I'm aware that SketchUp for iPad now lets you make modifications, plus bring up a pane to enter specific dimensions.

Does anyone know if it allows dimensions to be entered using a keyboard (as with the full desktop versions), and whether it is also possible to use a 3 button mouse to control orbit and pan? Can you use groups, components etc?

I'm currently trying to determine if it's feasible to model on the iPad, or whether it's still essentially a presentation tool that allows a couple of tweaks on the go.

Thanks for the reply!

As an update, I bought the Mac mini and currently have it connected to 3 x 4k displays.

Looking at the GPU usage graphs, I've been able to reach about 80% of the limit of the Integrated UHD 630 with SketchUp alone, and using maximum texture sizes.

The only thing that's maxed out the GPU so far has been the screensaver I use.

I can orbit large models easily, but there's a slight delay when I stop orbiting, and before the textures load. It doesn't orbit quickly with the textures still visible - it changes to solid colours.

For the moment, I'm going to keep with the integrated graphics as this computer seems almost silent, but if I decide to buy an eGPU, I'll update this thread to show the comparisons.

This is with the 2018 i7 Mac mini, 6 core, and 64GB Ram - running SketchUp and Layout 2020

How much does SketchUp and Layout rely on a GPU? I've been using a 2013 MacBook 13" with integrated graphics for the last 7 years.

I'm now buying a 2018 Mac Mini which has double the graphics performance of my 2013 MacBook, but I'll be using it to drive 3 x 4k displays (2 of which are mirrored), and not dual 1080p.

I have the ability of adding an eGPU with either a 5700 XT, RX 580, or Vega 64 - but I'm not sure how overkill this is?

My main consideration holding me back from buying an eGPU at the same time as the Mac Mini isn't cost, it's actually noise and reliability. Using the inbuilt graphics will be near silent and I'm not sure how reliable eGPU's are. I don't want to be messing around switching it on and off if it doesn't connect one day.

The computer will solely be used for SketchUp and Layout. Is there much to be gained with a decent graphics card? Or does performance mostly boil down to single core CPU performance?

(Please see the attachment)

Currently if I search: “table”, I can access English models of tables.

If I search “Tavolo”, I see Italian tables.

This is useful because it allows me to find models that are tailored to different tastes.

Now with the new 3D Warehouse, I have to select a country.

1: Will choosing one country only limit me to a portion of the 3D warehouse (for that country), or is the whole of the 3D warehouse available?

2: If I choose a country, am I able to change this later on, or is my selection “locked” in.

Thanks

Hi Dave,

The Fill control still controls the colour of the text box, but it doesn't affect the background colour of the text.

I copied it from a website.

As a short term fix, I'll have to copy the text into another program, fix it and then copy it back. Maybe there isn't the ability to set background text colour in Layout? Only a background colour for the text box itself?

Hi,

I've pasted some text into Layout on a Mac, but it's come in with a block colour behind the text.

I can't work out how to remove this! I'm sure it's something simple, but I see no option within the font control, and no options within the shape window.

Thanks for the speedy and detailed reply! It’s great I can have control over these lineweights - it adds so much depth to the drawings

When using section fill (with a colour other than black), Layout quite nicely shows a thicker line weight for the walls that have been sliced, and a thinner line weight for any objects within each room that haven't been sliced.

Is there a control for this somewhere? Or is this purely automatic?

Also, when I set the layout line weight to say .25pt, is this affecting the thinnest geometry, or is this the geometry for the sliced geometry?

How does the pricing for this work?

I originally signed up and paid through the App Store, but now I think the payments are managed by Trimble.

It said "Expiring Tomorrow, Login now to renew". Logged in.... and nothing came up?

Is this still priced separately, or is it part of my yearly maintenance cost? Or is it now part of the new subscription based service?

Thanks

The reduction process works very well. It's based off the length of horzontal pixels.

I'll often use it after taking photos my DSLR. I'll set the pixels to 1920 horizontal and can batch export a whole album, which I can then share with my clients on Dropbox without using up too much space.

I then keep the original 6000 x 4000 pixels offline if I need to access them.

Within Applications, then Utilities, you should have a program called Activity monitor.

Open this, then right click on the symbol in the dock and change the dock icon to "Show CPU usage". This is quite helpful to see what programs are maxing out your CPU at a glance.

Also while you are within Activity Monitor, select "Memory" and look for "Swap used" at the bottom.

If you are maxing out your RAM at any point, it will be using part of your hard drive as RAM. This keeps the computer running, but can slow down the computer massively.

You can also get an idea as to what programs you can close to free up RAM. Some internet tabs - especially websites like Google Maps and YouTube can really eat into your RAM.

Quick update incase anyone find this thread.

On a Mac, click "Applications" then "Utilities". Within that folder is a small robot called "Automator".

This can do a variety of useful repetitive tasks such as reduce the image size from a bulk folder, but I've just discovered it can also split PDF's.

Hopefully this feature will work its way into Layout, but until then - this is a good solution for Mac users!

Thanks, I'll have a look for a program.

I've currently been exporting individual pages, but it's a tedious process! Especially when you spot a typo in the title block and have to repeat the process...

Currently running Layout 2018 and just waiting for a gap in my workload to update to 2019.

Does 2019 have the ability to export individual PDF's?

Alternatively, does anyone know a Mac program which will take the grouped PDF and export individual pages?

Thanks!

Thanks - I'm on a Mac and things tend to be fairly flawless driver wise as everything is done within the Apple updates themselves - so hopefully that shouldn't be an issue for me.

I think I'll give it a go then!

Pixero: I guess this makes sense as it means new people can join SketchUp for a much cheaper entry price (even though they pay more in the long run). I purchase my maintenance from a reseller and there's no difference in how I upgrade my maintenance this year.

As I use SketchUp professionally, I tend to upgrade at a later cycle than most to ensure things run smoothly.

Has SketchUp 2019 had its first update yet? Or is it still the same initial launch version?

And has it been fairly flawless? Or are there any obvious annoying bugs?

Also worth turning off edges - and seeing whether the chair is actually painted black, or whether it’s made up of millions of tiny lines (which quite possibly is the case!). Also keep an eye on file sizes. From previous experience, importing other file types leads to crazy high file sizes.

View > Edge Style > Edges
View > Edge Style > Profiles

Thanks! I didn’t realise I could use the precision symbol in that way. I’ll check out the text tool as well

If I have two viewports in Layout and they're the same size, I can easily press Align > Left to align them. But if the viewport boxes are different sizes, it obviously aligns the edges of the boxes and doesn't align the edge of the model.

In the situations where this is a problem, I draw a vertical line in Layout, and manually adjust the viewports so the side of the house is aligned with this line.

But is there a way for the align tool to work based purely off the SketchUp model, and not off the Layout viewport size?

Question 2:

With text - I can either draw a text box, or manually type out text into a box which auto-adjusts in size. Each has different uses, but is it possible to easily switch between a fixed text box, and a flexible one? Or do I just have to copy and paste the text each time I wish to switch?

(the auto adjusting boxes are a lot more useful for commands such as centre on page!)

@randy hutniak said:

SU 2019 is out; check the Trimble website.
Subscription based...now at twice the annual Service and Maintenance cost. I guess it was bound to happen.

Now I have to purchase it before my 2018 ends so I can 'Train' the students I have. No discount for Accredited Trainers as far as I can tell. I did apply for the Teacher's edition $0.00 and where it asks for the School Name I put Accredited Trainer as per SU website! haha lets see what they say

Although it’s twice the yearly cost for us (if we switch to the new subscription method), it’s actually a lot more accessible for people starting out with SketchUp. An interior designer friend who’s just starting out, has been trying to build up the initial payment of 600 to get started with SketchUp Pro. Now she can start for 240.

Yes she’ll pay more money in the long run, but it’ll be 4 or 5 years before the subscription method ends up being the more expensive option in comparison to 600 + 120 a year...

Yes it’s a pain for the loyal SketchUp users, but everyone seems to miss how this will bring more people into SketchUp!