thank you kindly. At least I don't feel like an idiot for not finding it in sketchup's native tools

hello, there's "dim_angle.rb", but it's not beautyful dim_angle.rb

Slightly different. Center Point plugin.

Ah yes, Barry, that's what Sandra told me, too, as a workaround for the current situation (I didn't dare to come back with it here though...)

@dedmin said: http://www.sycode.com/products/stl_import_su/index.htm But the best weapon is DeepExploration! I did see sycode and that seems to be a feasible option. Are there any thoughts on the functionality of sycode, is it worth the money? @ashraf said: OSG Composer http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/osg-composer-main.aspx is another option it is capable of reading Solidworks (up to 2009), IGES and STEP files and exporting Collada files readable by SketchUp. I have worked with DeepExploration but not OSG Comoser. Using a third party software would be a last resort because it is inefficient. The ability to translate right from Sketchup would be the best option

Find my 2D Tools it has one... '2D Fillet' - it will works on 2D edge junctions, in 2D in 3D... If you want a 3D arris 'rounder' see Fredo's Round_Edge/Corner tools...

I can't even begin to answer a lot of your database questions as I don't do a lot of programming. However, I do understand components. We manufacture custom HVAC ducting and piping, so while the component list is small, the need for the list work is still there. So, I made a dynamic component of a flange, with a bolt pattern. See my attached sketchup file using this dynamic component. Under file, click generate report. Using the native tools with sketchup, this seems at the very least feasible to me. With the report generator, I am able to harvest the information I need with the ItemCode section, which would let me identify my large components. The small component information can be used to build my device with the proper CNC machining equipment. Although it has X,Y,Z information that is relative to the coordinates of the minor components, it would require simple vector addition to get the precise location of each hole in the model, and feed that to the CNC. Working in reverse is a bit more complicated, but dynamic components would make working in reverse possible (an advantage). You could edit the data in your tables, use a script to redraw the dynamic component with the updated values, and viola! It would be updated. X, Y, Z and LenX, LenY, LenZ values would be recalculated and ready for the CNC. This does take some time however, as well designed dynamic components would take time. Unfortunately, this will not be updated instantaneously. There would have to be a request for redraw, or a request to save the generated report, so these scripts could not be used if you wanted instantaneous information. Still, it would beat working with the sometimes buggy "observers" of ruby. And the report generator is actually a ruby script (so you could make it anew). The only issue I would see then is finding someway of having your ASP net "ping" sketchup to regenerate the report and redraw the model. Dynamic Hole 2.skp

@gaieus said: @tim said: ...Though I must admit that a few months back I wold have been very pleased to find the pdf imported into SU as lines and not an image.... I thought the Mac version of SU can do it - but only because the Mac system supports pdf a lot better way than Windows. Of course it also depends on the pdf format (if it is in vector format and not raster). Are you sure you cannot do it (I see you are on Mac) or was it just a raster based pdf? Unfortunately SU only offers to import pdfs as image, texture or matched photo. Seems kinda dumb to not import as vectors but maybe it is difficult and not seen as worth the effort.

I think multiple or split screens are great no matter how good the scrolling is. I am on this thread cause I am looking for that feature. Trying to see if they have added since 6 or 8 to 14.... I use split screen in autocad. Obviously in 3d mode it allows you to have the different viewpoints all at once, but even in 2d drawings it allows you to copy/move objects from areas of the drawing that are any distance from your desired work target area. Scroll Copy Scroll Paste Scroll Copy Scroll Paste Scroll Copy... it get aggravating when you know there would seem to be a common addition that sooo many other programs allow. Even the Excel xl spread sheet allows split screen for crying out loud, (since I am crying out loud..) I am back at exploring Sketchup again, after coming and going several times...the best advice I have ever been given for this program is "When you use Sketchup, you totally have to forget about any other program you have ever used...." And that does help. http://sketchucation.com/forums/posting.php?mode=reply%26amp;f=15%26amp;t=20769# But it is still kind of sad. For some reason Sketchup reminds me of the Monty Python bit where the candy maker is caught using "real, whole dead frogs" in the candy. And the constable or judge ask "Do you include the bones?" and the candy maker says "Well if it didn't have the bones then it wouldn't be crunchy." There is always a "crunchy" answer to these types of questions. The candy maker was probably selling enough candy to suit himself. Evidently Sketchup is selling enough programs to suit themselves. The right answer is "We are working on that, we just don't know how to do it without a major rewrite, or we want to do it and it is definitely on the list." But instead you usually get an answer that you don't understand the benefits of "crunchy frog bones."

Thank you for answering my question i was able to figure out what was wrong. i had set the axis on my component in a way that the component attributes interface already assigned a rotation around one of the axis. and for some reason when you change one of the rotation attributes it sets the other rotation attributes back to zero. This is an example of the component axis that I set. if you try to rotate the part with component attributes strange things happen.

I'll do that