OK, cannot find weld rb in theplugin store. I know the best practise is to find and download new versions but the only weld I can find is the vertex welding tool which is not what i need. I tried the original version I have in sketchup v8 but when I use it 2013 bugsplats.

A pain as this is the tool I use most in sketchup.

I thought the 'locking' mechanism was a method of avoiding problems during a build, when you have several versions of the same component for example. A good way to avoid messing up and it is what I use it for. Perhaps the component was left 'locked' by mistake, either way not a problem to 'unlock' it'.

I only use a few plugins, basically because I have too little confidence in the stability of the core program. If this is addressed and the control of plugins can be increased so that ONLY stable plugins get anywhere near publishing, I will reconsider.

Until then my use of sketchup will remain low. Not confident of these happening as the feedback from the sketchup dev team has not met expectaions. In other words until they do what they say I cannot trust them to tell the truth and deal with the issues we ALL need fixed.

I tried bitchin once but it did not really work out, a divorce removed that particular cancer very effectively. So effectively it reduced my income for years. Does THAT count as off topic bitchin?

@jason_maranto said:

As I've said many times, the community makes SketchUp worthwhile... this has been true for as long as I've been using SketchUp, and has only become more true over time.

Due to that fact, it has often puzzled me as to how SketchUp has interfaced with the community... or not, as the case may be.

Part of the reason I have such disdain for "darling" is I have very carefully watched his interactions with the users. What I've seen is a person who is perhaps nice seeming and polite, but rather dismissive of the user base and very superior in his own mind. This is not a positive thing... it could be a positive thing if he were a great visionary, a man gifted with insight that passed the comprehension of the masses. After all, such a gifted person should follow their own judgement... but "darling" is very clearly not such a person.

I do think such a person was instrumental in the creation of SketchUp, but they are long gone -- and the people left behind simply do not have the genius to carry the work forward. The genius types can dazzle with sporadic displays of creative inspiration. We non-genius types must get by on hard-work -- going above and beyond, delivering more than is asked. This is why I use the word "craftsmanship" when describing what I think the SketchUp team should be focusing on delivering.

I'll also be blunt and say that "darling" (or his staff) have never gone out of their way to support this place -- to the contrary they have gone out of their way to make sure they are much better represented elsewhere (whether that be a forum, or the new plugin warehouse). Never-mind the user base has chosen (and continues to choose) this place, that doesn't matter -- what matters is they are not in control and that's simply not acceptable. This is just one example of the dismissive attitude I am talking about with "darling" -- if you watch closely you will see it clearly.

This is at the heart of what I think is fundamentally wrong with the SketchUp development process. There is a need for clear-eyed understanding at the helm, especially in light of the fact that SketchUp has re-entered the world of commercial software after so long under the Google worldview... which hasn't done them any favors in mentally preparing then for re-entering the harsh commercial landscape.

Best,
Jason.

The only time I had any communication with John he came across as a thoroughly decent bloke who was patiently trying to tell me how and why I was wrong. I still do not accept his arguments 100% but do agree with half at least. A repeated e-mail from John to a tech guy was recieved where it was suggested the tech guy could help with some of the issues I was having, probably related to the method of integration with renditioner. This is where the whole sequence fell over, no further communication from either John or the tech guy. If you are going to suggest a resolution it is pointless to then shut off ALL communication and comes across as disingenuous. The 2013 release along with the low key intro just closes the statement really.

These images of yours are one of the reasons to keep coming back, take a break when you need to mate but I hope you are not burnt out.

Have a great week John.

Just a knee jerk reaction and a bit of sensitivity to the subject right now. I have seen this type of sticker and some of them do leave a nasty mark on the paint. I was based in germany for several years and the ruling was that foreign nationals HAD to have a sticker advertising their nationality if they were there for more than a few weeks like we were. My ford taunus mark three was left with paint hanging off afetr I removed the previous owners scotish version for an english sticker. Pity the scotish sticker was not a bit smaller really. My car has just had the interior trim replaced post vandalism and the trimmer made a few dings in the paintwork already. Lucky I have a really good paint guy.........

I may be missing the point and this IS off topic but, having just spent a shedload on the paint and metal fixes for my car, if someone put a sticker on it I would more than likely shoot them, and not in a nice way either .

Actually I reckon nailing their shoes to the floor while my sister extolls her latest theory of why we call the colour green, green bad enough, what she would call it I have never lasted long enough to find out.

The major issue for me is the missed oppertunity to gain a little trust. There have been issues not adressed for a while now and whichprevent the program being as good as it could be, as mentioned the biggest is a reliance on third parties to bring functioality and while it has the bonus of being cheap also brings problems of conflicting code. If trimble had released this upgrade as free of charge and pointed out the policy of commercial work being banned with the free version as of the next major upgrade they would have gone a long way towards this. The confusion on the upgrade price when a user skips an upgrade/version would have had time to be resolved by then too. Seems like a one legged horse just shot itself in the foot to me.

@mike lucey said:

@mike amos said:

Something I do find to be a pain is the lag between selecting a new tool and the tool being ready to use. There is a significant lag and not something I have had before. V8 does not act like this. Only twilight render plug in so far so it should not be that but, note sure to be honest. Not something I will fret over but it does nag a bit.

Win or Mac Mike?

Windoze Mike, nothing I can see explains it, I could do a reinstall and see if it is just a blip.

Something I do find to be a pain is the lag between selecting a new tool and the tool being ready to use. There is a significant lag and not something I have had before. V8 does not act like this. Only twilight render plug in so far so it should not be that but, note sure to be honest. Not something I will fret over but it does nag a bit.

@alan fraser said:

Moderator wand? I've never heard it called that before.

I suppose it depends on where the user sticks it.

My two pence worth. They COULD have built some bridges here and just released the 'upgrade' free. Not exactly something bean counters would like but coming from the viewpoint of a user, the problems in the program that have been ignored for so long could have been smoothed over with a bit of confidence inspiring publicity.
I think they missed a seriously good opportunity to start fresh without the prior bad blood being part of the mix, that and a little more information.

Sketchup has good points as well as bad and having looked around I will acknowledge this. Why some problems have survived as long as they have confuses me but, bean counters industry wide STILL have too much influence over the fix bugs or bring in shiny new features arguement. My prime premise still stands, why point out the simplicity of sketchup and then struggle to fit new applications within it? Why when there are basic items that require fixing? The change to the extentions is worthwhile imho, I know that independent ruby scripters kept things rolling for some time but frankly this might be a mechanism for proper control, removing scripts that are not worth the download time and ease stability problems.

If you want me to list all the issues you obviously missed the last few years here at sketchucation, we all know the things that could and should be simply done to improve the program. My two pence worth.

I think you nailed that presentation. Nice.

Thanks Pete, not seen the movie, is there supposed to be a link I have missed?

Fantstice work in all respects, my only question relates to the level of the water and rail track. Not seen anything that close to the water before but picking at nits really.

Hi David, your ARTwork is fantastic as always. A true artist, thanks for once again brightening my day and making sketchup woes vanish, for a while at least. You should be making a fortune from these.....

I copy them and use them in my architectural renders (I hope you do not mind) from time to time, they are not used for commercial purposes but they are a great addition to a picture frame for living rooms walls etc.

Truly marvelous work Sir.

Very kind, thanks.

"Student room"?

Never seen a student room that tidy. Nice render though.

Is there a problem on the kerkythea site?

I have been unable to login for a while, I basically cannot do more than read threads and have no idea what can be wrong, any clues out there?