@simon b said:
or you can scale individual components in a file copy and then import them in to your model file - I was doing this last night
or you can do some old fashioned calculation:
example
resize a 1500 length to 850 =
850 divided by 1500 =
0.566667 - enter this value in the Value Control Box when using the scale tool
to scale by that amount.Hope this helps.
Thanks for the help.
@remus said:
If you use the scale tool instead you should have more luck, it looks like this:
Scaling using the tape measure is only for when you want to scale the entire model.
can you use that tool to scale to an exact amount, for example if I know one side is 6', I usually just use the tape measure tool and type in 6', i cant figure out how to do that with the scale tool
Hello All, back again 
When I try to scale a specific component in my model, my entire model changes, throwing everything else out of scale. Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong? I am scaling the component with the tape measure tool. Thanks for any help.
Thanks for all of the help everyone! There are some great pointers here! I will try to stop flooding the SU forum with questions
@chris fullmer said:
No, its more like drew is saying. They are absolutely autocad backup files. Everytime you save your autocad file, it makes a backup file. The way to open it in autocad is to rename it, like drew said, to .dwg ending. Then autocad will recognize it.
To get rid of the skp icon, right click on a .bak file and choose properties. The in the "Opens with:" area, click on the "Change" button. Now choose autocad. This will associate the file with autocad (not really useful) and hopefully change its icon off the skp icon. I don't know how to completely unassociate the file. Maybe someone else can give a description of how to do that. Good luck,
Chris
Okay I will try that. Thanks for the help.
@drewpoeppel said:
Are they actually showing up as sketchup files? Does the "type" say sketchup model or something or is it just the little icon. I've had the icons for the .bak files go wacko on me before. Post a screen cap if your still worried.
The type says BAK file, and the icon looks like a SU file icon, but the file was created from a cad file that is right next to it in the folder. Almost every one of my cad files has one of the BAK SU files next to it with the same name. If I try and open the file using a SU, it tells me that the file is not a SU model, if i try to open it using CAD it tells me it does not exist.
Okay thanks! Its very strange. My back up SU files are skb files too, but the random files that are being made are not.
They are BAK SU files, so back up files, sorry I left that out. But they are being created for CAD files I save.
When ever I saved files in other programs, for example CAD, there will be a file saved with the same name somewhere on my computer that looks like a SU file, but it is not a file you can open. And its not just cad, it is other programs as well. I keep having to find and erase all of these random files that look like SU files but arent. Anybody else having this happen?
Thanks so much for all the advice!!! I may become a SU pro one day yet, many years from now lol.
I know my birch trees are heavy, drawing them in photoshop is a good idea. All of my models will have lots of plants always, ( I am a plant person!) to bad the 3d ones make things so slow.
Thanks very much for the help. I actually emailed SU and they sent me a link to a download for drivers, the date on the downloads is oct 2007, not really understanding why my computer would need that, but I will give it a try.
Thanks so much for taking a look!, you are right it is around 5mb, not sure why I was thinking it was 9.
So I need to learn to cut down on the number of edges and faces? I do leave all of the heavy layers off, while working on it, but when I turn them back on is when everything freezes.
@unknownuser said:
@unknownuser said:
We can only speculate without the model.
Post(upload) the model....we will look at it and tell you how to improve it...and you will get better.
A picture is not much help.
I had a peek at the picture....if I can see from a picture that there is clean up work to do then the model will have a lot to tell.
@unknownuser said:
From what I can see of that model, I don't think it should
be any larger than a 2-3Mb!
Okay it is in th 3d warehouse. Search roof gardens, the title is Soho Terrace. If you, or anyone, could please tell my why you think it is so slow, I would be so thankful!!
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=f260a33a3e35bc2e35c37fa9135eadf3&prevstart=0
@kwistenbiebel said:
@rudbeckia said:
Why would I need to update the graphics card on a brand new computer? Shouldnt the graphic cards it came with work?
The drivers I meant
Sorry, I guess I am just a computer idiot, but why would the drivers need to be updated on a brand new computer?
Thanks for the help everyone, I know whats making this particular model slow, the plants and the building, I guess where my frustration is, is that the overal all model is not large at all, it is a rooftop , I will soon be working on city parks for school, and I am kinda feeling like unless I want to purchase a $4000 computer, SU isnt going to run right.
And another thing, one of my favorite aspects of SU is the "sketchy styles" that you can mix and match, but heaven forbid I use those b/c the whole computer crashes and I have to turn it off.
Thanks for letting me vent
Yes I have done that. What would make the model so much larger than it actually should be?
@chango70 said:
I use 8600m GT without too much problem. I have the latest graphics driver. the default graphics driver kept crashing. Anyway it is 175.5 it think and its from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com website. You see the driver is actually for desktop and you need to run a mini-crack to install it on your laptop. There are clear instructions on how to do that on the website. Just follow it you should be fine. btw the latest Graphics card on Macbook Pro is also 8600M GT so you really shouldn't have a problem.
Chango- I can't find the 175.5 driver at that website, do you know where else I might could find it?
Why would I need to update the graphics card on a brand new computer? Shouldnt the graphic cards it came with work?