Hi;

Thanks for checking out my query!

I have a really large model of a downtown area. It uses about 30-40 Google Earth snapshots. Now that I've got the town in place, I'd like to merge the Earth snapshots into one giant, extra-edge free shot. I think there is a plugin for this, but I can't find it....

Thanks, if you know of this.

Nina

Hi All;

I am looking for guidance in the following process:

I have a CAD survey of a small downtown area. I need to model the streets and sidewalks outlined in the CAD to reflect the grade/terrain of the actual area. It does not have to be perfect, just roughly accurate for modeling/presentation purposes.

I have all the buildings set on the Google Terrain snapshot, but we would like to remove that snapshot and replace it with a sidewalk/street model that can be modified as bump-outs, planters, new pedestrian cut outs, etc. are installed.

Any thoughts? Is this a job for the Sandbox tool? I would love any/all feedback. I want to learn how to do this.

Thanks!
Nina

%(#800080)[Hi G;

Yes, I do believe there's some mystery geometry in my specific model that causes the freeze. My workaround has been to do the SAVEAS, and then in the copied file delete, not hide, absoulutely everything that wont' appear in the 2d section cut. It's a bit of a bear, but at least I don't have to redraw in ACAD, right?

At the least, the Forum has helped me confirm that I'm not missing any basic knowledge, and the various feedbacks have led to my workaround.

much appreesh!
N]

Thanks, Gaeius; I should have specified that it's 2D exports that fail. The 3D exports do come out all right for me too. Hmmmmmmm. Still a bit of a mystery.

N

Hi Gaeius;

Here's the model in a zip, but it doesn't have the people, plants, etc. that made it so difficult to export(?) My current model is 15 MB. It compresses to 8.5, approx. I did have another failed export last night. I set it to go and waited 6 hours, but no luck.

If you catch anything in the model, that'd be wiz-bang bounty.

thanks,
Nina

MODEL-7_3-7.zip

Hi Gaieus;
I am happy to share the model-- in it's full form, I assume. I will upload the version I was working when all the trouble started. sorry; how might I decrease file size to manage upload: message says file too large (approx 9 MB.)

thanks,
Nina

THANKS, Anssi:
I have been through the checklist of solutions (delete wherehouse imports, search for stray geometry, etc.), and I do agree it's something in my model, but the crazy thing is I can't find it. And even stranger: I can export my model as a 3D graphic to ACAD 2007 no problem! Just not simple, lovely, 2D.
@anssi said:

As I think it is better to keep the discussion here, I take the liberty to quote the PM sent to me by Nina:

@unknownuser said:

I do have the Version you mention, and I even got V.7 and tried it there. I can export section slices directly to ACAD 2007, no problem, but I'd like a plan view, etc, and while I had zero problems doing this for a year with other models in Sk.V6.4, now I can't do it at all. Maybe I should try the bugfix anyway? Any other thoughts? Could it be something in my model? Imported 2d people or plants? (that's what I took from the Wherehouse.)-- thanks! Nina

I think after all that the problem lies within your specific model. In your previous message you said that exporting a simple cube poses no difficulties. What happens if you press the "Fix problems" button in the Window>Model info>Statistics pane? Also, you might use the Purge button on the same dialog to clean away at least the unused things that accumulate when you build a model for a long time, explore options etc. You might also try deleting your Warehouse-imported components. The quality of things posted there varies quite a lot, so your problems might quite possibly stem from them. Things circulating in the internet might have all kinds of flaws - I remember a nice 3D tree that makes the shadows in SU go all willy-nilly.

In your previous post, you also note a problem with the enormous size of your section planes. A section plane is sized based on the size of the whole context, so a large one usually means that there is some stray geometry located outside of your actual model. Is the model based on an imported DWG or DXF file from a CAD application? What happens if you Zoom to Extents?

Anssi

Hi Chris and Remus and Anssi and the Forum; thanks so much for helping me figure this out. Each person's answer contributed to the solution:

If you ever have the problem I did, with controlling section plane size and exporting 2D graphics as .dwg's:

1. Get rid of 3D wherehouse models. (or select all, make component, save for later)
2. Simplify model to the elements targeted for the cuts and exports. (Do a SAVE AS and delete in the copy anything you don't need to cut/export)
3. Do a PURGE on the layers and the Model Info.
4. Choose your section cut (now with nicely framed section plane that fits model) and export .dwg, and while you're exporting, GO TO LUNCH.
5. Come back with a full belly to find a beautiful ACAD section elevation waiting for you to play with. (about 2 hours later)

You guys all rock. Sketchup forums rock; life rocks.

In Sketchup 6 Pro (and ACAD 2007):
My issue is with exporting .dwg's. I can do it, I know how, and I tested a fresh file with default style, no layers, and a simple block configuration. It exported elev.s in seconds, and also sections from that test model. My real model has about 40 layers, is mildly complex, can export .png, jpeg, and sometimes PDF, but I have only gotten a couple of random sections and plans to export. It is not consistent. I can't tell what's wrong with my model. Something is crashing the process when I try to export .dwg or dxf extensions. The file goes to NOT RESPONDING and then I have to close and restart.

The section planes issue is that instead of nicely fitting around my model, the gray screen of the plane stretches about 10x past my model, making it impossible to move in and create a nicely chosen section.

If you can help, that'd be great. Much appreciation from Hollywood