Looks like they removed the solar orientation setting in the geolocation area for manually setting the north angle in you model, along with dwg/dfx import, in the free version. I wish they wouldn't take away features.

Any update on this? RSS was the only way I got updates. I've been out of the loop for a week + now. Bummer.

@unknownuser said:

Will be interesting to see how fast people take advantage of your offer.....cheers!

Yeah. I found most of my friends don't care or find it a bit to BETA for their tastes. Thats why I'm offering it here. A bit more tech savvyness I'd think. We'll see.

I've been using Google Wave (http://wave.google.com) for a few weeks now and it's interesting, but I dont know enough people who use it to get the full potential out of it. I think it could be a nice collaboration tool for design professionals. They've allowed me to send out 8 invites now, so I thought I'd offer them up here to those that might be interested. They say that they are not sent out immediately but I received mine within a week. Reply here with an email address.

@gaieus said:

@drewpoeppel said:

Does anybody know if this breaks the .dwg import enabler for GSU, or if you can just run the enabler patch again if it does. I'm afraid to upgrade. They said it wouldn't be supported in later versions. Thanks

No,this is just a maintenance release and it should not affect the importer.

Upgraded and indeed, no problems with the importer. Thanks.

Does anybody know if this breaks the .dwg import enabler for GSU, or if you can just run the enabler patch again if it does. I'm afraid to upgrade. They said it wouldn't be supported in later versions. Thanks

Here is a link to a tutorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlroywBmCdM

I'm an architect. I find that with my attempts at Photo realistic renders the clients, and sometime myself, get too hung up on the entourage and don't focus on the building, which is almost always the most important. My skills at render programs sucks, so that doesn't help. With going a more artistic or straight sketchup route I'm better able to focus the client and myself on whats important.

Here is the link to turn on dwg/dfx import for the free version of 7.1. Like they said "only for a limited time"
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=161784

@chris fullmer said:

Plus they have promised to support dwg in the free version through the end of 7.x.[Chris

Really? I didn't see this anywhere. I assumed this was the release they were talking about last month in regards to deleting the dwg/dfx support. If you look at the features list it looks like dfx/dwg is out.http://sketchup.google.com/product/whygopro.html I'm holding off on upgrading until I know for sure.
Can you install 7.1 along side of 7.0?

@notareal said:

dwg/dfx import is gone from free SU 7.1

Finally found it http://sketchup.google.com/product/whygopro.html.
This is the only place, I see, that they seem to acknowledge they took it out besides the blog post last month. If you missed that post your SOL.
Anybody found if you can install this version along side GSU 7.0?

Looks like Sketchup 7.1 has been released http://www.archdaily.com/35869/google-sketchup-7-1-now-available/
Don't see anything about the fact that they are getting rid of dwg/dfx import. At least not prominently. I'll have to dig deeper to know weather to upgrade or not.

I get the feeling some people think we Google Sketchup users should all shut up and be happy that Google has even blessed us with a free version of this product. And if you don't fork out the $500 for the pro version you shouldn't have any say in development. As far as I'm concerned they can do what they want with the PRO version of Sketchup. I don't use it and I'm doubtful if I ever will. I am disappointed that, in my mind they are downgrading a part of the free product that I use. Google Sketchup. Google are the ones who decided to make this free version. I like it and want to continue using it they way I'm used to. This change makes that harder. A lot of their other products are free too and if they started ripping out stuff I like in gmail or google earth or whatever, I'd also be upset. I want the features I'm used to and made me choose this program over the others. If they and others don't value the opinion of users like me then fine. I'll move on.

Yeah, I'm all for them adding cool new features and NOT making them free, but why rip out a feature that has always been free? In the post it seems like they see it as if they give away any new features they have to take away others. I'm just worried about what they'll take out next.

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2009/08/coming-soon-in-google-sketchup.html
As an architect I could care less about import export of 3d models. COLLADA? I want to be able to use my working drawings to build my model. A BIG step back for me. I cant justify the price of Sketchup Pro. Now what do I do? No updating for me. Blarg...

Thank you so much for this! I just had a project where I spent half the day trying to create what your .rb did in 5 secs. Essential for all architects.

I would draw the pattern on the face and then hide the edges between the different colors. Seems pretty easy. Am I missing something? Are you more concerned with how to create the material?

Thanks! I'm an idiot. Should really read the instructions some time.

Is the styles dialog supposed to look like this all the time? With the two panes? Mine is stuck like this. I'd prefer just the single pane. I thought it only looked like this when you were sampling other styles.

Any help? Thanks.

Maybe it is only the US site, cause it works when I do it.