@dave r said:

I already replied in the other thread. This extension works just fine in SU2017. Leave the loading policy set to unrestricted.

Hi Dave-R,

Thanks for confirming this, it's best this was aired on this 2D-tools page for others, tenuous links & all that. I see on my very old posts about subject, DASHED-LINES, I did in fact download & install this plugin, I now remember using it, but lost & forgot all about it, it must have been around the time I had a PC HD melt down...grrrr.

I wonder why it's not been badged o.k. for SU-PRO-2017 on the download page... ? it sure is a great tool from what I remember, I can't wait to plug-it-in again.

SU I feel has missed out on not providing 2D-CAD type tools, not everything needs to be modeled in 3D, adding the odd extra detail with 2D lines on saved model sections for building plans/sections makes this tool invaluable. I prefer doing it this way, rather than SU-LAYOUT, as all fixed & tied into the model. Besides that, I failed miserably in measuring off the model in SU-LAYOUT when trying to place/trace extra line details off the model in the view port at precise known distances. I think measuring was influenced by the scale of the view port window, anyway seemed tedious from what I recall. Not too sure why this is, as dimensions know what scale your using ? SU-LAYOUT is great for other items.

Hi all,

Is anyone using TIG'S-2D-TOOLS on version SU-PRO-2017, as I see it's not validated yet for this version ?

Thanks,
Over & out,
CJT54

@dave r said:

There is a tool for drawing guides that you might use as dashed lines but remember, they will be deleted if you hit Delete Guides.

[attachment=0:otl9wsk6]<!-- ia0 -->Screenshot - 7_30_2017 , 2_26_47 PM.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:otl9wsk6]

TIG's 2D Tools has a tool that can draw "styled" lines. You might check that out.

Hi Dave-R,

Yes, the TIG'S-2D-TOOLS is what I'm after, but see it's not SU-PRO-2017 validated... grrr...I'll have to post something on that on the forum to see if it's o.k. to use.

Thanks,
Over & out,
CJT54

To all,

I was looking for a tool to just draw dashed lines, this tool seems to suggest it can do this o.k. therefore does it work with SU-PRO-2017 ? Or is there another tool that can draw dashed lines or various line styles similar to plain 2D-CAD ?

I seem to remember a set of tools that just functioned like 2D-CAD, but unsure if it had line style options ?

Anyway a tool like this would be quite useful to add further detail to extracted sectional model views for floor plans etc, as not everything needs to be modeled in 3D-SU. 2D items like: plan doors swings, plaster lines & symbols to name a few.

Over & out,
CJT54

To all,

Yeah, I thought that wouldn't last, NOW-YOU-PAY-FOR-IT... I wonder what their users think of that .. Oh well, it still looks quite slick on the new website. Everyone's going subscription lately, 59-Euros per month or 599-Euros yearly.

I read some thought if free (well..pay-for-printing-it-was) it must be not up to the job, however the videos clearly proved this not the case. So will paying for it now somehow make it a serious contender to all the other high end BIM software

Over & out,
Clayton.

@cadsifu said:

If you guys may allow me to explain a bit further on Edificius.
The software produced by ACCASoftware based in Italy.
They are selling the software within Italy region and provide as a FREE UPP to the rest of the world. FREE UPP means FREE USE PRINT PAY.
Their market in Italy is good enough to support their organization. FREE UPP is not eligible within Italy region.
Their new revolution in licensing industry will allow end users to start project without worrying on licensing issue and using illegal software for their business. The free use allow more users to get their job done at lower cost. The pay per print concept allow companies to control wastage and turn everyone to green friendly.
Hope the above explain and helps a bit.

The software is comparable to Revit, Archicad, Vectorworks at some level.
Lots of tutorials provided and it is quite easy to go through and learn.
For more highler level usage, you may need to explore more by yourself but the fundamental tutorial helps you to bring to that level.

Nizam Mahmud
http://www.trn2u.my

Hi Nizam,

Yes, I think we all understood this when looking at their website. I myself only just looked at their Italian website for the same software & the pricing is, well, "up-there" so to speak with other high end software of this ability. I still find it an odd direction. i.e. their own Italian market has enough numbers/users to promote it as free to all outside Italy. The Business model revenue in this regard is always going to be limited to its Italian market, once capacity has been reached, it may even flat line. I guess it could reverse when the numbers either balance out or exceeds in the international market, as this market is potentially massive in comparison. I Just wonder what their Italian users think of it being virtually free outside Italy..?

Anyway I'm not too sure if this is working, internationally speaking that is. There's no open forum to gauge numbers or place to discuss it openly with other "English" speaking users, as far as I can see. I did ask them about this, suggesting it would give users more confidence in the product. But haven't found anything to date on this.

Over & out,
Clayton.

@philw said:

"- You can still revive the old way if you make a tray per inspector and use a short cut to call it as you probably did before. You can also use that shortcut to toggle it on and off wich is great!"
Not sure what you mean,

What I don't like with the new tray is the space it takes up on my screen, even when its rolled up I need to adjust the tray to take up less screen space. in SKU2015 and prior I didn't have to do this.

For more screen "yardage" double click the trays to fix to right hand side of screen, then you can pin-it or un-pin-it, the latter it slides back to right hand side of screen & pops out when you ghost the mouse pointer over the tab....

@heyitsmekyle said:

Hi Guys -

For the last year or so I've been incorporating dashed lines into my construction drawings that show dashed lines for roof overhangs and overhead beams/ceiling items. These are automatically generated from the SketchUp model and require no modification inside of LayOut. I also don't need to apply any special plugins or filters to my model or the roof geometry.

Hi Kyle & all,

I've been looking for a dashed lines extension for an age that you can control spacing/gaps between & save as a line type & just change individual lines. I found one a long time ago from SMUSTARD called dashedlines, but it never got updated to recent SU versions.,, H'mmm

I've not used style builder before, as the tutorials & explanation of use is very poor in my opinion. Anyway, with your dashed lines styles, can you tell me how to implement/load these in SU-Pro. I may be wrong, but styles to me suggests all lines on mass will be changed to dashed lines..!! I just would like to change the odd line here & there to dashed lines, is this possible..?

To all,

SketchUP/Layout improvements for the recent 2016 release as listed below may not please everyone I’m sure. However any improvement to software we use has to be welcomed, especially when it seems SU HQ release updates each year.

SKETCHUP
Trimble Connect
Reload Components with 3D Warehouse models
Generate Report 2.0
Enhanced inferencing and tool improvements
Customizable Utility Trays on Windows
Refreshed Textures
Support for High DPI Graphics
Extensions Loading Policy
Welcome Dialog Refresh
Knowledge Center Update
Support for El Capitan and Windows 10

LAYTOUT
LayOut cloud references
Small dimensions
LayOut layers
Optimized PDF Export from LayOut
Documentation Improvements

For me, the main ones are: Enhanced inferencing, Small dimensions, LayOut layers & Optimized PDF Export from LayOut.

One item I thought was way overdue for improvement is the SU layer dialogue. So I’ll just have to WHISH-LIST this one for SU 2017. In the meantime I’ll keep on using the superior layers dialogue EXTENSION called Layers Panel by Jiminy-Billy-Bob. It does some of the stuff I note below a good Layers dialogue should do in my opinion.

Layer Folders for specific layer names.
Move to layer by selection.
Layer on/off by selection.
Layer as active by selection.
Layer active only by selection.
Layers all on.
User to dictate layers order, not alphabetically, i.e. an move up/down arrow button with lock order.

I also wondered what direction SU HQ were taking in terms of future development, I even muted it may even start looking at some form of basic parametric building elements for certain disciplines in the construction industry. Obviously I was getting way ahead of myself as I see their website now firmly stamps third party developers for this with add-on EXTENSIONS. Being an Architectural Consultant in the UK, any parametric software tools for Designing Buildings for Planning & Building Regulation Approvals for Construction would be key for me. EXTENSIONS may provide this, but I would favour these to be in-house as EXTENSIONS sometimes aren’t initially compatible with new SU releases or may even fall by the wayside.

From what I understand, FORM-Z & RHINO+VISUALARQ have taken this “in-house” direction & thus may be a consideration for people in the construction industry looking for a similar product as SU.

Over & out,
Clayton.

%(#BF0000)[I posted the above on the SU-FORUM, it might be an idea for all expecting more.. from SU-2016 to cut+paste their comments to this forum as well, just a thought...... ]

@solo said:

[attachment=0:pxnbjdin]<!-- ia0 -->TOOLBAR.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:pxnbjdin]

edit lines to components is actually called S4u-to components

Thanks Pete,

I'll now check these out.

@solo said:

Point to the ones you have not seen in a screen grab and I'll identify for you

Hi Pete,

Attachment enclosed.

@solo said:

The tool bars are not bigger see image, top is new 2016 toolbars and lower are the 2014 toolbars

Hi Pete,

I see you have some interesting icons I've not seen before, are these EXTENSIONS, if so, any chance of some names & brief description. I'd hate to be missing out on any time saving ones.

Over & out,
Clayton.

Hi All,

I think it was me who mentioned this software.

I agree, it is a strange business model, perhaps their thought process was that it would attract many many new users in a short period of time, given it's free to download & use/learn. However I can't see how the printing/pdf file fees would raise much business capital for future investment. Perhaps the printing/pdf file fees will increse after a year or so.

That aside the software looks very impressive & from a users point of view it must be tempting to invest time in learning, just like SKETCHUP MAKE, the one difference being you can advance to SKETCHUP PRO with bucks on the table if you want all the power toys & serious use as a business software.

Spending shed loads of money on software doesn't always commit your new users, I'm guilty of that. For me & many others I reckon, it's finding the time in the first place to learn new software once you've been using one CAD software years. Removing this large outlay is a novel idea to get people onboard, especially when it compares it's self to some very high end expensive market leadrers such as Revit, Archicad, Allplan, AutoCAD and Vectorworks.

I wonder how many printing/pdf file fees it would take one user to even spend half the cost of these top CAD sofware programmes..

Over & out,
Clayton.

@pbacot said:

One might look at the success of DataCAD which had a very low price point in the 90's. Their user base reportedly doubled in three months in 1994. Now it sells for $1,295 but their early price slashing helped create a loyal following. Free trial.

O.k. I confess, I'm one of them, user since 1990's http://www.datacad.com
Recently also bought STI SPIRIT http://www.softtech.com a turbo version of the same. I also discovered a few months ago EDIFICIUS http://www.accasoftware.com which has blown my mind...their pricing structure is...well..free to download & learn...you pay per project/printing, I can't see a catch, well impressed, makes all my other Architectural software look dumb.

Back to the point, I'm wondering who PLUS-SPEC is being pitched to. Too dear for small architectural practices, larger high street practices may be too highbrow & perhaps use top end BIM-CAD solutions anyway. SketchUP is being sold in vast numbers world wide, so any time saving Extension add-on's by this virtue could be moderatly priced to make very good margins/profit. It's a bold move at this level as I voiced some weeks ago before I discovered this forum. This now gives credence to my early thoughts.

Over & out,
Clayton.

@dsorensen said:

Hello,
It is very difficult to accept paying close to $1000 for a program that you cannot own.
If, for example, I decided not to upgrade to SU 2016, I still own---and can work with, SU 2015. I own the program.

The yearly subscription---and its cost, simply does not work for me. If it were a one-time payment where I then owned the program, I would certainly consider it as a very welcome addition to the SU toolkit. As such, I will not purchasing the program, no matter how excited one architect shows himself to be about it.

Further, Plusspec is asking for the same amount of money Archicad, Vectorworks, Revit, and Chief Architect look for in their yearly upgrades. This also makes no sense. They may be bloated legacy programs, but they have great depth and usability for those who have taken the time and effort to learn them.

For Plusspec to put themselves in that league of value just out of the gate also makes no sense. And of course, the upgrades to these programs still points to the fact that a user choosing to upgrade owns the original program.

If I were the owner of Plusspec, I would seriously take a second look at my marketing and business model. It does not work.

Yep, I think you're righ on target on this one, it's a pity, as was looking forward in learning the software. I purchased it a year ago, but then found out it was no good for my Architectural business here in the UK & thought it was still a "beta" version, so not used it at all. With the official release a few weeks ago, I now see major improvements that was promised & flexible enough for use in any country. However I've been told my licence will stop & so will the software in a few weeks time...

As an early adopter, I thought my licence would run for a year from official relase, not the "beta" version I bought. I have to say "beta" version, because I understood, it was only really for AUS use until the upgrades & official release. Now a year down the line, it all looks more than promising indeed, apart from more bucks on the table & even more in a years time....Oh well,........

Over & out,
Clayton.

To all,

I recently downloaded this PLUG-IN & can confirm it works o.k. with SU-Pro-2014.

**** DASHED LINES---DASHED LINES---DASHED LINES ****

.....and only just discovered.....
you can draw dashed lines & custom these as well...

Over & out,
Clayton.

Hi All,

Can anyone confirm if this PLUG-IN works with SU Pro-2014.

Over & out,
Clayton.

To all,

CHANGING SHEET SIZE

If you have an existing project in LAYOUT, say all A2 size sheets, can you later go back to this project & change the sheet size to say A1 & retain your work...??

Also, can you have one project, with various sheet sizes....??

Over & out,
Clayton.

To all,

I just checked again as of March 28th 2014 on my SU Pro extension warehouse & it still say's this extension was uninstalled as not compatible. I generally don't like work-arounds, so need SU HQ to validate this asap. Any news from the author in the meantime will be most appreciated. Having said that, has anyone just installed it long hand for SU Pro 2014, if so does it work..???

I hope SU HQ gives this the thumbs up soon, I'm now using SU Pro 2014 & am lost without it. This extension saves loads of time & makes the SU layer manager look very dumb indeed.

As a side note, I'd love SU HQ to make an update on this or extension of their own to make the layer manager manage things similar to this extension.

Over & out,
Clayton

To all,

I was wondering if there's an extension out there somewhere that can shrink the section plane cuts tool to a smaller cut area & preferably a 3D square or shape.

Why..???

Well although the section plane tool is great, sometimes I just want to see a cut-away area of a smaller part of the model, but keep the rest of the model un-cut. This would be great for detailing & especially useful if you could also have more than one cut 3D box at any one time.

If such an extension like this could be done, then I would sort of see it as a visual cut shape, say a square that could be also another shape if required, with a user size input. Then it would appear on screen as highlighted just like the section plane cut we have now. Then the user could grab hold of it with the move tool & move it into various areas of your model to reveal detail cut-aways but keep the rest of the model in 3D. Rotating the cut shape 3D box would also be cool.........just a thought...... but may be way too out of the ball-park of an idea....

Over & out,
Clayton.