the clipping distance in Sketchup is mostly related to the size of the model.

if you have a model with objects 1km distant from each other, your clipping distance will probably be greater than 30cm.

Reduce that distance to 100m and the clipping distance will be 1cm.

So the zoom extends button is good to check if there are no small objects LOST very far from the main model and hindering the clipping distance.

If your model is on purpose very large and you need to edit small objects, maybe it´s ideal to copy the object and paste it on another Sketchup window, edit and return it. Or maybe use with Components and edit them outside the model and have them update automatically, etc.

Although it complicates workflow, apparently this program does the same that Sketchup used to do, possibly even better (bigger 3D mesh areas in the highest resolution without having to add multiple grabs)...

But it costs U$250 for the version which can grab terrain meshes. The plus version (which can grab 3D terrain meshes) can also create profiles from the terrain, cross sections and slope analysis.

http://www.cad-earth.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee48HS8EuVE

alternatively, it seems Archicad (and possibly Revit too?) also can import from Google Earth, both mesh and image, and then save as SKP.

you just need what? $15k?

Although it complicates workflow, apparently this program does the same that Sketchup used to do, possibly even better (bigger 3D mesh areas in the highest resolution without having to add multiple grabs)...

But it costs U$250 for the version which can grab terrain meshes. The plus version (which can grab 3D terrain meshes) can also create profiles from the terrain, cross sections and slope analysis.

http://www.cad-earth.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee48HS8EuVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee48HS8EuVE

alternatively, it seems Archicad (and possibly Revit too?) also can import from Google Earth, both mesh and image, and then save as SKP.

you just need what? $15k?

If imagery for the US is bad, I can only imagine the quality for it in South America, Africa and Asia!

well, ok, so I deleted LibFredo from the AppData folder, leaving the only version installed at ProgramData.

Now all Fredo6 plugins bugged. Except Curviloft, which now is working...

It seems I need to do the inverse: install all Fredo plugins, including Curviloft, at AppData.

EDIT

Ok, it turns out I can´t install at the default plugins folder. no permissions. Following all the instructions available here at the site did not help. I just can´t change the permissions for the folder. Options greyed-out. Tried to take ownership. No luck.

So I installed two versions of LibFredo6. One using the automatic Sketchucation Store installer at Program Data folder.

The other I installed MANUALLY at the main plugins folder, using RBZ extension, so previous Fredo plugins installed there would work.

Now everything is working again and I do not get the Error Message.

Solved? NO!!!

JUst can´t find Curviloft anywhere. No toolbar (nor toolbar available at "view/toolbars"). Did not find it either at Plugins or the Tools drop down window...

EDIT:

solved, installing Curviloft MANUALLY (RBZ) worked.

can't find Curviloft at the plugins folder.

there are 4 files with "curvi" name there... all of them related to "curvishear". Is it the same thing?

edit: ok, the problem was that Sketchucation Store showed me one folder as my plugins install folder, while those two plugins were in another folder.

As you can see on my screenshot of the problem, there is a plugins folder at "C:/Users/AcesHigh/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/" and another at "C:/ProgramData/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/"

Error Loading File Fredo6_Curviloft.rb
Error: #<ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments (2 for 1)>
C:/Users/AcesHigh/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/Fredo6_!LibFredo6.rb:308:in top_load' C:/ProgramData/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/Fredo6_Curviloft.rb:29:in module:Fredo6'
C:/ProgramData/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/Fredo6_Curviloft.rb:26:in `<top (required)>'

Analyzing better this, it seems Curviloft is looking for the Fredo6 Library at AppData, while in truth it´s located at ProgramData.

@dave r said:

Have you installed fresh versions of both Curviloft AND LibFredo6?

Yes. Although in my memory I had Curviloft already installed, I was not finding it anywhere. So maybe I did not installed it before on Sketchup 15.

So I installed from the Sketchucation Store Curviloft, it didn´t work (already showed that message). Then I installed the last LibFredo. No change.

any idea what is causing this?

Nektares, this seems quite complicated for more complex geometry, like the part where the rope goes around that tube. And it may not end up realistic. A more complex scene with a rope might be too complicated for this method to work.

@Solo: aside Ropefall, which is subscription based, have you thought of using some BLENDER? Export model to Blender, do the rope, re-import rope to Sketchup?

Not the best workflow, but maybe better than pay a subscription plugin, specially if you do not need ALL THE TIME to work with complex ropes.

here, a tutorial on ropes in Blender. With the added benefit of already creating realistic ropes with the strands twisting, etc

http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/how-to-simulate-ropes-noodles-and-strings-in-blender/