaches 50 or 100 scenes. Certainly, there are scenes in any given model that one would like to be able to return to, but many of the views into a model, for me anyway, are "one of's" where I simply need to have that view to annotate using LO, and then never have a need to return to it. To do this, I have been using the "send to layout" button, where a new LO file will open, I fine tune the orientation, usually select "hybrid" render option, then copy/paste that view into a different layout document where I do the annotation, creating a "detail" sheet of annotated views. The purpose of this is to document issues with the particular project for reference by the site construction team (I use SU to model custom home structures and MEPS assemblies for contractors).

All well and good, unless and until I find something in the model that needs modification (move a structural element, for example). Then, if I make the mistake of "updating" the model reference in LO (it will prompt for that), everything goes awry with my previously annotated views. Luckily, in the instance that prompted this topic, I did not save LO and was able to revert to "Last saved" and so did not lose hours of the previous day's work. But, it would seem, to me anyway, that a right click on a viewport in LO should bring up an additional option to "delete reference to model", or "freeze model reference" or something similar, so that a save in SU does not translate to a jumbled viewport in LO, if model reference is updated.

I suppose one work around would be to use a screen shot of the SU model at the particular view, then bring that PNG image into LO for annotation, but I lose that fine tune ability of the view orientation.

Any enlightenment from the SU masters here would be greatly appreciated! As I continue my never ending education...

Thanks to all!

Bob

[Charlie__V]

@bobrsta said:

I have been using the "send to layout" button, where a new LO file will open, I fine tune the orientation, usually select "hybrid" render option, then copy/paste that view into a different layout document where I do the annotation, creating a "detail" sheet of annotated views. The purpose of this is to document issues with the particular project for reference by the site construction team (I use SU to model custom home structures and MEPS assemblies for contractors).
Bob

Bob,
If all LO referenced viewports are "linked" to the same SU file, there is no way to individually isolate (turn off viewport update).
This in my opinion is great, because.....well....you know why.

I think to comment further, and for others to better advise, maybe post an example of how you are constructing the LO file you wish to isolate viewports from updating. (Potentially could be done via "unlink")

C

[JQL]

You can embed your model into the LO file, breaking the live link. It's great for versioning.

Go to document setup and manage references. You can embed the model there.

You could also save a copy of your su model from sketchup, and use that as model for LO.

It is a bit opposite to the average logic, but I see your point.

[bobrsta]

(Potentially could be done via "unlink")

Thanks to both of you, this is exactly what I need to do.

Now, about the hierarchal structure to the scene and layer windows...

[JQL]

For layers you got Layer's panel plugin.

For Scenes I've got one that I have no authorization to share, sorry.

[juju]

@jql said:

For layers you got Layer's panel plugin.

Also take a look at Layer Organizer from http://www.lasuapps.com also on EW now.

@jql said:

For Scenes I've got one that I have no authorization to share, sorry.

Such a tease! Would love to know...

[pbacot]

if you have linked scenes and want to put unlinked SU model views into the same document?
You can't use unlink can you? And besides this has to be done for scores of references each time? Probablly better to just use an image.

[JQL]

@pbacot said:

if you have linked scenes and want to put unlinked SU model views into the same document?
You can't use unlink can you? And besides this has to be done for scores of references each time? Probablly better to just use an image.

You could turn off auto render mode and render only the viewports you need. Exporting to PDF would render them all though.

[Charlie__V]

@pbacot said:

if you have linked scenes and want to put unlinked SU model views into the same document?
You can't use unlink can you? And besides this has to be done for scores of references each time? Probablly better to just use an image.

It is not 100% clear to me what exactly the OP is trying to accomplish. (Not being critical)

I do know "unlinking" a SU model causes a file "prefix" save of SU model.

So, and based on OP workflow.........seems to me...... if he unlinks the "primary" SU model reference in LO (now unlinked SU model is also unique/separate from original file w/(automatic) assigned prefix to SU file)

Any modifications to original SU model/file will not affect "unlinked" SU model file........but....of course the original file, if modified will no longer be updated in ANY LO viewports.

Now....here is where it gets interesting.......if OP is working with the original SU file and "sends to LO" any revisions/etc. and then further "pastes" from another LO file to the original LO file, it would seem a new (active) link to the SU original (pasted) file would be created.

Effectively having the live viewport(s) limited (isolated) to the "pasted" viewports from original SU model

IDK......seems really muddy and fraught with potential negative implications.....just my two pennies worth.

Charlie