aadbuild, Can you please clarify the license terms? I read through the PlusSpec Terms & Conditions on your website, nothing is mentioned about the plugin will stop working one year after the day of purchase unless I pay a renewal fee. I can't find anything on your website that says anything about renewal. @tandem said: @aadbuild said: ... 11. PlusSpec is $795 for the first year $395 there on in. Worth every penny you'll save 10 times over in one job. .... Does the plugin stop working if I do not renew the subscription or I can continue to use it except that I won't be eligible for updates?

Well, 90% of the students is not bad at all. Altogether 30 is indeed too many though. It's okay for a lecture type of class but not when you interactively need to work with them. In that case, even half is too many. Ideally no more than about a dozen of them - but the fewer the better.

@aadbuild said: Hey thanks Guys, I will get the dreaded 3d max sales person out to give me a run down. Australia needs some more Sketchupers, I tell every one I know how good it is but just cant seam to convince.... I think they think because its free it is not powerful? I have taught 2 people sketchup in my office and they love it and then they leave and start their own business. I know a few SU users in Perth. Infact, from what they tell me, SU is big in OZ Arch schools now. Even UWA arch course teaches students how to use them.

@aadbuild said: HI Chris Christmas has come upon me ... This post is really meant for you Andrew but there may just be others who are interested in this type of thing. Well I think the time has come to see whether our efforts can be merged in any way; here is a kind of wip video that may help consider how. [flash=400,300:2mzchx54]http://screencast.com/t/ODIzNmQ3ZDgt[/flash:2mzchx54] The Internet is a bit dodgy around here. So here is the Screencast link Also a zipped avi Animated UI.zip Animated_UI.swf

I have been thinking about the naming of components and I dont think that the name is the key. I think the layer the component is placed on is what will solve the problem ( as per tigs suggestion . Thanks Tig) of organising components for an organised estimate (BOM). We have been working on a ruby that will actuauly take off square meters, lineal meters and componets all in 1 go. It is very efficient and will do a 5+ meg model in seconds. There are a lot of bugs and things to sort out and it is not yet ready for public consumption but I think it will be in the next couple of months or so.. fingers crossed see how I go with my busy work flow (out side Sketchup that is). standardisation when it comes to layers a at this stage it is not important. Changing of names can be done by the individual user to suit there own needs if the UK and the US can not agree. Us damn Aussies will probably come up with some other rediculous method that will have some relation to beer some where. I guess the main thing is the job gets done efficiently for end users. If designers and architects dont draw custom components and use 3d warehouse or formfonts it will be necessary to re assign a layer to component anyway. The ruby I have been working on does not require standardisation as it looked as though no one would agree 100% any way. I shall keep you all posted on my progress.

@aadbuild said: Hey Bep glad to see you had a crack at a ruby. I will have a play with it and see if I can improve it (remembering I am a builder. I work mainly with timber, bricks, roofing and sketchup).. Can any one show me an example of a web dialogue? I will give that a go as well. It will help me get an understanding of the task at least. Bep do you want to try post your ruby here. Attach screen shot or 2 of the the exported data. Or PM it to me if you please. My wife is having a baby at 7 am in the morning (induced) so I may not get a chance to reply in the next couple of days. I hope its a boy. Give your wife all the love and support you can give. I wish all your and your wifes whishes will come true. Bep

thanks Erik I will give it a go. I didnt know thta could be done

Thats been a great help, it feels about 3 x faster and does not crash. Thanks

Thought I wouild bump this one, I am interetsed to hear if anyone is using Synchro. I had a play with it about a year ago and am keen to have another look as I am finding clients starting to talk about 4D potential. I have sent a number of emails to Synchro over in the UK but have had no response, I hope they are not a recession victim Sek

Hi all, I have been working on getting complete construction takeoffs from models for some time now and i have come to the conclusion that it can be done accurately but the time taken to draw the model up is sometimes greater than the time it would take to do a manual (computerised) take off. so at the moment I am at a point where I need to rethink my approach. I have a few good ides of an easier way but I need to learn a little ruby first. I must say that the cutlist5 ruby is by far the best for carpenters and I hope that Chris's Namesets can come up with something a little more polished. For me and I guess a lot of other sketchupers who are in construction a total package more simple yet more comprehensive than rp reports ($1500 are they kidding?) and more versatile than cutlist5 would be ideal. I am going to have to dig out my geek glasses and build it from scratch. I will keep you all posted. P.S has any one tried cutlist6, I have it loaded but every time i try to open it I get a URL link error. Am i just a gumby or do you all have this problem? If any one could shed some light on its new features, please post them here. Cutlist 6 may have what cutlist 5 is lacking... and then I may be able to put my geek glasses back in my pocket! Or even better sketchup 7 will come out with a varation of all the above and we can all estimate easily.