Been using Sketchup for a while now, and slowly but surely do feel I am getting somewhere! Thought I'd attach a recent planning application for a customer who wanted an agricultural style home set against the backdrop of a now disused farm. Thanks for the tips and advice on here, and Sonder's book that I did purchase, and Dave R's valuable assistance sometime time ago including everything being drawn on LayerO then layer the groups - has been a life saver at times.

Really helpful thread, I was pulling my hair out a bit, but the download and tips from posters - all sorted. Thank you!

I'm sort of getting how this works, but I will be interested to see some of the more experienced users responses, as I still have a few hiccups every now and again, just when I think I've got it.

Thanks Dave,

Sorted, thank for talking me through it. A simple case of that little handle snap tool being in the right spot, now I can grip away. Amazing how the smallest thing can give you the biggest headache.

The file size is too big to post, I have PMd you, but here is a screen shot. When I go to drag that SLAB datum object, I don't get any kind of handle or indication I am picking up the actual line. I have drawn a line off the slab for a guide that I was then going to delete. The move tool will snap to that, but it won't snap to the object I am picking up.

So I'm labelling up a drawing in Layout, and I'm finding I'm unable to grab layout elements like lines accurately on snapping on them so I know they are then snapping to the exact point on the viewport.

I've got Object Snap on, Grid Snap off. I have standard datum and building grid labels from default scrapbook (and Sonder's templates) but when I drag them, I don't seem to get any inference snap on the object. As said, its not the destination, it is knowing I am dragging the object from an exact point or line on that object.

Any help please?

Thanks, I don't know why I was getting an error with them then. However, I found my 2018 license details in my junk mail, so in switching to 2018, it's all fine again.

I've got a problem that I cannot uninstall:
Advanced Camera Tools
Dynamic Components
Photo Textures
Sandbox Tools
Trimble Connect

Each time I restart SUP2017 I get a message that 4 extensions need updating. When I try to update the extensions that it lists as needing attention, I get the message [failed to update advanced camera tools. Unable to read extension archive]

I may have caused the problem as I removed the files from the Plugin folder on Mac. However, even placing them back, restarting the Mac etc. still get the same thing happening.

Well, I bought Sonder's book and had the Brightman one.

Got to say, from a personal preference Sonder does work to a more design freedom approach. Brighton's is great, don't get me wrong, but the processes laid down I just felt difficult to maintain in those first creative stages where you are bursting with ideas and just want to get something done quickly. I think Nick Sonder has that at the core of his approach, that ultimately the more freedom you have, the better you'll design, which is why he avoids plugins that add complexity or lots of layers – he is striving to keep the workflow simple so that you design better.

Glad I got both, I feel I am well on my way with my SU journey, even though I am making plenty of mistakes, I am starting to be able to produce some nice work already.

I have the Michael Brightman workflow for architects book, which is good, but I do find it counter intuitive to why I've started down a SUpro route for my architectural practice. I am thinking of now purchasing the Nick Sonder book to see what he says as his videos suggest to me that while organised, his methods appear more design intuitive.

Do the books compliment each other or is it a case of you follow one or the other? Brightman's does seem to be 'this is the way you do it' with the whole ARCH / CONC / SITE layer organisation.

Just thought I'd ask, look like 2 very good books, so intrigued who might follow what, read or tried.