@paulside said:

...An even better solution is to download the TexTag plugin from......
(see post above)

For planview text and dimensions IMO neither the 'Text' tool nor the '3D Text' tool are preferable.
The first because of the rotating text depending on the view angle.
The second for 'memory consuming' reasons. I suspect the plugin mentioned above is about using the second tool (3D Text) although I could be wrong.

I prefer the 'Dimension' tool that lets you use text that sticks to the plan (or any plane, vertical or slanted) undependant of the view angle. See attached file. And it will not increase file size like any flat '3D Text'.

Wo3Dan

PlanviewDimensioning.skp

@bisctboy said:

...... My aray is in a straight line and the arc obviously isn't. How do I connect the various objects in my aray to snap to the curve on the arc? ......

Please see attached file:

bench.skp

@kwistenbiebel said:

The drape Tool sucks big time for projecting lines on a surface.
It only works when you have less than app. 1000 lines.
Anything higher?: Crash guaranteed!....

1. I just used it to drape an organic shape (3236 edges) = about 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Turned on "hidden geometry" (now 4733 edges) = about 3 minutes
3. Deleted all faces BUT ONE => about 3 minutes

The results are exactly the same. Meaning projected (thus coplanar triangulating) hidden lines are not included.
Have you in any way skrewed up how you set things up?

• NO connection between whatever you drape and the face(s) you project on.
• NO connecting faces underneath each other. Otherwise all will be draped upon.
  (this will multipy time needed for all faces underneath are projected upon)

Otherwise I would suggest to copy both subject(s) and horizontal face(s) into a clean
SU instance to do the operation separately.

p.s. My old machine with XP seems to come to halt at about 45% but I give it some time.

Wo3Dan

@logscape said:

What else can this be?

Have you already found it?
If not, try 'View'menu => check 'Guides'.

@dave r said:

.......On the other hand, if it is too big, smaller dimesions run over the extension lines and are hard to read in the printed format.

Dave,
In that case you might want to replace the dimension text by <>\n or even <>\n\n
The dimension value will stil be updated when moving (one of the) associated endpoints.
In fact for textual clarification you may want to use blabla\ntext<>blablatext\netc.

Diameter value for instance can also be replaced by:
outer diam.= ****<>\n****etc.

\n means one extra line spacing.
<> means SU will replace and from now on update values again.

Wo3Dan

Hans, Remus,

@remus said:

....As for a solution, im not really sure. Ive never notice this problem before. Perhaps a bug report is in order.

It's not a bug and the result is completely predictable.
The 'Follow Me' tool PROJECTS the face to be used on a plane perpendicular to the beginning of the path.
From there on it starts using the projected face which isn't even half a circle anymore!!!

%(#FF0000)[To avoid (if you need 1/4 of the sphere) you either create the sphere first and then delete 3/4
OR
as a path you use [1/4 of a circle +1segment] in a way that first segment and end segment start perpendicular to resp. run parallel to the face to be used.]
(of course for this you need to start with a 'path'-circle that has 4n segments i.e. 4, 8, 12, 16 segmemts etc. using 2,3,4,5 segments as the actual path).

I noticed another little bug just now that I think wasn't there in SU6 but that has nothing to do with getting a correct 1/4 sphere. I hope I can pinpoint it to report.

Hans, look at your result(s) in plan view (Top+Parallel) to better understand what SU does.
And check the radius which is not constant anymore for different endpoints, top to bottom.

Wo3Dan

Hi Hans,

Sorry but the attached file doesn't clarify what you are after.

Wo3Dan

@kwistenbiebel said:

....I never used the 'projection tools', but can I use it for that?

Hi kwist,

The 'Drape' tool will "drop" a selection onto a surface. But it will only work verticaly meaning you need to temporarily rotate the things you are working on.
Note that the 'Drape' tool drapes on multiple connected faces/surfaces above each other.

On the other hand there are some ruby scripts that you can apply for this job.
One is called: projection_v6.zip with its own toolbar.
Or an older one that works with projecting faces (not 'stand alone' edges): project_faces_plane.rb
(Both from Didier Bur)

Success,
Wo3Dan

@enrique said:

........also on the user cordinate system and how it relates to the world coordinates and can i revert to a ucs or the wcs or toggle them ?....

Enrique,

Say you save the default SU axes setup in Scene1
You can now translate and/or rotate the axes as an orthogonal set to a new origin/direction.
Save this in Scene2

You will now be able to toggle between the two systems.
Also moving objects absolutely by using [x,y,z] is related to the current UCS, not to the WCS where SU starts from. Unless it is the current one.

So moving a selection by clicking on a point A to start from to [3m,5m,7m] will place point A (taking the selection with it) in x=3m,y=5m,z=7m of any rotated/translated current orthogonal system.

The same applies to relative movements: <2m,7m,3.25m>
A2 is relative to A1 by x=2m,y=7m,z=3.25m measured along the current axes
It works in SU7 and SU6.

Wo3Dan

@chhaya said:

......you can't rotate you model, there is a rotate button that has 2 arrows forming a circle, but that button is to rotate faces and edges only and not the whole model.

i know you can pan around the model, but what if you need to re-orient your model?....

Hi chhaya,

Your topic says orbit %(#FF0000)[but it seems you need to know more about rotating things, more than one edge or face at a time.

You need to make your selection first. There are various different ways to do so.
Only once you have your selection made (blue (or with some people yellow)) you next select the 'Rotate' tool.]

%(#008000)[How to select:

• Ctrl+A will select the entire visible model. (not hidden geometry or geometry on unchecked layers);
• dragging (hold down left mouse button) left to right will select entities that are completely IN the selection box;
• dragging (hold down left mouse button) right to left will ALSO select all entities that are partly in the selection box;
• clicking on or dragging while holding down [Ctrl} will add to your selection;
• clicking on or dragging while holding down [Shift] will add/subtract to/from your selection;
• suggestions mentioned above combined with selecting geometry through the outliner.]

Wo3Dan

SA,

Did you try locking directions when pulling these points?

Have no geometry selected, only the 'Move' tool.
Hover over the point to be moved.
Click and dragg it out. While doing so hit left arrow key for locking to green or right
arrow key for locking to red directions. (up/down arrows are for blue direction)

Does this solve the problem?

Wo3Dan

Harley M.

Dimensions don’t have to do with edges. They define the distance between points (end- and midpoints).
(circles, polygons and curves need extra attention creating the right dimensions when using their segment endpoints)

%(#0000FF)[Several notes about dimensions to keep in mind:

• they define the distance between end- and/or midpoints;
• they are always along one of the three axes (axes at that time)
  or reflect the distance along the (virtual) connecting edge between both points;
• they can be rotated after creation;
• they don’t just change if you reset or change axes orientation;
• they may re-orientate when scaling/distorting the object. (thereby not of use anymore);
• they show values using the actual units.]

You can edit dimensions, adding/replacing text etc. to them.
As long as both (end- and/or mid-) points still exist the dimension will stay associated.
(meaning that they will keep track of the exact distance between both points (*))
Text can be added in multiple lines by using \n at the end of each line.

(*) if (whenever) you want to restore showing the associated distance as a correct value
you just add <> in the edited text. SU replaces <> with the correct value.

Wo3Dan

To you American forum members, congratulations with your new president.
Hope (no miracles) for a better/safer world in the (near) future.

Wo3Dan

@jean lemire said:

Hi Jim, hi Gaieus, hi folks.
...... Sometimes, I would like to able to enter a d for the diameter but now it is not possible. Maybe that could be suggested for SU 8.........

Jean, instead of 2000d for a diam. to be 2000mm just enter 2000/2 and [Enter]
(units can't be included with this option though, just figures)
The result will be R=2000/2mm =1000mm meaning the diameter will be 2000mm.
PC only? or Mac too.

Wo3Dan

peweuk,

hopefully attached file will explain both methods.

CompInsertionPoint.skp

@perk said:

What I find odd is that what I was draping was a closed plane, why is it that after draping it became open?

Why? I can't tell. As I noticed, it was a minor missmatch in the z-value. One endpoint was +0.000000 the other was -0.000000
Try if a P/P of the parking area right through the terrain, followed by intersection of selected will also cause the same problem.

Most likely they are the same lines, there were only two forming an odd couple, not being collinear. Hover (with the 'Query' tool cursor) over endpoint to locate the ones matching the values that I gave you. It will only take a minute to find the lines at these endpoints.

Finding the culprit should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes.
In View => Hidden Geometry start dividing the area into two. Half of it will show no problems.
Continue to do so in the faulty area and you will find mistakes in no time.
(in case of a coplanar situation let the weld ruby do part of the work. Here it is of no use)

Glad to see you found and repaired the parkinglot-problem.

Wo3Dan

@perk said:

.....The lines I'm draping do create a closed palne but after draping it is no longer closed...... Could someone have a look and see if I'm doing something wrong...

I don't think you did something wrong.
There are two edges that after copying and rotating them seem to be collinear. But they are not, they can't be welded!!!
(their endpoints have different x, same y and 0.000000 and -0.000000 z values This is probably the origin of the cause.
replace (=delete) both edges by one.
Which ones:
first edge= ~ 177' 9 5/8", ~ -106' 2 11/16", 2' 1" towards
~ 179' 11 5/8", ~ -105' 10 5/8", ~ 2' 4 3/16"
second edge= ~ 179' 11 5/8", ~ -105' 10 5/8", ~ 2' 4 3/16" towards
~ 180' 1 15/16", ~ -105' 10 1/4", ~ 2' 4 1/2"
In editing context apply the 'Query' tool to locate both edges.
You will notice that in View => Hidden Geometry the triangulated face on both sides is not divided here.
Replace both edges by one to fix things!

Wo3Dan

@peweuk said:

If I place the component in the scene it uses the correct 'grip'. I then move it by selecting the opposite (top right) corner. When I bring the next component in (same one) from the component browser, it still has the grip in the correct position, bottom left.

%(#0000FF)[But my problem is with moving it within the scene after it is brought in.

For example, I have two blocks in the scene, one at 90 degrees to the other.
I bring in the panel component and 'snap' it to the front of the first block (which is oriented to the red axis). No problem.
I bring in a second panel, but this has to be 'snapped' to the front of the second block which is now in the green axis direction. So I have to drop the panel on the floor, then rotate it 90 degrees and move it on to the front of the second block. But now the 'grab' point is no longer at the '0.0.0' of the panel component, it is now at the corner of panel itself.]

%(#FF0000)[What I stated before is correct. However, if you decide to move the component (after just having placed it) by grabbing it somewhere on an edge or on a face you will not relocate the grip (snap point).
If it was an endpoint or midpoint that you moved it by then it will most certainly relocate the snap point for the next component from the browser.
Please try again.]

%(#0000FF)[But I see your problem has a slightly different angle.
There are at least two ways to achieve what you are after.

1. place some geometry at the exact location of the local components origin. This can be anything as long as it has an endpoint right there. (a lines end- or midpoint, a constructionpoint, whatever) and assign this 'dummy' geometry to a layer that you can hide (uncheck this layer) after your finished 'place'(+move and/or rotate) operation.
2. use the option 'Glue to: Any' when you create your component.
   This allows you to place the component flat (glued) on any face with its local origin on a corner. There is no need for the rotate operation that you mentioned.
   But you need to locate the (free spaced) local origin at the right location within the component. Corrections are possible though. As long as you use the 'Glue to:..' option.]

Wo3Dan

@peweuk said:

I have a need to set a snapping point for a component which is 'outside' of the component.....
...it's snapping point is no longer correct and the panel corner snaps to the block corner and to position it correctly requires further adjustment.

As you mentioned, first time you 'bring in' a component its grip is its local origin.
Once you moved a component in the model its latest handled point to relocate it will be used as the new grip for a next same component 'brougth in' straight from the components browser.

To overcome this new grip location just double click and close again an existing same component in the model. This will reset the grip (snapping point) to the local origin.

Wo3Dan

@sepo said:

I am wondering what kind of "pot" is that....must be a strong one

Duga,
You can move geometry relative to...clicked point by typing <X,Y,Z> values followed by [Enter]
Or to absolute locations by typing [X,Y,Z] followed by [Enter]
(this is relative to the unchanged origin)

Or use the arrow keys or [Shift] to constrain a move on one of the axes, a line or even a face.

Or send the pot by airmail