Many thanks Paul.

Not quite sure what shape you want, but couldn't you use the 'follow me' tool?

I'm really not into sport at all, but have watched as much as possible with my partner (athletic in his day). As we both work at home the TV can be on all day. Its been wonderful; the inspired & beautiful torch lighting, watching awsome sportsmen & women and just seeing crowds of spectators enjoying themselves. And I think I have shed a tear at each & every gold medal won!

Best of all... I'm enjoying that Britain feels proud of herself! Well done all... of all nationalities!

Sounds good to me too...ditto what Richard wrote!

@dave r said:

explode the one showing the demolition. After that, the lines can be turned into dashed/dotted lines using the Shape inspector box.

Ahhh! I didn't know LO could do that! Thanks!

Just for a moment you startled me... looks exactly like the type of thing I do for one of my clients - even the Airstream catering unit! Looks good!

Hi jgb

Just thought you'd like to know your review of SimfonIA is of great interest & much appreciated. I started working with Sketchyphysics but had the same problems I think some others did. Sad, but it doesn't look like those problems are going to get resolved. So, although I'm still dabbling (not essential to my work but has potential) I'm very interested to hear how SimfonIA is measuring up.

Keep posting... we're reading every word. Thanks

Have you tried this plugin?

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=39260#p346887

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=179&t=46254#p413549

we've just been discussing this

Gosh!... I'l never get any work done - thinking of starting a PDF CAD trials prog.

Fantastic help everyone – many thanks! I’ve spent the last few hours playing with all these alternatives.
My dilemma was that my clients frequently supply site plans to me in PDF format (as well as the odd piece of artwork to convert to CAD for laser cutting), then for me to add construction details, (I do a lot of event plans). These are usually quite large & in the past (for speed) I used to just import the PDF image file straight into ACAD & draw over it. A more accurate & editable method is to convert the PDF to DXF (& erase unwanted info.) For this I use Serif Draw Plus (equivalent to Illustrator). However, the process can be temperamental & you sometimes lose details of the plans. In which case it’s always good to have an alternative programme/method of conversion.
I had two such PDFs this week (one logo & one site plan) & have tested both with Inkscape & DoubleCAD. The logo didn’t translate fully (but it had worked earlier this week thru’ Draw Plus & opened in SketchUp). The site plan was a perfect result. So success all round really!
I’ll definitely be using Inkscape & keep using both DoubleCAD & DraftSight for a few weeks (DC is the pro version on trial – very impressive, but need to test the free version too) & see which is preferable. Either way, that’s a gap filled in my software arsenal & I thought I was going to have to go out & spend £££s – Many thanks.
NB. Note to LO…Both DC & DS include spell check!

Thanks Pilou, I'll take a look at that. You know, what I really want is CAD that will import a PDF file - any suggestions?

Not that I would ever consider returning to 3D in AutoCAD (well, maybe under torture!) but just occasionally it helps to have something to bridge the gap. I've just come across Dassault Systems's (FREE) DraftSight. It looks just like AutoCAD but from what I can see its 2D & without render facility, (only just found it this afternoon, so might be wrong). However, it could be exactly what I need for those occasional 2D plans/viewing ACAD files, etc. Does anyone else use it & what do you think?

[quote="the.pjt"]it could be better if I have used PNG people instead of shitelhouse ... quote]

I don't think so - sometimes adding 'real' people can be more distracting, (not to mention more complicated styling them in a suitable way for the scene) and afterall we're supposed to be studying the architecture. I prefer to use 'shadow' people in my visualisations.

PS - like the 'cloud' effect

Fabulous!

Got it now! Thanks so much

Thanks for the extra help TIG. Two things... I never did quite get to grips with AutoLisp although I used ACAD for a long time, secondly 'used' is the key word! Since getting into SU I've completly dropped my ACAD programme (out of date, won't run on windows 7 & just too expensive to upgrade). I've been getting on very well just importing existing DWGs into SU.

I did load your arc curve set segments tool but couldn't seem to access it (I had it in the 'additional plugins folder' initially but have now loaded it directly into the SU Plugins folder). I assumed I'd see some new info. in the 'entity info' window. Could you point me in the right direction, please?

PS. just watched Profile Builder demo... how did I miss this one!?

Of course, now I'll just have to 'play' SU all afternoon instead of cooking/gardening/other domestic stuff... what a shame!

TIG - thanks, I'll try your arc curve tool - I think that will do the job. I also have access to the original ACAD files now so I tried importing them to SU myself (after setting the number of circle facets to 12)... but ended up with 40 facets!

Howard - absolutely! I really don't need to see all the 6mm diameter holes at all. I will need to show the many 30mm holes as they're significant to the design of the system. I haven't looked at profile builder before (I don't do that many modular stand designs) but it does look interesting & a useful addition, so I'll try that out too.

So, looks like I have several options. I don't actually mind if I have to re-built the required profiles from scratch - SU makes it so much easier tha ACAD.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm working on a stand design & have just discovered that the modular system I intend to use is already uploaded to the warehouse - Excellent, I thought. That will save a great deal of work and I'm very grateful. I believe the files have been imported from AutoCAD (its 'bematrix' for anyone who wants to take a look). The pieces comprise metal profiles with many holes punched through... many, many holes! I've downloaded all the files but have discovered that all the holes are set at a default of 24 sides! They are not actually punched through the metal, but simply drawn on - probably OK for my purposes - but they are drawn on both sides of the 'hole'. This multiplies up to over 18000 entities in one vertical profile!

As the pieces have been imported, all these circles are not instances of one component circle.

You know what I'm going to ask...is there any way to reduce these facets? In some cases the 'holes' are no more than 6mm diameter, will hardly be visible & a hexagon would do just fine.