Thanks for your post. I will be interested to see how it develops. Hopefully there will be some useful contributions.

I have recently started using Layout in preparing construction docs. Previously I used Sketchup and exported scenes to CAD. So I am in learning mode again.

About 70% of my projects are extensions and remodels. I do not generally document existing conditions other than give an overview eg the building / space. Maybe I should focus a bit more on this.

I find that the drawings that you posted contained good information and of a high standard. Were they prepared using Sketchup > Layout or did you use a CAD program?

How much work did you do in Layout if you used Sketchup > Layout.

Yesterday I bought the Sketchup To Layout 2015 training materials and have started to work through them. They seem to have some good tips so far.

Walter

@dave r said:

I'm curious: What's the benefit of making a group before you've drawn anything? I don't see it as a time saver and it doesn't make the drawing any easier.

I know a guy who makes a component after he's drawn the first face. Then he opens the component for editing and makes it 3D and does whatever else he needs to do to it. That seems like extra work to me, too.

I am thinking that making a group first is like making a container into which objects will be placed. Also it stops things sticking to others etc. The purpose of the plugin first placing a construction point is to have something to put in the group. It could be faster if using a keyboard shortcut (single key) or an icon.

The concept that I have proposed may or may not be more efficient it depends on the programming I suppose.

I have proposed this to make give it advantages of a solids modeller (ie things not sticking to each other) but still allow surface modelling.

As I said I know nothing about programming so don't know if it is possible.

I know nothing about writing plugins. However Pbacot has given a hint. What about - start plugin with a shortcut. A contruction point is placed and grouped automatically. A dropdown menu opens giving you the option to create a line / circle /arc etc within the group. Exit the group when finished.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can investigate or comment.

Cadfather - anyone can be lazy, not just sicialano (lol)

Thanks for both of your replies. Sorry to waste your time.
As I said, tell him he is dreaming.

Is there a plugin out there (paid or free) that automatically groups objects when you have drawn them? Yeah I know how do you know when you have finished drawing an object.

@dave r said:

That's an interesting method. I do something similar once in awhile. I draw the line, copy it with Ctrl-C and then edit the original to make it white. Then Ctrl-V to paste the copy over the white one.

More often, when I need those lines, they are drawn in temporarily in SU. After I've traced over them in LO, I go back to SU, delete the lines and save the file. The viewport gets updated when I go back to LO.

I'll have to remember this one. Thanks

Something that I stumbled across recently which may be useful to some.

Sometime I need to trace over a line in a SU viewport. However the line in the SU viewport remains partly visible when using lines that are not solid.

My solution is to firstly draw a solid line that is white. Secondly I draw a non solid line over the top of the white line. The non solid line displays correctly.Now for the good bit, these lines can be stretched and display correctly if I group these two lines.

My 2c worth

FastStone Capture allows screen clips to be saved at whatever resolution that you want. I use it every day.

Maybe I was not clear in explaining my problem. The reason they are unreadable is because they are too small and hence hard to read.
Thanks

I have set up my first Scrapbook. However I find that small objects eg smallish text and fine lines unreadable / unviewable in the scrapbook window. Is there a trick to making them readable?

@richard said:

True mate, you can only draw in LayOut in paperspace units. And YES it's a pain!

I'd hate to have to do it in imperial units.

Thank you both for your reply

A good find. Thanks again.

My understanding is that when you enter distances in Layout you need to enter 'paper space' (to use CAD terminology) distances rather than model space distances.

Before I continue on my merry way I would like to have this confirmed or is there a way that I can enter model space distances similar to the way dimensions work.

The reason that I ask this is because Sketchup limits line types to continuous only.

Thank you Dave. Yes I had read your recent post and couldn't get it to work at the time. Anyway after reading it again (a few times) during a quiet time I managed to get it too work.

Interesting how you found that tip.

There has been a fair bit of discussion about editing the length of extension lines of dimensions in Layout. These discussions have focused on the end of the extension closest to the object being dimensioned.

My question is - How do I adjust the length of extensions nearest to the dimension text as shown in the attachment?

20150421_125628.pdf

@dave r said:

Actually it can be done. I do it from time to time when I want to create a mask but want to show some edges. Use the knife blade tool to cut the edge(s) at the nodes. Then you can select that one edges and change its settings in Shape Styles.

Thanks Dave . That will be a time saver.

Thanks for that Dave. Now, what would be good is being able to hide selectd edges of polygons as opposed to it happening unintentionally.

@pbacot said:

That looks like fill on an unclosed polygon. There's no edge there unless you draw it in. You can completely hide those visible edges if that is what you are asking but you can't "toggle on" an edge that is not there. Perhaps "edge" is the wrong word as that is used in SketchUp. Drawing in LayOut you are drawing lines or sides of a polygon.

Thanks so much for your reply. How do you close a polygon ( by moving a node?)

I am seeking help with the editing of edges of shapes. Sometimes when I add a node I get an edge that does not have a Stroke as shown in the attachment.

Is there a way to toggle the display of some edges of a shape so that they do or do not display.

Regards

20150417_145407.pdf