Thank you

I will take a look at Fedo's Topo Shaper and ThomThom's guide.

When I refer to stacking it is when the gradients become so steep they are vertical. This happens where I have a retaining wall when the contours run along the same line i.e. the vertical wall face.

I just can't get the contour tool to recognise this.

Cheers,
Andrew

Hi,

Clearly I have a lot to learn.

Very frustrated this afternoon though.
I am trying to import an AutoCAD contour drawing which I have spent most of the day preparing for Sketchup. There are only 4 layers but lots of contour lines which I have drawn over and each contour is a polyline. Each contour has a text label to help me identify at what level I am when I come to work in Sketchup.

Now my dilemma. When I imported the drawing into Sketchup (Pro 2015) I discovered there was no text. To make matters worse all my polylines are now individual segments. It gets worse! The polyline contours were supposed to make the lofting exercise simpler for me. A number of contours (polylines in AutoCAD) are stacked vertically above each other when they occur at a vertical wall. Now Sketchup has exploded these polylines I have now way of finding and linking them back.

I hope I have missed something but today has been Black Friday as far as Sketchup is concerned. I may have to resort to a good bottle of Scotch and a revolver!!

Please throw me a lifebuoy someone.

Regards,
Andrew

Thank you TIG,

Very useful. I think I can work with this.

Regards,
Andrew

Thank you,

TIG I will give this a go and get back.

Regards,
Andrew

Hi,

I have a model where the ground floor of a house is 56.35 metres above sea level. I need to set my model correctly because the ground slopes above and below this level by as much as 7 metres above and below the finished ground floor level.

I know I can reset the axis but is there anywhere where I can enter a Z co-ordinate of say 56.35 so that when I interrogate (another question below) my model I know exactly what level I am at?

The other question: Is there anyway I can find the XYZ values of end points of edges.

Believe me I have tried and I am sure I am missing some fundamental steps.

Perhaps there is a tutorial somewhere that covers these basic issues.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Andrew

Hi,
Simple answer I'm sure but how do I get to use CadFather's Icons.

For example I have unzipped the set that came with 2D tools but all I can manage is a toolbar full of square green faces (blank icons).

Thank you.

Regards,
Andrew

Thank you everyone,

I suspect it could be a graphics card problem. I have tried installing latest drivers but this makes AutoCAD impossible to use. The card I have is expensive but out of guarantee.

Will save up for a new card.

Regards,
Andrew

Amazing,

So quick. Thank you for your help.

Kind regards,
Andrew

Hi,

This morning I created some stair newel posts.

I used the Hide command and they disappeared as expected and Unhide brought them back.

Now when I use Hide the objects appear as dotted lines and the faces are small rectangles which is not what I expected. I guess I have turned something on or off.

I have searched the forum and also the book Sketchup for Dummies before I posted this question.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Andrew

Hi Dave,

I only mentioned the Orbit Tool button as an example. The issue seems to affect all buttons. I thought it might be my mouse but like I said other programs are not affected. The faster I seem to work the more noticeable and frustrating it becomes. Because all the buttons are working it's difficult to describe but I'm sure you know what I mean when something is just not quite right.

Sketchup still works fine, although I have what I regard as a reasonable set up (graphics card, ram etc) I have not experienced any performance improvement between Pro 14 & Pro 15 (64bit).

I must confess I had forgotten the central wheel is also a button. Thank you for reminding me of this. I also need to expand my use of keyboard shortcuts.

Thank you for giving your time so generously.

Kind regards,
Andrew

Hi,

Windows 7 - 64bit 16GB Ram

Is anyone experiencing this problem?

Since upgrading to the 64bit Sketchup Pro 2015 I am experiencing what can only be described as sticking tool buttons. What frequently happens is I select a tool button e.g orbit. I return to my drawing only to find that the previous command is still live. I then have to go back and select again. It happens with all the buttons I am using with approximately 25-30% failure rate (very frustrating).

The thing is I run AutoCAD every day and I am quite proficient with this and despite AutoCAD's buttons being smaller they work on every selection. Also using Photoshop & Lightroom and again no problems with these programs.

I am seriously thinking of returning to previous version of Sketchup Pro but what a retrograde step.

Any thoughts anyone before you hang up your stockings!

Many thanks,
Andrew

Dave,

Thank you so much. Shade with texture did the trick.

Seasons greetings,

Regards,
Andrew

Hi,
I have searched for solution and followed instructions in Sketchup for Dummies.

I have constructed a flat panel TV and I want to insert a holiday photograph (jpeg) onto my model of the TV screen.

I have tried inserting as an image and as a texture. I see the picture, select bottom corner and as soon as I select the top right hand corner the jpeg image disappears and a plain dark blue colour appears. I have tried reversing faces to no avail. I am clearly missing something here and would be grateful if someone could put me straight.

Many thanks,
Andrew

Thank you David,
I accept what you say. I will try single columns. The dividers can be a waste of valuable space but when used with 2 columns wide they can be useful for grouping commands IMO.
Kind regards,
Andrew

Hi,
I have figured out how to put a divider in but when I drag a toolbar button over I am not able to insert the button below the new group divider. The button inserts further up into the toolbar in a position that is of little use.
Also, I'm using the default 'Large Toolbar' because this seems to be the only toolbar that will remain two columns wide. I have tried creating my own toolbars but when pinned to the left of the screen they will only stick in one column.
After all this time I would have expected a more professional and user friendly way of customizing toolbars.
So my question is:- Am I missing something and being unfair in my assessment?
Many thanks,
Penguin2

Are you saying that the 2013 toolbar icons have been improved ref: 'release notes'?
I did scan through the list but could see no reference to this.
My point earlier is that many of the extensions (especially their icons) are so good. Its a shame the Trimble efforts don't appear to come close.

I have used Sketchup now for a number of years and plan on more serious work. I have often heard Sketchup being referred to as a 'toy'. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sketchup is great. It's a shame the revamped UI (i.e. tool button icons) don't reflect this.
Again IMO.

I do not wish to 'go off on one' but if my comments might in some way lead to improved toolbar images at some stage I can sleep more easily!!!

No big deal though is it. Perhaps I should have kept quiet.

Regards,
Penguin2

Yes I agree Keyboard short cuts the way to go.
I don't have a MAC but a pretty well spec'd PC.
It seems as though not many think the way I do about the new tool buttons. There are so many helpful people producing add-ons (many include some very professional looking button images) I just can't understand why Trimble are unable to do the same.

I have just upgraded and thinking most people are happy with the new features. The main thing is to make it work and increase my productivity.

Has anyone started a thread. The 20 best improvements and/or hidden gems?

Regards,
Penguin2

Hi,

I am not moaning because I love Sketchup BUT

This might sound like a strange question but I really don't like the new 2013 toolbar icons.

For me some are confusing (orbit for example). My main gripe is their quality. They lack clarity and sharpness and for me upgrading is like taking a backward step.

I know I should be concentrating on what's under the bonnet (hood!) but if there is no way to use the old version 8 icons I sincerely hope the next major release will see a big improvement in the interface.

Any thoughts Trimble??

Regards,
Penguin2

Hi,

I have seen various workarounds but none work for me. Why O Why can't there be an option to fix the dialog boxes to the right of the screen exactly like in Layout. I find I am always inadvertently closing boxes when all I need to do is roll them up.

If it can be done in Layout surely it can be done in Sketchup.

Most software packages get new releases and their user interface gets better. Sketchup seems to be the exception. It is such a great piece of software. IMO someone needs to get to work on the interface. SU 2013 contains no such improvements and for me is a big disappointment.

Phew! Back to drawing.

Cheers

Toolbars for Plugins missing.

Loaded the following from EW:-
'Selection Toys'
'Edge Tools2'

Tried un-checking then re-checking in Toolbar list. Still not visible.

I am finding this release very frustrating. EW doesn't work for me and the whole presentation is ???

If I could get the installation from EW to work I might be persuaded to continue despite the smaller awful red tool icons (not very professional).

Has anyone else had these problems?

Cheers
Penguin2