SketchUp 2018 - first impressions
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Thanks guys. I don't see problems with 2016 on the Mac El Capitan. No reason to change anything. Admittedly SU is slow and even hangs AFTER operations are complete on screen. But with these problems and more, still useful. It's mostly the lack of progress that's disappointing.
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It's unfortunate that the average user can't see all the changes made "under the hood". They might change their opinion that the SketchUp team aren't doing anything. From conversations I've had with a number of the team members, I know they have been working hard at making changes that will allow for more and better features. They introduce new features as they can but a large part of the job is reworking the legacy code without breaking existing features and while chasing the moving target of changing operating systems. Much of the code was allowed to languish during the Google years so there's a lot of time to make up for. Improvements are happening whether the users can see them or not.
So far I've seen a number of nice new features in the last couple of versions. PIDs in SU allow dimensions in LO to be linked directly to the model. And now you can dimension between viewports making it easier add dimensions across break lines. Section cuts have names and show up in Outliner, section fills are nice, The Tape Measure tool has added functionality. Labels in LayOut have more auto text choices... There's still features I'd like to see and I'm confident they'll come.
@unknownuser said:
We all know mouse navigation is less than good in Sketchup,
I don't agree with that statement. I find mouse navigation works quite well in Sketchup. It takes a little practice but I don't find it problematic at all.
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And its a shame that if you do express any positive reaction you just get labeled a fan boy.
People don't bother giving good reviews or pointing out the new bits anymore.
So you end up with an unbalanced review.
He who screams loudest isn't always correct. -
Good point, Box.
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I like sketchup.
Have used it forever. Never been dissatisfied with new versions or updates.I appreciate the continued efforts to improve the product without breaking it for current users...an almost impossible task I would think.Every update and every new version it seems like the most criticism comes from users who are using free plugins on the free version. Nothing for nothing is my basic expectation. If the product wants to continue to grow, there will be growing pains.
One can never please everybody and one should not try.
I like sketchup.
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The "under the hood" changes sound hopeful. On the other hand I haven't heard of a must-have feature in the last couple years to risk having problems people have with 2017 and 2018 versions. So I am OK where I am. It's like a mechanic who's had my car two weeks and it's got some work under the hood, but still has the same problems. Still I keep paying the mechanic so next time I bring it in, he may actually make significant progress. I believe he deserves a decent living for keeping the car running, and I value that. Still if rebuilding the engine is supposed to allow better performance, I wonder why it hasn't yet.
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I've used v16, v17 and v18 with El Capitan and see many improvements with each upgrade...
v17 the AA did suffer, but only for display...
I still use v16 for Visualizer, but that's all...
I still use v17, for one of my own extensions I haven't updated...
I wouldn't consider downgrading to v16 [unless you paid me]...
I think it unfair to critique changes you haven't even tested...
I think the SU team is doing a great job...
john
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@pbacot said:
Still if rebuilding the engine is supposed to allow better performance, I wonder why it hasn't yet.
It actually has improved performance, though.
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A quotation from an old Boss comes to mind. "How much do Microsoft and AutoDESK pay ME to Test-Drive their Software?" Trimble appear to be following the same route!
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No one is forcing you to use SketchUp. If it's such a problem, there are other programs out there.
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I have been extremely happy with the progress in the new versions. Sure, not a lot of new features have been added, but speed and stability are generally much better. With the new engine (2016 or 2017?) came the ability to create drawings with nearly unlimited numbers of lines and faces. Going WAY back, SU had limits in the hundreds of thousands, and before the new engine about 3 million lines and it choked. Selection became increasingly difficult, triple clicking for a solid ceased working, etc. The improvements in some tools have made the program far easier and less frustrating to use: finding the center of an arc now works most of the time, in the past it was hit and miss; the tape measure tool has become awesome—it's almost thinking ahead of me. Save times can still be extreme so I turned off fixing problems on save—the change in time is dramatic. Since I regularly check my models while drawing and purging there has been no problem. One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update. Frequently I draw parts in a separate drawing and to maintain the same materials I copy them from the original drawing to the new one, but on paste the original drawing adds a new material.
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@valmontr said:
One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update. Frequently I draw parts in a separate drawing and to maintain the same materials I copy them from the original drawing to the new one, but on paste the original drawing adds a new material.
I agree about the palette. Mostly it's the problem that there is no display of material names Unless you mouse over for the SLOW response popup names. Have you tried saving the work in a component with "save as" and "reload"instead of "paste." I don't believe I've see the problem with materials in regards to bringing work into the model.
I consider myself a fanboy.
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@valmontr said:
... Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update...
I find using hot corners or switching windows and back, updates the 'Colors' panel...
it similar to when Finder fails to update a pane...
john
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How many people find navigating in Sketchup frustrating..........like I have said before: scroll wheel smoking as I try as I might to get trough than invisible wall made of viscus mud. It can be fixed, connexion 3D mouse has solved with software, so It can be done. Why has it not been fixed. It is a fundamental problem.
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The only time I experience behavior that sounds like what you are describing is if I happen to be directly behind an inserted image or some other obstacle right in my face. A quick orbit to the side or up/down and i can quickly navigate past.
Maybe you are experiencing a unique problem.
I find navigation to be fast, responsive, and easy.p
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@unknownuser said:
ValmontR
One of my pet peeves remains: the materials pallet on Mac sucks. Sometimes I have to save and reopen a drawing to get it to update, and many times when I paste an object into a drawing it doesn't update.Oh!, I thought this behavior was on my end, but like driven I learn that switching windows and back, updates the 'Colors' panel... too bad specially when the model is getting bigger.
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Are all 3D Warehouse items going to be "2018" only. All that I've tried will not open in 2017.
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@drw12333 said:
Are all 3D Warehouse items going to be "2018" only. All that I've tried will not open in 2017.
No. How have you tried opening them? If you get them directly in SketchUp, they will open with the version you are using as long as it is 2014 or higher. If you are downloading them directly through your browser, you'll have to choose the version you want.
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