@web said:

That explains why I couldn't figure out how to do it.

The real reason is because standard IO has been redirected to SketchUp's Ruby Console.

I organize my hard drive such that each project gets its own folder. Every skp, dwg, rvt, and other drawing/model file that I produce specific to that project (along with their backups) go into that folder. Other relevant documents go into subfolders. This eliminates any confusion about what goes with what project and makes searches for project-related files easy.

However, I usually have more than one project going at once. When I switch projects, I want SketchUp to look for files in, and save files to, the proper folder. Setting the "Start in" line in the shortcut should accomplish this goal. It does not. It can be done directly in SketchUp, though: just start SU, click on the "Window" drop down, click on "Preferences," click on "Files," manually change the "Models" location, click on "OK," shut SU down, and restart SU.

What SketchUp does is save the Models location - along with other things - to the registry. What the batch file does is change the registry before SU starts. By using a different shortcut to the batch file for each project, one need enter the path to the model folder only once.

Does that answer your question?

If I ever do anything meant to be useful, but this is an example from the book and is intended to be run in the raw.

Back in the day, Cadence and Cadalyst had columns in each issue wherein the author presented a small-but-useful AutoLisp routine with explanations of what and why. A lot of people got the hang of AutoLisp from those columns. I don't suppose there is something similar for Ruby?

Thanks, Dave. I'll have a look at it. I don't necessarily require free, though. Do any of you have an opinion about SU Podium?

Thanks for the pointer to the Most Used Scripts thread. Lots of interesting notions there.

I particularly liked the menus idea, as it seemed to me that Plugins was going to get awfully cluttered. I know next to nothing about Ruby (I don't want to, either. I spent too much time customizing AutoCAD. Now I want to design and draw in SketchUp.) but I was able to discern the structure and to customize it for myself. I was even able to hack out a way to make a heading and a faux separator at the end.

I can see using Roof so often that I don't want to have to go through the extra step on the menu, so I left on it's own under Plugins.

Bur's layer_manager_extension and projection_extension look to me to be so useful that they should be integrated right into SketchUp.

Shapes also seems like it will be important.

As time goes by, I expect to refer to that Most Used Scripts thread again and again.

@pmiller said:

once you start to add windows, vents, doors, etc. you will probably end up with a lot of unique components anyway.

Not to mention the off-module oddballs and the inside corners. Nevertheless, I like your approach since it permits one to array the tops along the slope and the bottoms along a level plane, and I would not have to go in and adjust every panel individually.

Also, I think that just a few component styles would take care of 90% of the panels on any one project, even on the large-for-me 200,000 sq. ft. buildings.