I've been a SU User since v4. I'm now looking at Layout again and hoping to use for my simple projects. I started making an ARCH D size template with the necessary title block. I also wanted to make a 11x17 sheet template. I saved a blank page with title block and adjusted the doc info to be 11x17 paper. I assumed I could just group the title block objects and resize the group to be correct for the 11x17 page. However, this does not work. When resized, the text objects don't get smaller, just less is visible and a red arrow appears. Is there a quick way to do this or do I have to resize each object in the title block?

Also, in my AutoCad, I have title block fields that automatically up date. Is this possible with Layout? Plugins or something?

I can never get my toolbars how I want them. Making toolbars through the SU customize allows you to make a toolbar with any tools available. However, you cannot put in dividing/separating lines as they cannot be selected to drag over. The Jf_custom Tools allows separating lines, but not all tools are available to that plugin. Anyway to get both?

@chris fullmer said:

They appear in the menu in the order that they are loaded at startup. Essentially SketchUp loads each file in your plugins folder one by one. The menu items added by that extension then get loaded.

I did not notice while installing, but the extensions appear in the drop down in the order I installed them. I assume if I had planned it out better and installed alphabetically, that's how they would be displayed. Then again, when I later add an additional extension, it would fall at the end regardless of the letter name. I was hoping there was some sort of SU plugin bat file that could be edited to keep the extensions in the order one might want.

I'm now setting up 2015, and have installed most of the plugins I use. However they're a jumble. any way to alphabetize the list. Is there some simple text file that can be edited?

I bought my 17" i7 Sager notebook in 2010. I have had no problem since. For two years it was my full time work machine for AutoCAD, Sketchup, etc., working 12hrs a day pushing a 24" monitor. It now is my home machine but I still use it for projects. The only negative was that the battery lasted 45 min. However, I always kept it plugged in. New Sagers are capable of pushing dual 30" monitors. You can get the same machines with 15" screens.

(www.sagernotebook.com)

Edit: Oops, missed the under 14". Sager current has only 1 14" and 1 13" model.

I guess I'm not as advanced as I thought. I'm aware of both your answers but just forgot them. Duh! Yep, edges is the thing, and of course smoothing. So the next question, would it be possible to apply a style without edges to components, e.g. furniture and maintain and overall style with edges for the rest of the model? Plugin?

I was wondering if I'm doing something wrong or if there is some configuration I missing. For example, I open a model that has a smooth look. If I change the style then the mesh becomes visible. However, after that, the original style is lost and I cannot get it to be smooth again. Below are before and after pics. Suggestions?

Ability to set Arc/Circle segments default in a template.

Thanks for the responses. I guess it will go into the wish list for 2016.

SU defaults to 24 segments for arcs and circles. How can I change this default?
I found the plugin "setArcCircleDefaults.rb" here, but it does not work in my SU2014, and I get a load error. I checked and all the associated files were present, so I just assumed it was not compatible with 2014. I disabled it. Is there some other way to adjust these defaults?

Plugin questions/problems.

1. How to remove a Plugin? (Not just disable in Plugin manager) Will just deleting it from the plugin folder cause any problems?

2. How to remove superfluous plugin folder?

Every time I Autoinstall a plugin through the Plugin store it gives me the message

"You can Write to the Main Plugins Folder, and...You have a Custom-Plugins Folder."
and asks to chooses the folder. Below are the two options. The top being the main plugin folder.

C:\Users\Nicholas\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\SketchUp\Plugins
C:\ProgramData\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\SketchUp\Plugins

I've checked and I only have 3 plugins in the second folder. If I reinstall those into the main folder, can I just delete it?

3. The "Shapes" plugin will not install correctly.

The folder thing came to light trying to install the @Last Shapes plugin. (I want the ability to create quickly Domes and Toruses.) However, in one folder it won't install, and when installed in the other it causes an error and will not load. I'd like to clean all this up and only have one place for plugins.

Thanks for the responses. I've use all methods listed other than the boolean. Seems like the suggestion of making a component for reuse is a good idea. Can't believe I never thought of it. Thanks

Ok SU mavens, is there a quick way to create this? Plugin? Currently I create a tube with the domed ends, insert it into the rectangular form, intersect and remove the extraneous parts. I'm sure someone has a quicker method?

I don't often use shadows. However, If I remember correctly, in the past when I sent a view using shadows to the printer, the shadows printed. I just tried on two different models and the shadows don't print. Is this something that needs to be configured?

Thanks for the response. looking in to that now. I can't find where the "save" is for created textures.

I work using SU on a PC, a colleague is using SU on a MAC. She wanted to do some material editing and asked me to help. The tools I have in the PC version paint tool are not obvious on the MAC. I found that right clicking on a texture will give "edit" as an option, but that edit window is also missing buttons I have. Attached are pics from the PC paint tool. I've circled in red the options that we cannot find on the MAC. Any way to access this, or can anyone point me to a tutorial on editing and making textures/colors on the OSX version?

I am a longtime Sketchup(Since v4-2014)and AutoCad user. When Layout first appeared I gave it a try, but it seemed so rudimentary to me, and I never tried it again. It seems that is has improved a lot and I was interested in using it for quick and simple projects. I don't know what the problem is, but I tried to access the Sketchup Layout tutorial videos but they won't play. I tried on my work computer, my home computer, and my iPad, but no go on any of them. Can anyone recommend some good tutorial videos? I did find two on youtube that were quite helpful. I also bought the Paul Lee book from this site and have gone through that. However, I'd like some info that goes a little deeper.

Thanks.

This is a recent happening. Trying to download models fro 3d warehouse from within SU2014 gives a script error. I read somewhere that clearing IE's cache solves the problem. this has not solved the problem. Suggestions? I'm on Win 7 box, and have been accessing the warehouse always through Firefox.

@dave r said:

You won't get a list of commands. Hold Ctrl while clicking and dragging tools from other native toolbars to the new, custom toolbar(s). This custom toolbar thing only works with the native tools. Open all the native toolbars that contain tools you want on your new toolbars and drag over the tools you want. Then close those native toolbars leaving custom toolbars open.

Got it. Thanks.

@dave r said:

Use the New button to create new, custom toolbars. Perhaps the Help file text needs to be updated.

Yep did that. All that does is make Rename and Delete selectable. Still no list of commands to drag to the new toolbar.