Cool. I get it now, thanks. It takes forever to render if there's a lot of edges, but it makes for a really nice output when I set the Model Window output choice to either Vector or Hybrid (depending on the amount of surfaces) and set the Export/ Options quality to High. Jim

I like Layout. I tried to get away without it for a while, but it is invaluable for sending drawings to clients and subcontractors. Aside from the bug just mentioned, my largest frustration is that I have to command click on each view repeatedly to set scale, scene, and view. If the contextual menu could be rigged to stay open until I'm done it would make the work surprisingly faster, especially given the bugs I just mentioned. BEst, Jim

I have a couple problems. Camera Jumping— Often when I go from view edit mode the camera view jumps significantly, so I can no longer see the relevant part of the model if I see any at all. Scale Selects Improperly— Often when I set a scale in an orthogonal view the scale does not select the number I click on. It's not possible to set scale if the view is not orthogonal. I don't know if matters if it's in view edit mode or not when this happens, but I remember times when it was not. Best, Jim

@jim57 said: Or, even more obvious, make a checkbox in the Scenes dialog box that addresses this. in the Scenes window you will find an option called "Active Section Planes) which lets you save the desired active section for a scene

Gaius— Wow, that is way cool (for an annoying popup window). Thanks, Gai

Fredo's Sacle Tools has Taper Tool that could do this - is this the type of thing ?[image: VpMg_FredosScaleTools-Taper.png]

Hi Jim, hi folks. Try this procedure: 1 - Make sure that everything is visible. Show all layers and unhide all. 2 - Orbit, pan and zoom to get all of your model inside the model window. 3 - Select all (CTRL-A). This will select all the model and, normally, the invisible text object. 4 - Press and hold the SHIFT key down to allows adding/subtracting from the selection. 5 - Do a window select of all the model. This will unselect the model but shall keep that elusive text object as selected. 6 - Press the Delete key. If you have the Model info --> Statistic window open while doing this, you shall see if the number of text objetcs decrease by one. Alternatively, you may try to select the model, hopefully without the elusive text object, copy it and paste it in another empty file opened into another instance of SU. If it works, delete the old file and rename the new one. Just ideas.

Update— It's a mystery, but what was not working for me last night is working this morning. I am able to turn off sections by turning off their layers. When I update the scene it stays updated. Operator fatigue, overheated computer, I don't know what was the issue. Thanks anyway, Jim

You might be seeing the effect of the 'show section planes' switch being global. I'm referring to the toolbar button that (on my mac) looks like a yellow easel for some reason. If you turn on visible section planes and change scenes then they will be visible in the new scene, a bit like the 'show hidden geometry' menu option. There is a switch in the style edit window for section planes as well as section cuts. If you turn on section planes and update your style and switch to a scene with a different style you should notice the section planes disappearing and reappearing when you swap back again. So I think you might need to a) create a new style with the section planes turned on b) set your 'map scene' to use that style c) make sure your other scenes don't have section planes turned on in their style So far as I can tell most of the default styles actually have the section plane turned on already so most likely you'll have to create on with it turned off and use that for the non-map scenes. Depends on what styles you have loaded I guess.

Another I that I think has always happened with section planes is that they obscure your model a lot of the "hide rest of model" slider in the model info/components dialog is towards the left. This happens when the section cut itself is outside of the current group I am working on. It goes from being something like an 80% transparent white surface when the "hide rest of model" slider is at the right, to an 0% transparent grey surface when the "hide rest of model" is at the left. Of course you can keep the slider at the right, or turn of the section plane, but would be nice to keep it but always have it mostly transparent. Does anyone run into this as an issue, or does it not affect anyone's work? David

As lucifer says, select the column->ctrl+x->go in to the component you want the column in->edit->paste in place

Thanks for all your comments, they help a lot. First, as expected, I can see some problems with my workflow. I was taking a floor plan into SU, then an elevation, and coordinating them. There were minor discrepancies— for instance, a wall 1/64" out of line. The snaps & inferences happened with different lines. Second, while I'm currently working on a building, but I can see places in the furniture where small triangles did not close. Third, the scale thing. I wasn't getting it before, but the bit about only closing in so far has been keeping me from getting close enough to see the problems. On to the next: What's going on when Push/Pull will select a face, but will not move it? Or will only move it a certain amount, then refuse to budge? Or not move it until the mouse moves in just the right direction, after scribbling around trying to find any way that works? Best, JIm PS: I'm in the States. What are millimeters?

Thanks for the help with the workflow, guys. I'd heard of Sandbox but never found it. I searched the Forum and saw that it needs to be enabled through Preferences/Extensions, which I just did. I had assumed that when I was drawing on a flat surface the tools would select the surface, and was not orbiting to confirm. I'm having other problems that this doesn't seem to cover. I'll post another thread with the issues I'm having closing rectangular faces. Best, JIm

Way Cool! Saves me an hour. Thanks, Anssi Jim

use this http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=6708&hilit=JointPushPull with the vector extrude option

OK. When I said their web page I'm referring to those that have one. We have the Chris Fullmer example here, he is a good approximation to what I'm talking about. His plugins have a nomenclature who stars with his initials, this way I know they belongs to Chris tools and all are grouped in my plugins folder. Even a text file with instructions is not always present when you download some rubys, with some words about the required components, etc. Sometimes I need to log here looking for the animated demo of some ruby that I not use for some time or what ruby do that I need but can't remember at this point. I had a brain stroke some years ago, but this is common when you have a lot of rubys with more or less descriptive icons. Well, I don't know how exactly, probably most of the ruby programmers are clever people, much more than me, but SU is turning more and more chaotic for moments.

Sounds to me like you made a component instead of a group...

@jean lemire said: Hi Jim, hi Gaieus, hi folks. ...... Sometimes, I would like to able to enter a d for the diameter but now it is not possible. Maybe that could be suggested for SU 8......... Jean, instead of 2000d for a diam. to be 2000mm just enter 2000/2 and [Enter] (units can't be included with this option though, just figures) The result will be R=2000/2mm =1000mm meaning the diameter will be 2000mm. PC only? or Mac too. Wo3Dan

I use my specification numbering system as a guide. My library is next to me, and I can look up and see the categories. 08 Windows > 01 component name, or 01 sub categories as necessary.

It's because I can only find the simple solutions.