Well, its definitely not a problem due to drawing off axis' non coplanar, or due to camera angle which is on the default degree of 35 :O(
The example posted was of a simple extruded rectangle which I put 3 curves on the face of one side, all was well until the last curve, then I got a missing part of the face???? well its not really missing as I can extrude it but then it looks like this

here is another example

All I did was draw a circle to which I added another inside of it (from the same point of origin). When I do a third one I get the above effect...I can extrude the most outer face and the missing part vanishes...so it's not really a missing part of the face so to speak....

This never happened B4, but now it is a somewhat regular occurrence.

Attached is a model... Thanks for your help guys... Once again...
This place is really amazing... I hope to be of help one day to others..

---

Problem.skp

For some reason I've been coming across the above quite frequently of late!!!!
Why is this happening?

@johnpa said:

I came across Daniel on a YouTube video he did for SU Base Camp. If you want to test drive the content of the book take a look at the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHCEXlEZlo4&feature=channel_page). **Prior to getting the book I must have watched this video 25 times and taken copious notes along the way. I only wish I could get a higher resolution copy and didn't have to wait for it to download from YouTube each time I view it.**JP

Hehe I'm glad I was not the only one who had to watch those videos some two dozen times to get what Daniel was doing so effortlessly. Waiting for the U-tube downloads was a pain, but at the end of the day, well worth it.

I actually became a sketchup user because of Daniel's vidoes. Having eschewed anything to do with computer use of landscape designs for a decade, I started kicking myself for overlooking how this could speed up my designs and improve clients understanding of proposals,especially in the conceptual stages. I was hooked, if not obsessed with learning this new tool and seeing clients eyes light up on seeing a 3D model of their home and garden has been a revelation and made all the effort worthwhile.

As to the book... well, I'm trying to take it slow and actually learn all the techniques and lessons that Daniel's book provides, rather than jumping around and trying to run B4 I can walk. I think the best thing about it, so far, is how it has improved my organization skills. It really has made me slow down to try to get things set up right from the start.
Out of the 4 books I have on sketchup, (Dummies,Missing Manuel, Bible) it is going to be my fave as it is geared to my area(s) of interest....but, most importantly, Daniel's book offers an engaging and easy to understand style...which really makes all the difference for any reader when trying to learn new things.

Two thumbs up!!

@kwistenbiebel said:

Even though the first post of this thread is spam , I did check the website Edson pointed us to and I must say I like the images produced in there.
Quite some nice modeling. especially, the vegetation looks quite convincing.

I might be mistaken, but a lot of that vegetation seems to be Formfonts.
I'll do my own bit of spamming now to say that I do like Formfonts a lot these days. Getting a Formfonts subscription in the office has been proven to be a time saver.

Let's hope they will even add more 3D vegetation to the FF collection.

Oi who you calling a spammer LOL.... No, not at all.... I just thought that Tal's book should get some attention here... Anyone who could give me so much joy by enabling me to learn from a few videos on how to use the drape and smoove tools, is sure to get my support.

Gotta agree with you though on the modeling, very nice and as you say convincing vegetation.

@gaieus said:

Hi Rashad,

Though they do not add to the model geometry, images used in the model have file sizes, too. Normally you would "opimize" these images to be of smaller file size and such. I have found two images which are more than 1 Mb each (in fact, the two together are almost 3 Mb) in your model. Then you have two cars, too, 1Mb+ each - this already counts for about 5.5Mb and then the rest.

Many little things like these can easily and quickly add up to a bigger file size.

Thanks for taking the time to look at the model Czaba. I did a test where i removed every single component I had imported and my model then was only 280 KB. So, I now know that my concern is all to do with the components used.... which is a relief... so, I have some more questions. :O)

1. Can you kindly explain how one optimizes an image to get smaller file sizes. Also, if one scales up a component with an image, does this increase the file?....sheesh... Im really being lazy, I guess I can try this out for myself as a test..
2. When one goes to the model info to view statistics is the purge unused button a once all fix to all unused? or, does one have to go through each listing of the items and purge them individually?
3. If one has not checked file size of an imported component and inserted them, what is the fastest method to checking how big a file size of a component actually is. I know it is in the components in model section but can not see how one gets the file size of a component used.... I now know I need to do look at file size from the start, but would like to know how you found out the size of the car and truck files.

Thanks in advance :O)

Lastly, I think I now understand what Martin Reinhart was suggesting and am going to try this out

Ok I managed to upload the file I had worries as to file size. Never done this B4, but it worked :O)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F20KXWAB

Can anyone kind enough to offer their time, please go to the above link , (type in the code shown) and let me know why the model is so heavy.
This is a real world model of my home and took me two weeks to accomplish LOL. Yes, there are some mistakes on the gabled roofs, but I gave up getting them right as GR seem to be a real "Biatch" to accomplish (at least for a beginner like myself). Don't worry I have a thick skin, so any criticism is actually welcome. I just want to know why the file size is so huge.... if this is an easy answer to provide great... if it's not, no worries I'm sure with time I'll get the hang of it.
I managed to purge some of the unused components and also deleted 3 oak trees which were almost 4MB each in size.... But still, it's a 16mB file.

So, any one game to have a looksie at the file and report back????...... Best response gets a free copy of Daniel Tals new sketchup book.... It's a bribe I know and, I'm sure, not needed... but its the least I can do for anyone's best response and effort to see what's up with this file....Sorry but I can only promise to send out one book and so, my decision is final.... so knock yourselves out :O)

Thanks Sketchup gang :O)

Ps Also, here is another file http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JBH4XBQR this is another real world model, (unfinished and still working on it) of one of my clients homes. This one only took me two days to do so, I guess I'm getting better... file size is 10 MB... but I have quite a few large componments in it

As a month old sketchup user the things that have assisted me most recently, are the following:

1. When working on a model and making changes always save with the same name but add version 2 or 3 or 13... This way, if you make a mistake you can always go back to a previously saved version.

2. Locking groups assists in keeping ones sanity, it's only one extra click to do or undo, but can save one a lot of anguish.

3. Sometimes orbiting with the eraser or the move tool active, is akin to running around with a virtual pair of scissors.

I think the most important rule to remember is always... always.... group... It took me some time to get into the habit, but it makes all the difference. Also, always check components downloaded from 3DWH for extra layers and mistakes and purge them to the default layer, B4 introducing them into ones own model. Don't take it for granted that the model one has downloaded is safe to use... they sometimes simply aren't. Ever since I picked up this tip from Gaeius in this forum, life has been a lot more stress free.

Thanks for the tip on megauploader Foxar I will try that :O)

@martinrinehart said:

Save your model. Delete most of it. Create a layer named PartA, select all and move everything into layer PartA. Save As... PartA.skp. Open full model, delete the PartA geometry and most of the rest. Move 100% of the remaining geometry into a PartB layer. Save As... PartB.skp. Etc. (And do not use "PartA"... Use sensible names.)

When you File Import... you click each import to the Origin. They all snap together sweetly. Each import is a component. You have layers that are easy to turn on and off. Life is good.

Do all your work on parts. Assemble full model only when needed. (Your full models are all throwaways. You can recreate any of them in a minute.)

See http://www.MartinRinehart.com/models/tutorial/tutorial_06.html#3d for a short discussion re the warehouse.

Martin thank you so much.... not sure I follow the directions, or more importantly the intent, but will try it out when I have some more free time.... sounds like trouble.... but, trouble is good sometimes.. if one learns from it :O)

I'll report back later..thanks to all for all the much appreciated help.

@unknownuser said:

You can understand that our servers cannot cope with tens of megabytes for a single attachment (this is a forum, not a file sharing website) so we need to have restrictions. Our current file size limit is 2 Mb (as far as I can remember). There are several file sharing sites out there so you can upload your model onto one and paste the link here.

Thanks Czaba (once again) for the prompt reply.. Yep fully understood.... Do you have any recommendations for file sharing sites that cater to/for sketchup files... the ones that I'm familiar with don't...meantime, Ill try a few that I googled and see if they work.

@unknownuser said:

Anyway, just a couple of comments on models seemingly so easily accessible from the Warehouse;

* you never know what you are downloading (especially right into the model, via the SU dialog or Component browser) so never use them to build in components into your model straight from the WH
  (Ah yes, Google won't like this advice)
* Always browse the Warehouse for components from your internet browser, download them, examine them, purge them and all and only then insert them into your model.
  I.e. you cannot trust in what you download from there.
* some components do require additional layers (rare thing, especially with some 2/2.5D entourage) but if something is bringing new layers into your model without this special need, again, download it first, make a cleanup (move everything onto Layer0) and only insert it that way.
  (Note that "componets" are in fact "little models" embedded into your main model)
* Textures - you never know what kind of texture someone sharing his/her model in the WH used. Maybe it's a very big image applied (and should be scaled/resampled first to fit SU's needs) so again, don't use the built in tools ("get models" or "Component browser") but download them from the internet first and examine before you insert.

Sage advice.... Darn and I thought this was going to be easy.... looking at some of the components I used, some are messy so, I purged and then deleted the layers removing all the details to the default layer and that did remove a bunch of layers.... I'll have to do the same with some of the other components that I've used, I'm sure.

@unknownuser said:

Textures - you never know what kind of texture someone sharing his/her model in the WH used. Maybe it's a very big image applied (and should be scaled/resampled first to fit SU's needs) so again, don't use the built in tools ("get models" or "Component browser") but download them from the internet first and examine before you insert.

Finally; exploding groups once "you are done with that part":

ABSOLUTELY NO!
You never know when you need to get back to a detail but on the tiop (as you seem to like layers):
LAYERS DO NOT SEPARATE GEOMETRY (unlike most CAD programs do) so if you explode your groups, you are screwing up your mode

HMMMMM Ok, that makes sense and will head the advice.
Thanks again for the reply and your time.... It's much appreciated.
I'll post a link to the model once I find a file sharing site that can handle the file....meantime its back to tutorials, books and U tube-Videos I've watched a dozen times :O)

As I'm sure many here know.. Daniel Tal has a new sketchup book coming out tomorrow.
Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture

http://www.amazon.com/Google-SketchUp-Site-Design-Architecture/dp/047034525X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1/183-5891579-2838163

I have my order in already.... Please order your copy today.. This person is an amazing sketchup genius and has always been willing to share his experiences and knowledge with others.

Show your support by buying his book.

Sketchup should be fun, and so far it has been, but I'm starting to pull my hair out. Luckily I have a full head of hair :O)

I guess being such a powerful, yet easy to use tool, can get a novice into all sorts of trouble.

First problem I'm having is that my layers count is increasing when I add components from 3DW, for example a door component I imported has added several layers to my layer box... Why? I have no clue but, If I delete them from the layer box it deletes actual parts of the door. I now have 59 layers when I only started out with 11. Why would downloaded components add to my layers??

Second and main problem is file size. Ive spent more than a few hours over the past few days, looking at some of the past postings on this very subject and have learned to purge materials, layers,and unused components.... very cool, but my file size is still over 20 MB after doing a purge. I have no textures applied, have no 3 d polylines and use 2D images for plants... yes, I have a bunch of them in the model but no way 20MB worth. I have tried exploding groups in areas I know I'm finished with, also tried to copy entire file into a new one, but to no avail, it's still over 20 MB.

I'd love to be able to download the entire house model that I've been working on for the past 2 weeks and have someone slap my wrists and tell me where i have been going wrong, but the file size seems to disable my uploading an attachment of this file to this forum, making a zip file (13mb) also will not attach for some reason.

So, I guess I'll have to try this in question format.... Not the easiest thing to accomplish...

When using components that I'll be repeating often (ie a fence line) I usually download one then array a section containing say 10 fences, then copy those and add them to the others. Am I adding to the file size by doing it in this manner?? ... I would have thought I'm adding only to the instances of the components not actual component counts as such.

Should I be grouping these from the start? Is there a need for grouping components to reduce file sizes.
Secondly, is it OK to ungroup areas that I know I'm done with and does this reduce file size?.

I'd be very grateful( as will my hairdresser) for any answers.... and if anyone can tell me how to upload the entire model that would be great too.

Thanks .

Yep that worked.... So easy when one knows how..Sheeesh LOL

Thanks for the prompt reply :O)

Hello Sketchup Gang;

Have been looking into all the topics here... what a mine of information :O)

Being a newbie, can anyone tell me how one gets a component that I have downloaded to always face camera?
The Axis' seems right but the model always stays in one plain and does not face camera as others do.

It's annoying me no end, and I want to fix it somehow..Any ideas??

Also, how does one go about exporting a model to this forum, so I can get some critique and guidance from some of you experts :O)

Sketchup is the greatest thing since sliced bread... maaan, I wish I had tried this years ago... the only thing annoying about it is that, I want to orbit any picture that I see now.... LOL :O)

Thanks for any help and for this great forum.
Rashad