Jeff,
I'll try and answer some of your questions for you (see below).
I'm definitely no expert on DC's - I've just picked them up along the way, and its all self taught.
We are all in the same boat learning as we go along.
...
The work you are involved in (kitchen units / kitchen design) would lend itself very nicely to DCs.
DC's take a bit of setting up initially - but you'll get faster creating them and in the long run they save you time.
...
I've not seen any Video Tutorials but try and look at Aidan Chopra's Channel on YouTube - he might have done some on DC's:
http://www.youtube.com/user/aidanchopra#p/a
...
Another place to start is the SketchUp 7 Manual - download the PDF from the official Google SketchUp website.
From memory, there's a chapter or two on DC's which is quite helpful with examples you can work through.

Downloading and looking at DCs created by others - I also find this very useful - we can learn a lot from each other - there are some very clever people here at Sketchucation !!! There are some very skilled people out there.
...
Your Original Questions

- can I set certain parts of a component visible or invisible by choice off a list.
Yes, you can Hide / Unhide Geometry in a DC (See a DC I've created - Staircase Builder, you can Hide / Unhide Risers).

- can I have a few different sub_components that are in the same position as the other sub-components and have the option to show only one by choice on a list.
Yes, you could possibly use IF statements here to help, or use Hide / Unhide as above, or simply just turn layers on or off.

- can I populate a model with multiples of the same component and have different options chosen for each one?
Yes, DC's behave slightly differently to regular Components. eg You place one DC - such as a Kitchen Wall Cabinet - Set variables in a dialog box (Width, Height etc). Copy Component, set new variables for second Cabinet - Original Cabinet remains unchanged - no need to "Make Unique" (Unlike regular Components).
.............
Checkout Google Warehouse plus DCs on this site - I think there are some DC kitchen cabinets etc available.
..............
I've also created a Door Builder DC posted in here somewhere.
This will show you how to create opening and closing doors - might look good on your units !!!
...............
Good Luck
Regards

Howard L'

Is it possible to reference nested components when using DC's ???
..........................................................................
For example, 3 Components:

1,2,3

1 is the outer most component [Outer]
2 is middle component [Middle]
3 is inner most component (buried the deepest) [Inner]
..........

From the Inner Component, all Parent attributes are easily referenced eg by using

=Middle!Attribute1 OR
=Parent!Attribute1 etc

..................
HOWEVER, from the Inner Component, is it possible to reference attributes directly in the Outer most Component ???
.................
I've tried the obvious eg:

Outer!Middle!Attribute1
Parent!Parent!Attribute1
..................
As a workaround, I've referenced attributes from the Outer Component to the Middle Component and then
referenced these same attributes from the Middle Component to the Inner Component.
(A bit like copying the attributes from one component to the next as an intermediate step).

Its a bit cumbersome - but it does work.
It would be much better to be able to reference such nested components directly.
.............
I hope this all makes sense !!!
Any help, much appreciated.
...............
Regards
Howard Leslie

Martin,
I find your VisMap Script pretty useful.
I'm currently running VisMap2.
......
One model is a bit troublesome....
174 Layers, 50 or so Scenes.

Its probably the number of Layers that's giving it a headache.
........
I can get the script to run on all the other models I've tried (some also quite big) - apart from this real monster.
Unfortunately it won't be possible for me to post you the *.skp file.
........
If you can ever get VisMap to run on even more Layers than present it would be hugely appreciated.
.........
Thanks once again for producing this fantastic script
Regards

Howard L'

Martin,
See this:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=18545
..........
Dynamic Component - not a Ruby
UK & International Versions Available
...........
It may prove useful for your purposes

Regards

Howard L'

Martin,
I've found your VisMap Tool really useful.
.........
However, I've hit a possible bug when running it on one particular (massive) model.
This model contains 174 Layers, 46 Scenes
(Large No of Layers Mainly Due to XRef'd Components).
...........
Error messages attached.
I'm using the latest VisMapPro version, but I also get the same error message with the previous version of VisMap
.........
I'm running this script after opening the file - no scenes / layers have been edited so its nothing to do with scenes not being updated.
Initially I thought it might be a conflict with Xref'd Components (TIGs wonderful script).
But I've eliminated that as I can get VisMap to run with other skp files that have Xref'd components.
..........
Unfortunately, it won't be possible for me to send u a copy of the troublesome skp file, but if you get the chance to have a look at attached error msg files, or if you've come across this with other skp files I'd be interested.
Anything you can do, much appreciated.
..........
Thanks once again for producing your fantastic script.

Regards
Howard Leslie

Door Builder now updated to V1.1

Dylan,
I create DC's for jobs I'm working on at the time to help speed things up.
(Obviously there is the time to create them in the first place....!!!)
Any I create that I think others will find useful (the more generic DCs) I'll post here.
...
DC Staircase Builder here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=18545
..........
Have you had a go creating any ???
...........
Regards
Howard L'

Facer,
See the first post of this thread.
A Graphic (jpg) shows how to reverse the door position.
.........
Essentially you mirror the door using the scale tool and the VCB box (key-in -1)
This is standard SU functionality
..........
Hope this helps

Regards
Howard L'

Karlheinz,
See attached. (*.dwg)
.........
Data Converted to Contour Lines for you.
Contour Interval 10.
I don't know your units of Z so it could be either Metres or Feet depending upon the exact data source.
..........
Your X and Y Units are in Decimal Degrees.
Commonly used for Geographic data like Terrain Tiles / Map Tiles.
Z unknown probably Feet (if data originated by USA) or Metres.
You'll probably know this best if you are familiar with the area.
.............
You should be able to work with these lines much easier
(will need to be elevated in steps of 10 feet or 10 metres)
.............
Hope this helps

Howard L'

contours_10.zip

Jim,
That sounds good, using the parent! reference - thanks very much for the tip.
......
However how, using this method, could you set up combo boxes (list boxes) with choices for the user on the parent ??? (as the parent doesn't actually exist until you import the finished DC component into another *.skp file ???
.......
Regards
Howard L'

Does anybody know if a Ruby exists to draw Arcs by Radius and Arc Length ???
(If it does, I've had no luck finding it).
.........
A project I'm working on at the moment has the dimensions I'm interested in expressed by Radius and Arc Length.
.........
Not a major problem for me, as I've drawn all the Arcs in Autocad and imported them.
However, a solution totally inside SU would be really useful.
..........
The imported geometry (when viewed with Entity info) comes in as "Arc" with the correct line length (Arc Length).
(Despite SU approximating curves for us with short line segments).
...........
Any views / thoughts most welcome.
Regards
Howard L'

This feature of DCs is not ideal as you've found out.....
It would be great if you could just move them about somehow.
......
Until this time / Google fixes this feature, you could try this ....

I start all attribute names with a1_ , a2_, etc then b1_, b2_ etc
All the "a's" are related, all the "b's" are related etc ( a way of grouping them).
............
See
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=18545
and
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=21350
.........
Hope this helps
Howard L'

John,
In Autocad, Get your CAD person to.........

1. Delete Views in Autocad (= Scenes in SU).
2. Run "Flatten" Command - ensures everything is 2D (no floating lines). (IF data is supposed to be a 2D CAD file !!!)
3. Run "Overkill" Command - gets rid of duplicate linework (attempts to)
4. Purge All
   ...
5. Then Import into SU.
   ..............................................
   Remember though Rubbish In = Rubbish Out
   (If CAD file is poor in the first place, you still may struggle with the data in SU)
   ..............................................
   Hope this helps
   Regards

Howard L'

After a quick test - A few observations / questions....

1. Pages (Scenes) with Sections - did not appear to render as expected (Section Cut Disappeared in Rendered Version, Model was whole again - no section cut displayed).
2. On a large model, a couple of Layers that I thought I'd turned off in the Scene had reappeared again on the Rendered Version - anyone else notice this or was it just me ???
   .............
   Didn't notice it but is it possible to batch the renders ???
   ie queue up a whole load of models / scenes and then run them overnight for example ???

• Maybe dump them out to Windows Task Scheduler ???

(I did see the option to run a single render in the background while carrying on modelling in SU).
.............
Seems quite promising though.
Congratulations to everyone who has been involved with producing Twilight on getting this far.

Regards
Howard L'

See this post in the Dynamic Components area of the forum:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=21350
..........
Dynamic Door Builder - Animated

NOTE:
Dynamic Components can be USED by ALL SketchUp Users - Free & Pro
..........
Enjoy
Howard L'

Keywords: DC Dynamic Component Door Doors Animated Animation On-Click

DC Door Builder - Animated
See attached
............
NOTE:
Dynamic Components can be USED by ALL SketchUp Users - Free & Pro
............
Release Log:
V1 2009-08-22 first public release.
V1.1 2009-08-23 (Current Version) user instructions in dialog updated
............
Users can enter variables in any units eg millimetres, feet and inches etc

Door can be set to any size / angle.
...........
Door opens / closes when clicked.
Set the door open angle eg to 45 degrees. Click Apply
To open and close the door to the angle set, use the magic finger on the dynamic components toolbar.
...........
Turn Layers On / Off as required eg (2d) DoorSwing, Origin etc
...........
To reverse the door position...
Pull the scale handles out until the VCB (Measure Box) reads -1 (pull the door inside out)
Keep the <Ctrl> key pressed while doing this in order to keep the door in its original location (if required). (Scale about Centre).
This is all standard SU - except that only 1 set of Scale Handles can be used (the remainder are hidden).
...........
The Scenes (Pages) shown in the *.skp file eg ISO / Elevation / Plan etc can be used to help Export out the data to 2D CAD (eg Autocad) if Reqd.
..............
Modelled doors can be easily adjusted by changing parameters in the white text boxes shown in the DC dialog box.
...............
Any probs / suggestions / improvements / feedback etc - giz a shout
..............
Enjoy
Howard L'

Keywords: DC Dynamic Component Door Doors Animated Animation On-Click

DC_DoorBuilder_V1_1.skp

Andrew,
Yes, I use them.
For certain tasks eg modelling staircases - I've found them invaluable and I wouldn't use anything else now.
As pointed out earlier in this thread - DCs are very task specific.
.........
I have been involved in a project that involves designing and altering industrial staircases.
After a web trawl I couldn't find anything suitable and so I forced myself to learn how to write DCs from scratch.
I could see that it would be really useful for the project I was on.
..........
I designed The Staircase Builder and posted it here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=289&t=18545
I hope others find it useful too.

I've also written a couple of DCs for Scaffolding (Temporary Works) Design
(Not Publicly Released).
...........
I think DCs can be really useful - but they are much under used at present

• posssibly because they can't be designed in the free version of SU.
  Google should change that !!!

*** I think putting the Dynamic Component Discussion Forum higher up the Sketchucation Tree might help - currently buried under Sketchup Discussions ***
Its not got a very high profile / visibility at present.
.........
Its not too difficult to design DCs either.
So if you think you can see a task where they'd be useful I'd just go for it and have a go designing one.
They can be a huge time saver.
..........
Regards
Howard L'

Chris,
I can highly reccomend that you purchase a copy of BoolTools.
http://www.smustard.com/script/BoolTools
Take a look at movie file.
In your case use in Difference Mode.
........
This will save you lots of messing about with intersecting and deleting.
Although its possible this way,

• it can get quite fiddly and tedious - especially if you've got lots of steel memnbers to do.
  ......
  In your case you would draw a triangular solid block (the hole in your roof).
  Use this block to trim off the protruding steel members that are visible and unwanted.
  2-3 minutes max for the whole lot.
  .......
  Regards
  Howard L'

Sebastian / Josef,
Great plug-in.
Excellent user interface - very fast to use.

A few suggestions / ideas / requests:

1. Ability to specify number of segments for circles (pipe profiles) (to help keep file sizes down).
2. Ability to have pipe sections, pipe junctions etc as COMPONENTS - or all geometry as COMPONENTS
3. Ability to NAME these Components (if user requires it).
4. Ability to automatically generate Centrelines for all geometry eg each pipe section - very useful for snapping / lining up / offsetting other geometry to. This centreline to go on its own layer eg "Centreline"
5. Ability to Specify "Pipes" of Square or Rectangular Cross Section. This plug-in could then be used to model other types of Ducts eg Ventilation Systems / Air-Conditioning Systems.
6. See the excellent Profile Builder Plug-in. If you have centrelines you will be able to generate total LENGTHS for each Pipe section. From the pipe profile (area) you can then calculate VOLUME of each Pipe Section. Some type of Reporting function that will generate Lengths, Volumes and Totals for each Pipe Section (Named Components). These Reporting out type functions / code already exist in several other Plug-ins eg by TIG, Jim Foltz and others.
   ...........
   Just a thought...
   Potentially both The Profile Builder and your Piping System Plug-in Compliment each other very well.
   Maybe you should Team Up with Dale Martens who created The Profile Builder plug-in so that you can have the best of both worlds ???
   You could use Dale's Profile Builder so that you can use any profile / cross-section you want to - but they would be modelled in a very simple and intuitive way using your superb drawing engine / user interface ???
   A marriage made in su heaven ??? !!!
   ...........
   Keep up the good work on this fantastic plug-in.

Regards
Howard L'

TIG,
Thanks - just what I needed.
Works really well.
........
Regards
Howard L'

Does anybody know if there is a ruby script or plug-in to convert the nodes/vertices of all selected geometry types - lines, polylines, arcs etc into points (guidepont crosses).
..........
Regards
Howard L'