First thing I notice is that this is only for non-commercial use. This is for homeowners to communicate their ideas to the construction professionals who will have to use the full version of Plusspec.

Here are a couple of links to Revit addins for framing oriented stuff. You might find them interesting.

http://www.aga-cad.com/products/packages/wood-framing-solutions
http://strucsoftsolutions.com/products/

Compared to anything in the SketchUp sphere (Plus Spec included) they are very expensive.

KrisM

As a longtime user of both SketchUp and Revit perhaps I can comment on my experience. I use Revit for both the main project design and documentation. I use SketchUp for the things which are much easier to do with it such as timber frame design and manipulating terrain. I model the basic structure in Revit and export the model to SketchUp. It is much easier (and more fun)to do the timber work in SketchUp. I then export the SketchUp model, import into Revit and go on with the project. While Layout is great in some respects for documentation, the basic production of a set of drawings is vastly easier in Revit. I have also been trained in Autocad which I don't use anymore unless I have to. Revit is much easier than Autocad for making a quick or complicated 2D drawing.

"Should I be designing these plugins for Revit instead?"
I personally would love to see your plugins in Revit. There are already at least two very sophisticated plugins for Revit which already do what what your plugins do in SketchUp. They are also very costly (thousands of dollars). I would say that the marketplace for Revit is quite different than SketchUp which definitely affects the price of the plugins. However, the downside is I think the Revit implementation would be an order of magnitude higher than the work your presently encountering.

"Will SketchUp ever be taken seriously by the architecture and engineering world?"
I think SketchUp is already taken seriously by a lot of architects but less so by engineers. The fact is that SketchUp is not structured for the kind of input and output required to design an airport or a high rise. This is also the kind of structure that makes SketchUp fun to use. Now before someone pipes up about Turner Construction (who have some incredible videos some about extremely complex projects), I know for a fact that they also use Revit and a number of other complex softwares for their construction business. The point is that every software has their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we go to absurd lengths to make our favourite software do something which it just wasn't built for.

Bottom line on my opinion is that while I see SkecthUp and Layout improving, I don't think that they will replace or rival Revit in the near future. While I see Trimble acquiring software to fill out their offerings with regards to large projects, I haven't seen any evidence yet about their heading SketchUp in the same direction. I think that Autocad's prevalence in the construction industry will remain unchallenged for the near future (talking about North America here).

KrisM

The rendering is exceptional. However, the duration of each scene is too fast for me. I am just getting a look at the scene and it changes. A second or two longer would be my preference.

Nat,
The link works fine now but there are some other issues.
Leaving all the settings the same as the link presents - Changing span to 25', the right hand support disappears. Changing the span to 24'or less, the right most plate disappears. Generally speaking, I never see the bolts. Some detective work for you.
KrisM

My browser (Firefox) doesn't like the link.
"Firefox doesn’t know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (skp) isn’t associated with any program or is not allowed in this context."
I associated skp with SketchUp but still doesn't work.
???

Here's another vote for some GOOD wood textures. The only reason I use the seamless textures is because that is all that is available.

Thanks for your response. I acknowledge and applaud your always being on top of things.

Worked like a charm. Thank you.

I would suggest that a sentence or two could be put in the Account manger page to explain this. Sometimes the obvious ... isn't.

I have a previously purchased copy of the Foundation plugin. I have just been notified when I started SketchUp that a new version is available. I go to the Medeek website and find the sentence that says go to Account Manager for the update. Log into Account manager but for the life of me, I can't find any way to get the current version. Am I supposed to download a trial version? Am I missing something obvious? I had the same trouble with the Truss plugin and never updated it. Any help would be appreciated.
KrisM

The question is are you using staight Autocad or Autocad Architecture? If you are wanting to convert a Sketchup wall to an Acad Arch wall, you can't do this. If you need solids in regular Acad, you need to have solids in Sketchup (appropriately grouped etc.), then convert the imported wall to a mass element in Acad and then convert to a Acad solid. Is there a specific reason you need solids? I have played with the back and forth for a number of years and there is no magic solution. Easiest route - Stick to one program, ie. get your technicians to use Layout. Second option, only use Acad for 2d work.
KrisM

Kaas,
I took a look at the output from Revit and it was the same - good lines but jagged text. As per your suggestion I took a look at Adobe Reader and indeed there is a setting for "Smooth Text". Voila, text looks good. Problem solved. Thanks for your help.
KrisM

Here's the Layout file and the PDF output. Updated my profile to 2017.Shoreline Pricing & Site plan 1-6-17.layoutShoreline Pricing & Site plan 1-6-17.pdf

In my printed output from Layout, the text is coming out jagged. I am printing to PDF and have tried both CutePDF as well as the Layout export PDF. My drawing resolution is set to medium and the output resolution is set to High. As well, I have set the print resolution in Cute PDF at 1200 dots per inch. Still get jagged text. However, the linework has crisp edges. I have searched but haven't found an answer. I hope I am missing something simple. I don't have this problem with any other program I output to PDF. Puzzled.
KrisM

Mike,
Does your left click require more effort than previously. My mouse went from the lightest of clicks (which I love) to requiring increasingly more pressure for the click. This happened over about 18 months. 3d Connexion replaced the mouse.
KrisM

Try this -

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=72%26amp;t=62277%26amp;hilit=COMPUTER+SPECIAL+SOLO

Everything is so neat. Someone should tuck in those sheets.

"What does the parasite consume when he kills his host and cannot find another? Nothing as he dies also! This does not normally happen in the 'natural' World as hosts and parasites retain an equilibrium."

A perfect analogy.

Okay to be fair, I've watched some well recorded ones now. Kind of a hit or miss proposition. This is inspiring stuff.

This is great. There is a wealth of information here. My big problem is that there are extended periods where the camera is focused on the presenters and not on the screen showing what they are talking about. This is not rocket science. A disappointing result for all the effort which has gone into producing the videos.