Okay, that is weird. The 6 solid groups are copies of the initial group but they are definitely not components. They are created using normal SU tools and aren't anything special. Are your three groups copies or are they three individually created items?
KrisM

]Here are two instances of three solid groups which are grouped together. The group on the left are face to face. The group on the right are 1/64" apart. I can punch holes quite easily if I open the parent group. I can't punch a hole through the whole group from outside it. Solid tools don't work because the parent group isn't recognized as a solid. I've tried "Hole on Solid", TIG's Hole Punch and the hole tool in 1001bit. Non of these do what I'm looking for.
Kris

[attachment=0]Hole in Group.skp[/attachment

Hole in Group.skp

Yes. Three solid groups contained in a overall group which SU doesn't recognize as solid.
Kris

The layers are face to face as far as I can tell. They were copied corner to corner so there shouldn't be a gap.
Kris

Dave,
I understand that the nest isn't a solid and that this is the problem. I know that I can open the group and make the hole there. The issue is that this takes 4 operations as opposed to one operation if I could work on the whole group at once. Maybe it isn't possible for a plugin to look inside the group and find the solids to operate on and maybe it is. I surely don't have the knowledge to comment on this so I am asking the question. tak2hata is one of the many talented and creative people on this site and perhaps he would have an idea.
Kris

tak2hata,
I am using one of your other great tools - Building Structure Tools. The best part of that plugin for me are the MWALLS. I finally figured out how to make my own walls and this is very powerful. The one problem I have is that I am not able to put a hole in the multiple wall without exploding the wall group. If I have a three part wall made into a group with each part being a solid group, SU still thinks the group is not a solid. So I can't select the group to use your hole on solid. Is there a solution to this?
KrisM

Hole on Solid works quite nicely for a single solid but doesn't work on a group of solids. At least, I haven't been able to make it work. Thanks anyway.

I have been looking for plugin to make hole through a group of solid objects. There are plugins that make a hole through a solid group but none I have tried will make a hole through a group of solids. For example a wall group made up of three layers, each layer being a solid group which are contained in the overall group. Presently, I have to open the parent group and apply the hole plugin to each solid group. It would be much faster if I could drill through the whole group. Any ideas out there?
KrisM

I get the white space lag but assumed SU was loading the plugin toolbars before painting the screen. I never considered it a problem. I rearranged my toolbars without the double wide large toolbar so the niggling gap is gone. I find it curious that I don't have any toolbar issues in any other program I'm using. SU seems to have achieved a unique status in this regard.
Kris

Whenever I start 2014 Pro, the large toolbar is placed slightly below the top horizontal toolbars. I move it up and it stays put. When I start 2014 again it is moved slightly lower. Not an earth shaking problem but annoying nonetheless. Has anyone else noticed this behavior?

Kris

Thanks for your response. I have sent an email.
KrisM

4 emails to the developer and still no reply??
I really want to try this.
KrisM

Many years ago when I was an apprentice, I bought a beautiful leather covered 100' tape. We were on the job laying out some trusses, being very careful to put them on the mark but I could see that something was wrong. Some of the trusses were crooked. I had bought a tape that was in decimal feet. I didn't know such a thing existed. My first lesson in different measurement systems. Like I say, it keeps you on your toes.
KrisM

I thought I had done a post here but it seems to have gone into internet limbo. We started to change to metric in Canada quite a few years ago and were partly through the process. There was a mish mash of materials on the jobsite. We would build the building ( foundation, block walls etc) in metric and put the roof on in imperial because there was no metric plywood. After a few years, we went back to imperial for everything because we were ruled by the manufacturers who were shipping the majority of there lumber and plywood to the states. So now, we have a situation where most residential and small commercial projects are done in imperial and larger and government projects are done in metric. We can submit drawings for approval in imperial except for the site plan which is in metric. We order concrete in cubic metres but gravel in cubic yards. Keeps you on your toes. Of course, I'm only speaking about here in BC and can't comment on other provinces.

KrisM

Has anyone had any success with this plugin?
I downloaded the trial which tells me it's expired even though I have never used it and installed it on the same day as I downloaded it. Two emails to the developer have gone unanswered.
I tried the free version on SketchUp 8 but it doesn't work. I can't tell if it's a problem with my file or the plugin.
I would like to incorporate this plugin into my workflow but am somewhat frustrated. I would like to hear if this plugin actually works.

KrisM

Andrew,
Firstly, let me thank you for interacting on this forum. It is one of the great things about SketchUcation that we are able to have a dialogue with the developers of various extensions and plugins (if we could just get John Bacus on here, that would be something).
I only looked at Plus Spec in a cursory manner (work is crazy at the moment and 8 days goes by before you know it)but did notice a few things.
If you want to do something which uses your current materials the modeling is great. The one issue I had is that the materials other than the core elements (studs, bricks, etc.) have no thickness. I understand this is a design decision that you have made but it is certainly contrary to my current practice. I always show the true wall thickness with regard to the exterior sheathing, stud and interior finish (the exterior finish thickness isn't drawn unless there is a particular requirement). I think this is quite common over here.
I didn't take off anything because all the materials are metric. The obvious imperial items are 2x4,2x6,2x8,2x10,and 2x12. Please note that the actual size of these is 1 1/2" x 3 1/2", 5 1/2", 7 1/4", 9 1/4", and 11 1/4". Sheathing items would include ply and OSB in 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 11/16", and 3/4" thicknesses. I'm sure if you already have a good amount of imperial items, that these would be already done.
I did notice that your stud walls had multiple rows of blocking and that I couldn't find a way to define the number of rows. We would never have the number of rows that are generated (unless there was a specific condition such as a shear wall). Is there a way to change this?
I guess this illustrates the basic problem with predefining everything. It seems to be a basic truth that anytime you use a new program that it doesn't do something that is very important to you. What are the customization possibilities within PlusSpec? This seems like like would be a significant concern.
This is quick reply and I will give PlusSpec a closer look as time permits ( I was able to reactivate my trial...thank you).
Great job so far. I am looking forward to see what comes next.
Regards,
KrisM

"1. Does PlusSpec offer full imperial support? standards for framing and what not, equipment and components?
We have timber sitting here ready to go and we are making products as I type. If you have a particular supplier you would like to see on board send me the details. I will chase them up. I have had many emails from America and Acme, American Gypsum,Dryvit EIFS, Andersen Windows have all had over 100 requests from individuals. There are a couple more companies that are getting up there as well. "

I guess the question is still unanswered. Is imperial support imminent or sometime in the future? Is there a workaround? I have used the trial version and am impressed. My concern is that the program is very good for Australia but not so good for North America.

KrisM

$395 is a little much just to get a look. I know there is a 30 day return policy but I don't like the potential hassle. Plusspec was beta tested in Australia and I would be curious to hear some comments from those users.
KrisM

I see now that the program has been released in the last week but this does not help with the fact that there is no adequate information on the website to make an informed decision with regard to a purchase of this magnitude. I am very interested but definitely frustrated.
KrisM

Re: Plusspec
Is this actually avaivalble? If I click on the Buy tab, I get the $395 price presented to me but if I click on the Download or Tutorial tabs, I get a Coming Soon page. I think the price is pretty high unless the program is really something special but there is no real information on the website and no opportunity for a trial. Every program has it's pluses and minuses and I certainly don't buy something at that price unless I can test it.
KrisM