@didier bur said:

Hi Samuel,

Hi Didier,

@didier bur said:

First thanks for this great plugin (just like all of your other goodies).

That's very kind!

@didier bur said:

Some questions about the materials:
-what is the difference between the heightfield map and the normal map features ?

The height map in the PBR 1.x plugin is a parallax occlusion map. The height map is a grayscale image which simulates a "deep relief". You can use a displacement map from Poly Haven (for example) as a height map. Whereas the normal map encodes the "bas-relief" in the RGB channels of an image...

@didier bur said:

• how to get an occlusion map based on a jpg texture ?

Handmade or automatic? Some softwares can autogenerate an [ambient] occlusion map from a diffuse texture...

@didier bur said:

I'm starting some tests and amazed with the results

Stay tuned The PBR 2.x plugin should reach photorealism.

@didier bur said:

Thanks for your time.

You're welcome!

@pabloarias said:

Hi. From a month, more or less, I got a popup when SU starts that said something about a newer version 4.2.6 from this plugin and opens this SketchUcation page when message accepted. But I see no news here about newer releases of this plugin. Does anybody here tell me what's wrong?

Hi Pablo.

4.2.6 ? I'm working on the 2.x version of the PBR plugin but the latest public version available at SketchUcation is 1.5.9.

@chon said:

Hello,

@pabloarias said:

Hi. From a month, more or less, I got a popup when SU starts that said something about a newer version 4.2.6 from this plugin and opens this SketchUcation page when message accepted. But I see no news here about newer releases of this plugin. Does anybody here tell me what's wrong?

I think this message is about the last version of SketchUcation ExtensionStore

Yes, it makes sense!

@rbc60hzvolts said:

Am I missing something? I followed the steps in the video (I think anyway) and all I can get is the mesh. I tried several times with an export from Blender - just mesh. Tried a stock obj file "Lego man" - same thing even when opening the jpg & png files. I tried uninstall the re-install (only wat I could find was Extension manager (just a clue after one of your comment replies).

It seems to me glTF import works better. Try to export your model to a .gltf file from Blender then import this .gltf file into SketchUp with Universal Importer plugin.

@obaker said:

how would you generate the ability to move an item randomly but within a fixed range of value?

For example, I would input the formula below in the "X Position" field of the "Move" node to translate on X axis an entity between 1 and 5 meters (if the active model uses meters).

rand(1.0, 5.0)

The "rand" function returns a random number in a range. First argument is the minimum number, second argument is the maximum.

Alternatively, one can use variables instead of hardcoded values if variables are defined in or connected to "Variable ..." fields of the "Move" node. Then the above formula becomes :

rand(a, b)

@unknownuser said:

Hello. This is an amazing tool for me. I am a lecturer and I teach this plugin to my students, especially.

Hello. This kind of feedback makes me very happy! It's one of the reasons I code and share plugins.

@unknownuser said:

It has immense potential.

A lot of things are not documented. Parametric Modeling plugin Wiki really deserves some love

@unknownuser said:

Know it is currently under development, so I think you will consider my suggestions.

To be honest, the developement of this plugin is in stand-by. I'm busy by other projects. That's said, suggestions are always welcome

@unknownuser said:

All my problems are with nodes First, it would be great if they could be locked, grouped, and ungrouped with a right-click option.

This sounds not "easy", but a must-have option! I agree.
About organization, one can add "Post-it" nodes. Right-click in void then choose "Add a comment node".

@unknownuser said:

The undo and redo shortcuts do not work as I expected. For example, when I accidentally add a box to a crowded node screen, the "ctrl+c" combination does something else instead of removing it.

Try to press "Escape" to cancel... If it's too late: right-click on the node then choose "Remove this node".

@unknownuser said:

Especially in complex jobs, nodes get mixed up. To prevent this situation, you can add icons that can be personalized (such as color, geometric shape) on the upper right corners of the nodes.

Yes, I could add more visual landmarks. I note your idea.

@unknownuser said:

Finally, if windows run in tabs, you will have done an excellent job of efficiency.

SketchUp HTML Dialog API (used by this plugin) don't support tabs, but I could add tabs inside the plugin's window...

@unknownuser said:

My English isn't very good, but I wanted to congratulate you and give you an idea of what I think can be improved.

Thanks. Where do you come from? I'm curious

@unknownuser said:

Wish I knew a little bit of coding and could help you.

Parametric Modeling plugin code source is online.

@unknownuser said:

Respects

Best regards

The PBR 2.x plugin for SketchUp will support real-time ray tracing. Work in progress:

@maxicus said:

Problem with dxf files

When I try to import a dxf file no error occurs and SU recognises the dxf file as a new component, but there is no content!

I get a prompt to place the import, but then there is nothing there.

Any idea what might be wrong?

Many thanks,

Max

Can you please send us the DXF file you try to import?

@arakon said:

Found an issue with "small" models.
Example: I'm importing a functional model that is 95x46x75.45mm in size. The STL is 75.45 tall, however, in order for it to import semi-properly, I have to use the 46mm as height.
However, the model, when imported, is actually 99.12x47.99x78.72mm in size, so it's actually 104.3261% of the original size in all directions.
If I import it at a factor of 100 (telling it that the STL is 4600mm in height), then downscale it to 0.01 in Sketchup, the size is correct.

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your report. Universal Importer plugin contains too many hacks (scaling is one of them). This plugin needs a partial or full rewrite, but I can't promise it will happen.

@tonytony321 said:

Hi there, appreciate the effort!

I have been trying to use it on obj and 3ds file, but it keeps showing error

Universal Importer Error: invalid byte sequence in UTF-8

Any idea how to solve this? Thank you

Hi,

Does your input model filename or path contain non-ASCII characters?

@sreckom said:

Is it possible to keep parts separated, as groups or components, when importing formats like obj, fbx of Collada? Right now it imports everything as a single mesh.

I think it's doable but I don't know how yet... Your request has been added to my todo list.

1.2.0 version allows you to use the proxy library of this plugin in SketchUp 2017 or newer.

Download latest Random Entity Generator plugin from the SketchUcation PluginStore.

@rich o brien said:

Not sure what you installed that you ended up with an icon that points to PayPal?

This tool exists in the File menu if properly installed.

It's true but, in current version, there's also a Donate entry in Plugins menu. To avoid confusion, in next version, I will add an Import entry in Plugins menu too.

@please dell me said:

I want to try it, you say it FREE, bud if I instal it, I have jsut one icon - DONATE and then open PayPall. So it´s free, but you must pay ?

Ahh too bad, you were so close! In SketchUp menu, select: File > Import with Universal Importer... It will cost nothing but a few clicks

@rick959 said:

Hi there,

I have installed your plugin and when I try to import a model, I have tried several different models, I get the same error each time.
Please see the image attached.

Thanks in advance

Hi Rick,

(Re)install Microsoft Visual C++ library then try again.

@EarthMover I can import with my plugin your DAE model in SketchUp Make 2017 on Windows 10:

In your last screenshot, there are some well written files in your "tmp" directory. I don't understand...

@earthmover said:

The extension is working as expected in my licensed SU 2021 version, but failing with 2017 only.

Hi EarthMover

When you import a model with this extension, are SU 2017 and 2021 running in same time and OS?

@TIG Yes, it seems plugin can't read "export.mtl" file. Normally, plugin reads "export.mtl" after conversion of input model to "export.obj". Maybe this conversion silently fails...

@EarthMover Can you follow these steps, please?

1. Import a model in SketchUp 2017 with Universal Importer plugin.
2. When plugin error message is shown: don't click on "OK" button!
3. Open "C:\ProgramData\Universal Importer\tmp" in File Explorer.
4. Display files with details so we see each file present and its size...
5. Send us a screenshot of File Explorer and "assimp.log" if it exists.

@tig said:

I see C:\ versus C:/ in paths in the error message ?
Best to force the paths to use all / ??

I agree, it's better to normalize dir separator but I don't think EarthMover's issue come from this...

1.1.9 version adds spanish translation. Thanks Óscar Hernández (Oxer) for this translation!

Download latest Random Entity Generator plugin from the SketchUcation PluginStore.