[Success] How to purchase and activate the Animator SCF License in SketchUp Make 2017

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share a quick guide for anyone still using SketchUp Make 2017. I successfully purchased and activated the SCF License for Animator. Since the "Purchase" button isn't always easy to find on the website, here is the method that worked for me:

Prerequisites:
Make sure you have the latest versions of SketchUcation Tools, LibFredo6, and Animator installed.

Step 1: Purchase the License via SketchUp (Recommended)
This method is the safest because it redirects you to the exact correct page in the shop.

Install the plugins mentioned above.

Open SketchUp 2017.

Go to the menu: Tools > Fredo6 Collection > Animator > License...

In the window that opens, click the button "Obtain License".

This will open your web browser directly to the correct purchase page for the plugin.

Purchase the license and download the .scflicense file to your computer.

Step 2: Activate the License
Now connect the downloaded file to the plugin in SketchUp.

Open SketchUp 2017 again.

Go to Tools > Fredo6 Collection > Animator > License...
(Note: If the "License..." menu item is missing, your LibFredo6 or SketchUcation Tools version is likely outdated).

Click on "Validate License".

Browse for the .scflicense file you downloaded in Step 1 and select it.

The system will do a quick online check. Afterwards, you should see a green checkmark with the status "Active".

I hope this helps other Make 2017 users!

@faust07 said:

This is the world of MSPhysics … Sorry, but there are a mass of examples for caterpillar.

Dear faust07!
Yes I know, thats usual a MS Physics topic. However Ms Physics

• uses motor operated driving rollers to move the chain. This I don't need (like any other physics)
  . also I am not sure whether animations created by MSPhysics can be combined with Fredo6-Animator. Does anybody know this?
  rgds DWH

@fredo6 said:

I confirm that this would be difficult (or at least extremely long and cumbersome) to do it with the current version of Animator.

However, this gives me some idea to address the problem with a new type of movement. Need more reflection however....

Dear Fredo!
Thanks for consideration. At the moment I think to solve the problem each chain-link has its own path (= the only path for all chain-links) but with individual start points. So it is a very cumbersome approach indeed. In BLENDER it is a standard function to let a master chain-link follow the path and the slave chain links follow.

@fredo6 said:

Not ideal for Animator.

Could you please post the model so that I can check what can be done.

Fredo

Dear Fredo! Attached the basic model. Here is not yet defined the path for sake of not doing s.th. wrong.
Any idea to get this caterpillar in motion (I don't need any physics, no drive wheel etc, just moving the chainlinks and the complete caterpillar)? Any tricks?
Best regards and have a nice day!
DWH

basic model

Dear all! I am coming from BLENDER, which is sometimes too powerfull (=complicated) for short animations.
Q1: Can I animate a caterpillar (see pic) e.g combination of
move along path + translation
in an easy way?
I managed to do it in fredo6 animator plugin but only for one ( ) chain link.
Q2: How to bring all chain links onto the path and let them follow the path (and let the whole caterpillar move = translation)?
Thanks for any help

Car-terpillar5a.pdf