Jody - that does seem to help in most cases. I do still get the Model Info window popping on using the Spacebar when working inside a group or component. Don't have time right now to properly trouble shoot the issue.

This is driving me nuts as well. Spacebar is the default shortcut to access the select tool, and it is broken. This really should get fixed ASAP.

@kwistenbiebel said:

Indigo render (v1.01):

This is a fantastic render. Nice composition, intriguing materials, excellent lighting. Nice job!

Sorry if this is an inappropriate post, but I find it pretty exciting, and thought some of you mac people out there might, too.

http://www.architosh.com/news/2007-06/2 ... nomac.html

WIP: Work In Progress.

Holy cr*p, Paul! Your Uncle's company makes some impressive stuff. Especially the structure in the attached image - beautiful.
So you've pushed some rod, eh? I wish more engineers and architects had that kind of practical experience. On my last project, I actually had to explain to the structural engineer why we couldn't use stainless nuts on A36 bolts - seems he'd not heard of galvanic corrosion. I couldn't tell you the science behind it, but I know from experience just how bad a situation it is.

18" plate. Crazy. I'm glad I only have to deal with 16 gauge. The 72" Duet sculpture only weighs 65 lbs. Much easier on the back.

Paul - Thanks! Yeah, the shadows on that Circle Totem piece would be pretty cool, but I have yet to make one outside the computer. Maybe I'll do a shadow study some time in modo, just for fun.

I do spend a ridiculous amount of time on finishing the metal. I use a TiG welder to assemble them, which allows for nice clean, small welds. Final finish on the faces is done with random-orbit sanders to leave a slight tooth for the powder coating to adhere to.

Alan - thank you. And thanks for taking the time to check out my website!

Lewis - I posted some images on my Flickr account that show what I'm doing with the SU>ViaCAD>modo workflow.

Flickr

Flickr (www.flickr.com)

Hi everyone - I was having trouble with SU when trying to model some more complex shapes. I gave up 4 years of Rhino experience when switching to the mac platform, and still have some regrets. I went hunting in The Tubes and found ViaCAD, newly released by Punch! software. It is basically the same core that drives their high-end package Concepts Unlimited, using the ACIS kernel. It has actually blown my mind - so much functionality in a $100 software package. Imports SU files directly. Exports to lots of MCAD formats, like .SAT, IGES, and .STL. Robust 2d drafting, surface modeling, and solids. The blend functionality alone is worth the $$. No demo is available, but you can get a feel for the interface with the Concepts 3d demo.

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At Punch!CAD, it is our mission to make computer aided design software that matches up perfectly with your needs, regardless of your industry or expertise. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, CAD drafter, 3D printing expert, furniture designer, student, or DIY hobbyist, you can always find the right tools for the job.

(www.punchcad.com)

I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just very impressed.

@monsterzero - you aren't alone. I've alerted the Googlers (several times). Hopefully this will get fixed someday.

I had one. For a day. I sent it back - never could get the settings dialed in while using SU, and I switch between supported and unsupported software so often it was driving me nuts. It might be a different story if more software developers (like modo, Vectorworks, etc.) supported them, and if my brain wasn't hardwired for left-handed shortcuts at this point.

Hope it works out for you, though, Maggy.

Such a beautiful model. That first render is spectacular; it reminds me of why I fell in love with SketchUp way back when. The simplicity and precision with which it can explain complexity. Excellent work.

[mark leichliter]

Had this entry in my console after attempting to launch SU (and getting the license warning, like I do every time now):

@unknownuser said:

12/5/07 8:54:20 AM SketchUp[2285] Could not find image named 'Reload'.
12/5/07 8:54:28 AM [0x0-0x1db1db].com.google.sketchuppro[2285] ../../source/sketchup/macwin/CString.h:407: failed assertion `nIndex < m_pData->nDataLength'
12/5/07 8:54:30 AM SketchUp[2288] Could not find image named 'Reload'.

Thought maybe it would help in tracking down the cause.

Oh, and SU is still littering the console with verbose mundane actions:

@unknownuser said:

12/5/07 8:54:20 AM SketchUp[2285] Could not find image named 'Reload'.
12/5/07 8:54:28 AM [0x0-0x1db1db].com.google.sketchuppro[2285] ../../source/sketchup/macwin/CString.h:407: failed assertion `nIndex < m_pData->nDataLength'
12/5/07 8:54:30 AM SketchUp[2288] Could not find image named 'Reload'.
12/5/07 8:56:46 AM SketchUp[2288] action selectSelectionTool:

12/5/07 8:56:48 AM SketchUp[2288] action selectPaintTool:

12/5/07 8:56:57 AM SketchUp[2288] action selectSelectionTool:

12/5/07 8:57:02 AM SketchUp[2288] action selectMoveTool:

12/5/07 8:57:12 AM SketchUp[2288] action selectSelectionTool:

12/5/07 8:58:49 AM SketchUp[2288] action makeGroup:

12/5/07 9:16:35 AM [0x0-0x1dc1dc].com.google.sketchuppro[2288] ../../source/sketchup/macwin/CString.h:407: failed assertion nIndex < m_pData->nDataLength' 12/5/07 9:16:35 AM [0x0-0x1dc1dc].com.google.sketchuppro[2288] filename = /Applications/Google SketchUp 6/SketchUp.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/i18n.dat 12/5/07 9:16:35 AM [0x0-0x1dc1dc].com.google.sketchuppro[2288] ../../source/sketchup/macwin/CString.h:407: failed assertion nIndex < m_pData->nDataLength'

Thanks for your input, Santiago. I'm intimately familiar with SU's odd way of handling layers, and realize that I can group the copied geometry BEFORE I place it on the new layer to prevent this behavior from occurring. But (there's always one of those, isn't there?), that doesn't change my opinion that the selection filters don't work in a logically consistent manner - if "Select All" respects layer visibility, why don't the others? Select All is actually "Select All Visible" - why are the other selection filters ("All with same Material" specifically) not logically consistent with "Select All"?

Nut sure if this is a known bug or planned behavior, but selection tools like "Select -> All with same Material" do not respect layer visibility. e.g.: create a rectangle and color the face green, then duplicate that rectangle. Create a new layer and assign the second rectangle (with all the edges that define it) to this layer. Uncheck this second layer's visibility to make it invisible. Now click on the original face and context-click "Select -> All with same Material" - the rectangle face in the hidden layer will select. Now run "Select -> Bounding Edges" and the edges of the rectangle on the hidden layer will be selected. This seems like a bug to me, as other selections can and do respect layer visibility - Select All for example.

I often make a duplicate of my geometry and assign it to a hidden layer before making changes to the original geometry - makes having one unfolded and one intact copy of a project inside a single file really easy. The above behavior makes this process a PITA.

Found this in my console (in case it helps):
11/26/07 9:03:34 AM SketchUp[2393] *** -[SkpFontPanel tableView:shouldSelectRow:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x2223c00

Just wanted to thank everyone involved in the switch over to these new forums. Threads that actually remember their read state? Shweet!

I get this same behavior. It looks like SU uses a custom font dialog for this - not sure why they don't use the system default. I tried changing fonts using two methods: by just selecting the text, pressing Command-T for the font selection dialog, and making changes therein - nothing happens. Second method was using the model info window and utilizing the "select all screen text" and "update selected text" buttons - again with no effect.

Hey Bert - I have the same trouble, and it seems to be worse since installing Leopard. FWIW, I don't have any fancy networks set up, either. I've filed an official Bug Report with Google on this, but seeing as they are busy hyping vaporware mobile phone stuff, I have serious doubts this will be fixed any time soon.