I think I figured it out. I have to toggle the "preserve scale on re-size" button on and off as I adjust the size of the viewport.

That toggle needs to be off as I re-size, so image/scene/port is constrained with diagonal re-size+shift (the scale will adjust - scene view stays the same) and then I toggle it back on, should I need to manually crop the port.

Sonder or Dave,

I have a scene in Sketchup, which is then inserted in LO. The viewport in LO is intended to be small because I just want a thumbnail. I zoom out to see the scene because the scene is cropped in LO. It displays that the scene is modified. How can I adjust the "size of the scene" without getting the modified tag or cropping?

The scale box is grayed out and will not let me adjust there.

Kathryn and Gai,

I would prefer much cleaner and smoother animations too, and am wishing that SU's animating would be vastly improved. In the meantime, it works for rough blocking. With that said, I am in the camp that wants more from SU.

Can I say that without seeming greedy.

Kathryn,

When you click export animation, a dialog box pops up. In the lower right hand corner is an options button. This will give you several different options for things like aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate, etc...

Also, the model info box has an animation tab which allows you to set the scene delay and transition rate.

Please post the video you are not happy about as the above may not be what will help.

I am using PC version, so the options might be located differently on mac. Just hunt and peck, but most importantly, practice.

I used the fencing_diamond_mesh for this summer home porch study

See if this is what you need

Blackrock_wConveyor.dwg

Frascati,

I can't do much in the way of helping with your modeling issue, but offer this humble advice. Do not delete this thread or any of your posts. They will serve you well in the future. They will be reminders of what the true source of your frustrations were and the solution(s) to them.

Years ago in the midst of preparing final presentation boards for an architectural class, I realized that I had made a basic layout error causing the previous 40 hours or so of work to be completely useless. I sat at the drafting table looking for something or someone to blame, and could find none. I ripped the board off the table and stomped on it with a mighty fury. An exact replica of my gym shoe was left smack dab in the middle of it. I grabbed a beer out of my dorm fridge and made my way to the top of the "world famous" architectural building on the campus. While sitting atop one of the two massive girders supporting the building, sipping a cold one and looking at the Chicago skyline, I reflected on why I wanted to become an architect along with pondering what foibles and obstacles the architect who designed the building beneath my rear had overcome. I realized that perseverance rather than perfection was going to be my way thru. I literally went back to the drawing board and worked there continuously for about 3 days and nights and finished the work. It turned out quite well.

I keep that screwed up "Strathmore" board with shoe print in a flat file in the house, it is a reminder of how close I came to letting my anger destroy what has been a really good life in architecture, and a good life in general.

Hi Box,

Here is what I did. I downloaded file and opened it. I had trouble as I first posted with the component having no component options. I received a comment that I should import it, not open it.

So when I tried that, I deleted the component from the screen and imported the file. Yes indeed, I imported the component into itself. Arrgghhh!!!!!

So, I am now understanding that DCs must be imported in order for component options to be activated. Is that correct?

and thanks for the heads up regarding not pasting a component into itself.

Thanks Jim,

I closed SU and re-opened. Imported file and it worked fine.

When I try to import model, I get the following error

Cannot create a recursively defined model or component!

I imported a cabinet component from "Kraftmaid" and it did work. Now wondering if Tall Open Component is buggy.

Did you get this particular component to work?

I downloaded the attached DC from 3D Warehouse. The description on the component stated it is editable for width, but when I try to edit the width (or anything), SU says there are no options to choose from on this component. Since I am a newbie regarding DCs, can someone please double check if this component has any options? I cannot tell from the component attribute box whether this is a working DC.

Thanks in advance.

tall open.skp

Thanks ArCad-UK,

Tip #2 is quite handy, and simple.

TIG and Jean,

I tried both suggestions and the one that TIG explained above has been giving me the best results. It takes a bit of patience at first, then gets easier.

Thanks so much for your help here specifically, and more generally as I learn much from your responses to other posts.

I searched thru the site for any info on accurately placing section planes, as opposed to eyeballing them, and I cannot find anything.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

I have found that if I do not update a "Style" in SU, LO will give me fits. If I have a SU model with scenes of plans, elevations, sections and 3d views, I need to make sure that the "Style" (or "Styles") is set/updated so that the section planes and cuts are not viewed in the LO docs. Sometimes I have to apply several different "Styles" for different scenes in SU, so my LO doc is what I want it to be.

Much trial and error, but I think I'm finally getting the hang of LO.

Also, I would greatly appreciate a critique of this methodology, in case I'm going in the wrong direction and not getting the hang of it.

Jean,

Your tutorials are beautifully compact.

and Dave R,

Your helpfulness is greatly appreciated also.

Certainly purge all unused stuff, but if your model is large due to the nature of the model, Chris Fulmer had a great tip regarding using scenes to handle large models. It is a very creative way to deal with this issue.

Watch the first part of the Basecamp Video, link below

There are also great tips in the rest of the video, but the first part might be helpful.

Never stop searching the forums and other such websites for tips and tricks. I have been using Sketchup for a couple of years now and just discovered some cool tips from a Basecamp tips and tricks video posted to youtube in 2008.

One from Chris Fulmer regarding the use of scenes as a tool for working with medium to large models. Great tip!

Watching Gaieus model an Ionic column was impressive. Thanks.

and Susan, thanks for pointing out that components are much more useful (to all) when constructed well.

Here is the link

@jean lemire said:

Hi Scott, hi folks.

For your point 1, I (and others too) already answered that recently and not so recently.

Click in sequence on the scene tabs of this SU file for ideas.

To Jean:

Excellent technique. Extremely helpful.

@unknownuser said:

I would not want this to change, at least for my workflow. There are times when I want to see offset dimensions, especially when detailing in 3d. All of my plans & sections are generated through the section tool which by default creates a 2d plane that LO follows very well. If LO automatically flattened, it would eliminate the possibility of offset dimensions (which are accurate to their 3d arrangement) as shown in that link. Had those three rectangular cubes been dimensioned via use of the section tool, they would be accurate to their 2d displacement.

Just my 2 selfish cents.

Not sure how a custom aligned view would be detrimental. It would be user controlled. Use it if you want or ignore it if you wish. Just looking for an option that would work as ortho views are traditionally used, i.e.flattened. Using a section plane work around is clever, but it is still a work around for a "Layout" flaw IMO.

Sketchup team should address this and fix it in such a way that "Layout" will treat any ortho view (standard or custom) as a flattened view with the 2d dimensioning accuracy that is reasonably expected. If offset dimensions are required, then a 3d view with dimensions could be used.

Not ready or willing to suspend drafting convention, when the fix is possibly simple. Even if it is not simple,it is a task worth under taking in order to have LO become a seriously considered 2d presentation/construction documentation solution.

BTW, Sonder your work is impressive.