@juju said:

Another approach I, for one, did not consider. Any way one can start incorporating the creation of return reveals (thickness, so when cut through in plan illustrates correctly) and lintels as well?

Alternatively call it using a ruby that does the extra things you want / need including exploding the cutting component and removing it.

It depends on how much detail one requires, the lintels can be incorporated, the linings/reveals would be better as part of the window install, a window DC set to scale and nested two deep to survive the double explosion is doable. Then that can be swapped with a detailed one, client choice. Will give it a go over the weekend, plus add the insulation factor.

Philip

another idea is to develop a DC cutter, but the leafs need to be raw geometry within the group

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

thus can have different reveal sizes, sill....to make up time

the difference between my examples (hide.skp) and your model (save.skp) is the parent is a component in mine whereas yours is a group. It appears groups can't pass down a value, but rather they need to reference the parent.

hav't an explanation to why example 2 does not work, however able to fix using example 1

will look into it tomorrow

save.skp

can use SET("legs!Hidden", 0, 1) as direct reference as well

example 2

create an attribute say called hide in the parent and give it a value 0, toggle this via the onClick with SET("hide", 0, 1).

Then for hidden attribute value within the children(legs)
hidden = parent!hide (or char!hide)

example

License type:Free/Make?

I believe its a Pro feature

if you find it difficult to align the plane, make a plane by attaching the center points, top and bottom of both pipes, then draw a line from the mid points between the "top" to the same on the "bottom" then push pull the planes either way to get the intersection plane. (Top and Bottom maybe left and right depending on the orientation)

thanks Kaas & Garry, will give ruby a serious go.
no point in wasting my sketchup experience, although will purchase a CAD plateform, probably BricsCad. although will checkout the others mentioned first

Thanks for the insights
Yes I will look else where, waiting is not the answer

I will keep sketchup as a hobby, maybe explore a bit more ruby...in my spare time...for a while

Once I find the software I will move there. Cheers and thanks for the forum, I hope there are equally as good

if you look at the truss in a Cad viewer, the form is a true curve, whereas in sketchup its segmented. I can (and have) as you have pointed out build the same in Sketchup, even built a DC version, however it still uses a very basic rectangle/triangle surface, whereas the original, I believe, uses a technology that expresses the curve with fewer points and bent or bulged surfaces.
I not an expert in this field, but the change in file size and the difference in models causes concern.
In building the DC, I was always at pains to reduce its file size, as copies become unique. I can share a part from the DC without repercussions, but the full model is currently private, as my efforts may yet be financially compensated for.

the total file size can vary depending on the amount of segments chosen, but sometimes for a decent view a component can be 2MB, then there is the issue of them becoming unique with change and multiplication.

I must stress again that I do love sketchup, but I am starting to see limitations

curve pipe example.skp

Hi Baz

I have look at a few like DraftSight, however BricsCad seems the most competitive to suit my needs. I have a lot of AutoCad experience, plus a good knowledge of VBA, so its interface is familiar and pricing is acceptable.
I will make my decision after the next upgrade, until then I will continue with Sketchup, I do on the whole love it, but the file sizes worry me, there is a need for nurbs(or a way of showing curves without loads of faces and memory use), better dynamic components functions and again memory management, better ruby ide (interface with a standard set of userform tools)...I fear that these are years away from improvement.

I prime example recently I downloaded a curved truss then tried to upload it to sketchup, the cad file is about 800kb, sketchup could not fully import it and the result is a file of 3000kb. The curve? well....

Simple geometric shapes for building is so old hat. curves, shells, organic shapes are a problem to build in sketchup. This needs urgent attention

PT34-C (kruh).dwg

I have invested 6 years into sketchup, I hope its not all in vain, but if 2017 release is again a disappointment then I will be moving on, I will keep that version and perhaps check back in 5 years. It really does need to "catchup" and overtake the competition

open the component, select all (control A) and choose the default (right side top) in the material browser and paint

use outliner

select and and drag the sub_components to the corresponding parent level or other location of your choice, leaving the one sub component you want first (leave at least one otherwise the container will delete itself), then drag the moved components one at a time back and they add under the previous, as mention above for copies

Outliner is the idea tool for many operations on nested groups / components

I believe in coding -1 is returned when a match is not made

the use of + seems to create a bug in the ruby side to DCs

• minus works, so a work around is to use a variable, being positive at first, then changing it to negative after the ruby script behind the scenes has accept it

=2*current("leny")*2.54-val

where the attribute val initially = 5, then change it to -5 after the first run

this is probably only required if you were relying on the index for your calculations

You can place formulas within the options values, this can be used as a trigger to set attributes
Plus it makes the attribute dialog cleaner and not so cluttered

formulas within option dropdown.skp

yes if there are some other attributes you want to excess via the front dialog box, you do need to pass them through.
Double wrapping an component has some other advantages as mentioned on some of my other posts in that you can retain the existing len attributes in a swap if required, ideal for swapping a beam or window/door for a different profile and retain the size in the drawing.
If you find it difficult, post an example and I will walk through the steps

Hi

You could encase the component which is on a particular layer within another component, apply all your copy function to the outer component, which can remain in layer0, thus making copies on layer0 with inner components still on the correct layer

example attached

copy & layers.skp

1. you can group the floors within another component or group with a particular layer
2. after an alteration of the first component in a series of copies, after exit you need to update with right click menu, DC,redraw.
3. you need to create formula to suit

generally better to use material names (with no space) to do areas, so reflects only the surface required however complicated (you can rename a material to exclude space)

suggest if you don't already, use outliner to amend the components rather than mult click

attached example

build.skp