I'm an architect so my workflow and requirement for parametric modelling features within my software of choice relates to that. I need windows/doors to embed into walls and be adjustable on the fly and readjust to suit. Flex Tools appears to do this. I'd like to be able to create parametrically adjustable multi-layered walls (and floors) and Profile Builder appears to do the walls part at least. I need hatching for construction docs and Skalp does that but I need them all to work together.

I'd also like to able to parametrically tag windows, doors etc and generate linked schedules from these tags but have no idea if this is even possible in SU or LO......If SU had just 10% of the useful elements of Revit but retained it's user friendliness and organic nature it'd be all things to all architectural types......But we're still waiting Trimble.

@gameongrant said:

I've found it works in theory but never the way I want it to. If you alter your wall (i.e. path) everything resets and you have to recut all the components again. I also group all my windows and doors which also creates problems with the cutting tool and it doesn't work. I'm sure you can get them to play better but it'll mean altering my workflow. I currently use Mike brightman's and it just doesn't work. I, like yourself would like to know the best method for using both tools for multilayered walls in architecture.

What combo of plugins do you use? What's the basis of your workflow?

I've never had a look at the Condoc's method as I've never considered using SU right through the process (inception to completion), it's always been used for conceptual design and massing only then into AutoCAD or Revit. But now I'd like to go SU for the lot but I need some elements of parametric modelling in my workflow or there's just too much manual time-consuming 'dumb' modelling work required to get it all done and which my fees won't cover.

The search for suitable plug-ins comes from necessity and because of the total lack of interest by Trimble in adding genuine BIM (and parametric) features to SU.

That is genuinely awesome. This could be a game changer for me. One last question is whether anyone has tried them in conjunction with Skalp? If I could model like this and output drawings with hatching on sections this would solve all of my current modelling issues.

I'm looking to purchase a couple of plug-ins that will speed up my work flow considerably.

Profile Builder looks ideal for the creation of multi-layered external and internal walls but it doesn't create parametric holes. I also love the flexibility of FlexTools (along with the WallCuter plugin) and what this has to offer.

An ideal situation would be if Wall Cutter and/or FlexTools (windows/doors) would cut parametric holes (and be adjustable on the fly) within Profile Builder multi-layered walls.

Has anyone tried this and had any success?

Ahh, that explains it. Thanks for the nod, I'll use that. This is such a useful plugin, is there any chance it'll get updated?

I know this is an old thread but I've been trying to use Work Plane to be more efficient and accurate with my projects. It's a great plugin but I'm having a real issue changing the size of the Work Plane. Right-click into space just doesn't work for me, I get nothing at all. When I start Work Plane it merely allows me to select the 3 points and double-click to accept. I'm using SU2018 so wondered if this might be the issue?

An improved LayOut is THE thing required to SU to the next level, without it the software is hamstrung. I'd be happy if they've spent 99% of the last year sorting it layout out and used the 1% to add hatch patterns to section cuts in SU...........btw, shouldn't SU 2019 already be out by now?

I’m looking to find a way to achieve this look on my models in SU. I’ve looked everywhere for a style or plugin that achieves something like this but haven’t found anything close. Does anyone know how this is achieved? Or is it simply that a snapshot image of the model is taken into Photoshop and adjusted there?

Did this event happen? I've seen nothing about since this post. No YouTube vids, write ups or anything. Was wondering if it was any good as I couldn't make it at the time.

@juju said:

In my experience, SU zooms faster when I have the cursor pointed on geometry.

Thanks for that but I'm not talking about SU, I'm talking specifically about LayOut. And the same technique of aiming your cursor at geometry makes it zoom fast does not work in LayOut. Open it up and give it a try.

Does anyone have any idea why zoom speed is so slow in LayOut? and whether anything can be done to change it?

Is there a variable (AutoCAD-like zoomfactor) to adjust the zoom speed (from the mouse scroll wheel) in LayOut. Zoom speed is fine is SketchUp itself but it's painfully slow (and always has been tbh) in LayOut, so much so it actually slows productivity.

It's almost as if Trimble have decided for me that "you don't need to zoom so fast around a small piece of paper so we'll just slow you down". If this is the case I'll be very disappointed because it's not needed in AutoCAD (which is unfortunately still far superior for tech document output) so why have this in LayOut? Or can it be adjusted?

@diego-rodriguez said:

"I agree, this is the answer. To be able to drag & drop buttons to build Toolbars, and then drag & drop Toolbars in a window. It can be done, someone just needs to do it.

There is a plugin named SU Tool that is very close to what I think is the best solution; but it is encrypted (or I'd have "borrowed" it already.) But SU Tool is likely close to what the ultimate solution will look like."

---

this is the way the plugins PowerSutool organizer works.
to arrange the toolbars.
using a html interface, and a text editor

Maybe this can help find a solution?

http://www.dhtmlgoodies.com/scripts/drag-drop-nodes/drag-drop-nodes.html
other solution
http://www.dhtmlgoodies.com/index.html?page=dragDrop

Diego, can you give more of an explanation of how this works? You mention an HTML editor and a text editor but there's not enough info for my non-programming brain to work out. Your links don't seem to relate to editing of the toolbars. I'm bugged by the standard UI (and I know I'm far from alone on this) and so want to be able to tweak the toolbars and icons so any info on how to do this would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Hi there, new to the forum, not to SketchUp. Thought I’d dip my toe in.....

First thing, love SU, it’s transformed my architectural world. However, the one thing that's always bugged me about SU is the almost total lack of customisation within the UI. Having come from the (ahem) bloated world of AutoCAD many moons back I’d become used to the almost endless, although often over complicated, flexibility within the UI (it has to have at least one saving grace). SU has so many awesome plugins that have transformed the way I work and design. Thing is, with every one of these plugins there are commands on the associated toolbars which I never use and would love to remove to free up valuable screen real estate. Strange that the option is there within Macs to do this but not PC's. I'm guessing this flexibility is possibly inherit within the Mac OS.

I’ve searched endlessly for a solution and found Jim’s Toolbar, which is superb, but it doesn’t allow customisation of any of the other toolbars that I'd like. Then I stumbled upon PowerSuTool organiser which seems to do what I’d like but I can find almost zero in the way of feedback on it. OK, there’s the language issue, but from the outside this looks like giving the ultimate toolbar/icon flexibility which I know a lot of users are searching for. Has anyone used this plugin? Is there anything else out there I've missed or possibly in development?