TIG: I have been doing something similar on a component by component basis. The problem is some of my models have 100's of these skewed objects (the example I show is small). Hence, sdmitch has been looking to help solve the problem in mass. The need for doing so is driven by that fact the skewed objects must be detailed in Layout and can not be done so accurately while they are skewed.

So the thought was simple...the solution less so.

1.) reset the axis
2.) de-skew
3.) use the Plugin Parts-->Scene
4.) Detail in Layout

Step 1 and 2 were taking forever doing them manually so I asked for help in
1.) Asking if I first understood my problem
2.) Seeking alternative existing solutions
3.) finding help in developing a solution for the problem in scale.

Seems like sdmitch has a 95% solution. As you can see from his posts, most of the objects are de-skewed with the script he is working on except for nested ones. This is huge and if he solves the last piece it is monumental for me personally. If I had just a few items to contend with I would use the native menu driven solutions. That works fine...but when many model with many items are in this condition the problem is, well...difficult.

sdmitch: I hope you understand what TIG is suggesting. For me, it is becoming more and more obvious I will need to learn Ruby...So far I've 6 months getting into the depths of Sketchup and Layout...It is becoming obvious that those who fair the best (in getting the application to do what they need) know Ruby.

TIG - Amazing that you knew this...I just received feedback from Sketchup after submitting a Bug report as Dan suggested...they felt it was a bug in version 2014...so I tried what you said and added some geometry to my component and just as you said: the label contains the name of the component as expected.

So first thanks for chiming in...I've been all over for weeks looking for a solution/alternative to get my labels to display the the main component.

Secondly, the convention you describe carries over into Layout so it would seem it is that way by design.

Thanks Again, Rich

Thanks Dan, I've submitted a bug report, we'll see what they say...I am still bemused by how locked out the meta data information is in both sketchup and layout...I sure hope they open it all up sometime soon.

Have a great weekend, Rich

marcdurant: Glad to see sketchup folks monitoring and commenting...Is there a published list of what is upcoming or a public voting mechanism to help elevate and drive priorities. It would appear that sketchup that this was a good idea a year ago and mentioned about this particular features forthcoming introduction....well over a year ago.

thanks, sketchup and layout are really great tools, it would be super to see some accelerated inclusions of features...

With warm regards, Rich

TIG: Let me add...I am not trying to move the component axes to the world axes but align it in such a way that the components that are skewed become de-skewed (unskewed) ...are those words? Anyhow, thank you for looking into the situation...when I tested your script, all the axes moved to the origin...did I interpret that corectly or is there more there then that. Thanks, Rich

sdmitch: Yes it does appear all the skew is removed except for the diagonal pieces. Since you've been able to move the component axes and eliminate the skew from most all the components, it is easy enough to rotate the diagonal pieces using the protractor. If this is all that needs to be addressed then we have moved monumentally in the right direction.

Tig: I tried your originate axes script and it is exactly opposite of what I think I need. It moved all the components axes to the origin and then I was still left with the skew.

sdmitch: My only concern is the comment you made indicating you were uncertain why the ones that did not skew didn't. How is this siting with you at the moment? Do you have an understanding? Should we let that dog lie and move forward or do we need to understand that piece as well? As I mentioed, if all I must do is rotate a few components then that is minor compared to the many 100's of steps I would be performing.

What are the next steps then?

With warm regards,

Rich

sdmitch:

I see you have moved the origin to the objects' bounding box. I am not certain I see your next move though. Now the component can be moved to 0,0,0 easy enough but the component editor does not know the object is skewed within the bounding box. I have always positioning the axes on the object so that it can be rotated...understanding of course you know more about this than I do.

Oh, as for flattery...just calling it how I've come to see it! I visited your blog and see you have a treasure chest of tools...You don't build that kind of arsenal without knowing something!

Rich

sdmitch, I have discovered you are quite the sketchup aficionado and I appreciate your experience and help on this. I have tried so much but just started using sketchup this year....so I figured I just didn't understand something but after nothing seemed to work I am thankful you are helping. I hope to hear good news. rich

sdmitch. The problem is the component is generated from an app so the origin of the component is as described...I've made a local library of the components and tried placing them again but they are all rotated per their original placement. If I placed each component from the library I'd end up with the same model as the original...unless you know of a way to reset the origin I think I am still stuck.

/interesting...i didn't respond intending to draw a defensive response but simply to demonstrate that the two apps are inherently different and not really comparable. As for the benefits, those interested in your app may find value, however; now that you've expressed flexibility I have one question... i really Do not know the answer to this but I have not seen integration for SIP panels. have I missed something, can walls and roofs be built with SIP'S in your app? Framed and routed for electric and plumbing? Thanks, Rich

Hi Frenchy Pilou: Here is the sequence in images...

The initial Model:

Select the component wanting to be moved...AND change the axes position...eventually all components need to be relocated.

Open the component dialog and expose all position and rotation attributes:

Set all values to zero:

Note the final position of the selected component at location 0,0,0 and rotx=0. roty=0, and rotz=0 - Repeat this for all components in the model...this is a small model, some of my models can have 100's of components.

Hope this helps and leads to a solution...thanks much, Rich

Steps

1.) re position the component axes
2.) Open component dialog window
3.) select all position attributes and rotation attributes
4.) set each to 0

in the model provided I have followed this procedure for components labeled Group617#1, Group619#4, and Group621#2. You will notice they are all now sitting at position 0,0,0 with a rotation of rotx = 0, roty = 0, and rotz = 0. I plan on using Parts --> Scenes plugin to place each component in a separate scene and then dimension them in Layout.

If look at Group619#4 it was sitting much like Group625#2 but on the opposite side of the model.

You will also notice that its current origin is 0,0,0 but the component position is offset to x=-65938.311102", y=-12780.035294", z=7.672292" and the bounding box is not rotated but the component itself is.

In order to get a true front, top, and side views for dimensioning the rotation and position of the components must be "straight" (i.e along one of the main axes'.

If you have any ideas on plugins or workflow I'd be most interested....I've tried Chris Fullmer tool "center on origin and this gets the component close to 0,0,0 but the rotation is still present...I've tried the plugin "Move to Origin" which unlike Chris' it moves the component to the origin but the weird thing is the component attributes still show offset values for x, y, and z (if someone can explain this it would be nice to know what is going on for real)...Then I tried TomTom's Axes tool and it moves to axis to the bounding box.

Then I tried QJS Align but it doesn't do anything...I think I understand what it is attempting to do but nothing in the model moves...I've also reviewed thing like the TIG Originate component axis but it does exactly opposite of what I am looking to do...it places all component axes at the world origin which is where I already am...

So, as you can see, I've tried a lot of things but have gone nowhere...except to continue manually doing the change...Unfortunately, the model I am showing here is a very simple model and I've got models with 100's of components...

Now, finally let me say I may be going about this all wrong. At the end of the day I simply need the parts oriented in a way that I can accurately dimension them...If you have a better way then I am all ears

example of problem

Hi Rich,

I tried to work his axes tool into my work flow but the position of the axes is moved to the bounding box of the component. I still must move the axis onto the component and re-position and un-rotate...(is that a word?)

Thanks for chiming in though...Rich

Hi Folks, I need some help here, I have a model of a roof framing. The roof framing consists of components generated from a plugin by Vali Architects called instant roof. I need to create a detail of each component of the framing in layout, so... I have been searching for a workflow and or plugin to help me achieve this. In order to make this work; currently I manually set each components position and rotation attributes to =0...then I change the component axis (which is currently sitting at the world axis) to align with the framing member.

This in essence realigns the component's axis to the world axis ( made straight ) i.e" set the component axis to 0,0,0 and rotx, roty, and rotz all to 0.

From there I can see some potential for using other plugins like Parts --> scenes. However, right now the skew/rotation of components is messing me up.

Any ideas?

Is there a plugin or an easier method of resetting all components to 0,0,0 and rotx, roty, and rotz all to 0. And preferably resetting the component axis to the components 0,0,0?

A point of particular interest...The components I am re positioning have child components and I do not want those reoriented so even if I have to select each component and then initiate a script I would be much further ahead.

Looks to me the two products are fundamentally different. One locks you into specific modeling elements that they deem necessary and appropriate...Plusspec. Models are not generated outside of their prepackaged configurations and the models do not appear to include things like electrical and plumbing. BIMUp 5d on the other hand does not model anything. The product allows you to create take offs and reports and perform calculations on your model. So if I wanted a detailed report on components in My model then BIMUP 5 d is the way to go. If I want a tool to quickly build a model with some level of detail, then plan plus might be an alternative...however, there are more robust products available that are more comprehensive for structure modeling. So the idea of comparing the two is really not fair as they do very different things...

Thanks Dan...hopefully this will improve because much of the model is data driven...what a shame. Thanks for informing me

Hi Dan,

The topic was directed at labels...I am not trying to control the visibility of the graphical item but more specifically need to include text with the object. Trouble is Sketchup and Layout seem weak on displaying attributes we spend so much time incorporating into our models.

For example I have a main component made up of three sub components. I use this main component often and there may be 100 or so instances a model. Since the component sits in a unique position in the model I must tag it with a unique name so that it is identifiable and locate able in downstream work flows.

So the model contains all kinds of specific attribute information about this component including its location and name...

However, when I try to apply labels; which Layout touts as having the ability to label the components name, it displays the sub components name and not the main component name...

This means I get to manually enter labels to match each model instance in Layout...what a wast of time! the data is there we just can not display what we want. There are many threads on this subject and I am wondering why this is so difficult to achieve...or why it seems to be obviously missing in the first place...

Now unless I am missing something, which I may very well might be, I am trying to unleash the attributes used in creating a model to be usable in Layout...or alternately, apply the attribute labels in a model view and display that view in Layout...

Thanks...

I agree the expanded description. I am new to sketchup and layout but this feature seems so basic and foundational. To convey the model innformation textually as well as graphically is absolutely necessary. It seems like sketch up and layout are missing half the equation.

yes, please advise if there is a script available as this would be tremendously helpful