Sketchup Discussions Go in This Board

[Administrator_JSVN]

An increasing number of forum members have begun using Google Sketchup for a number of purposes.  I would like to encourage members who are familiar with and who use Sketchup in their projects to share their tips and recommendations with other forum members.  Please post your Google Sketchup related posts in this section of the forum.

This is the free design software available from Google (available here).

 

[Tinker]

OK
I have just installed Sketchup and have run into a problem right away.

Of course, once i get past the first problematic hurdle, i will quickly discover the next problem.

I have watched the instructionals on the sketchup website and Google and have been doing al sorts of crazy things.
pushing, pulling, tipping, slipping, sliding (Oh, the slipping and sliding relates to Festool problems) and so on.  I can draw pretty pictures and so long as i go with the canned dimensioning system, i can struggle thru many problems i cannot even come close to solving with my older programs (they are close to obsolete and if I upgrade my computer, they will be lost forever)

my problem seems to be scaling.

I have read the directions several times (before breakfast > and that is early for most of you) mid day and even after my evening wine (small glass>>>please)  I just cannot get it into my thick skull how to set scale.  I can draw my pics and go along with Sketchup and some ungodly fantastic dimensioning.  I could do it fine if i keep my spreadsheet open to figure 12" = 39.01329876" (or whatever) and work all out proportionally.

But how can I set scale so my lines come out 1/4"=12" (i did find woodworking in inches and found the scale tool.)  I read all i could but I will be 39-1/2 before i figure it out.  (I'd say "Old and gray", but I'm young and gray >>>prematurely)

H---E---L---P!!!  (in a language I can understand.  i admit, the online directions are as close to understandable as any electronic prompting I have tried to decipher, but I just don't fathom completely)

TIA
Tinker    (hey, i could tell you a way to keep racoons away from your corn, but computer stuff  UGH! I get lost)

 

[peter halle]

Bill:

If I understand your question correctly you are looking to print a scale drawing.  Normally you draw at full size and then choose the print scale under the print menu.  I see that option in my version but it is greyed out and I can't select.  That might be because my version was a trial of the full version that I did not end up buying and thus not all the capabilities are there.  They tempt you with free but if you want the stuff used by "professionals" you must buy. 

I'll look around and try to help more.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Tinker, I don't believe you can set the scale, SketchUp is used in 1:1 scale for working with the model on your computer. Of course it's not really to a 1:1 scale on your computer screen, I mean you type in the actual dimension you want your piece to be. If you want to print out a copy of your model/drawing you'll need to use the dimension tool to place the dimensions in the drawing.
[attachthumb=#]

Peter beat my to it, he's right the pro version has options for printing to scale.

 

[peter halle]

Bill:

Boy was I wrong.

Draw your drawing at full scale.

When you are ready to print click on the camera tab at the top.  If the perspective option has a check mark by it click on it to disable.  You want no check marks there.

Go back to the main screen.  In the menu bar do you see the standard view icons - they look like little houses.  select one of them to get the view you want to print.

When happy with the view then click on the file tab of the toolbar.  select print.

When that page pulls up, make sure your printer is selected.  You should see a choice to print to fit page.  uncheck that box if it is checked.  Over to the right the print to scale boxes appear and you can set you settings.

Hope that this helps.

Peter

Here is what google says:

How do I print to scale?
Switch to paraline mode by turning perspective mode off. To turn perspective mode off, open the "Camera" menu and click "Perspective" (so that a check mark is not displayed next to it).
Select a standard scalable view: Iso, Top, Front, Right, Back, or Left. To select a standard view, open the "Camera" menu, point to "Standard," and then click one of the views. Note: The scalable edges are those aligned with the axes.

PC: Open the "File" menu, and then click "Print."
Mac: Open the "File" menu, and then click "Document Setup."
In the "Print Size" section of the "Print" dialog box, clear the "Fit to page" option.
If you are in paraline mode (step 1) and have selected a standard view (step 2), the scale options in the "Print Size" (Mac: "Print Scale") section are enabled when you clear the "Fit to page" option. Set the scale you want to use.
PC: Click "OK" to print your model.
Mac: Click "OK" to save your document settings, and then print your model by opening the "File" menu, and then clicking "Print."
Note: To turn perspective mode back on, open the "Camera" menu, and then click "Perspective" again (so that the check mark is displayed to the left of it).

 

[peter halle]

Tinker I am sorry that I called you Bill.  Bill I am sorry that I used your name in vain. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Peter

 

[Tinker]

Tinker I am sorry that I called you Bill.  Bill I am sorry that I used your name in vain. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Peter

Joe...er uh Peter,
All is forgiven.

thanks for the info.  I'll give it a try later this morning.

I am now into another problem.  templates.  I have made a couple of templates (trial and error) with directions from Sketchup.

When i save them (all two of them so far) they disappear.  One, the first, i have tracked down, located and relocated to where i can find it.

The second i tried tracking same way as first.  No luck.  Fooled around and finally located someplace else.  Only can find, but no way I can figure out to open or relocate.

Brings back memories of my first winter of learning how to operate my first computer.  the darned thing NEVER listened to me. (Sort of like my wife and kids  ???)

This program is very closely related.  At some point, the whole thing will reveal itself and its mystery ALL OF A SUDDEN.  That is how most of my (very few) discoveries have come with the computer stuff.  I'll keep plugging.

Thanks again
Tinker

 

[peter halle]

Good Morning Tinker:

Did you try these steps?

Template
Use the Template preferences panel to designate a SketchUp file that you would want to use as a template for all of your subsequent models.

Creating a Template
A template file contains default settings from the Model Info dialog box and base geometry. To create a template:

Select File > New menu item to start a new SketchUp file.
Modify the Model Info settings to fit your particular needs. For example, you might want to set default units and snaps, activate a ground plane, and set a geographic location.
Modify the Preference settings to fit your particular needs.
(optionally) Draw any geometry that you want to share among all of your models. For example, you might want all of your models of houses to be created within the same starting terrain (such as when you are creating models of houses within a housing development).
Select File > Save to save the SketchUp file. Save this file in the Templates directory (under the SketchUp installation directory) if you want this file to appear in the drop-down list of templates within the Preferences dialog box.
Automatically Loading a Template
You can load a template SketchUp file manually using File > Open every time you want to create a model. Or, you can identify a file as a template using the Template section of the Preferences dialog box to load the template automatically when you run SketchUp.

Select a template from the list of templates to load a template (if your SketchUp template file is in the Templates directory). Click the Browse button to locate templates that do not appear in the drop-down list.

Your template will load every time you run SketchUp.

Hope that this helps.  Let me / us know the outcome.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

Peter,
I appreciate all of your fine assistance and will print out all of your directions for later reference.

right now, i am in the midst of making space in my shop where space there AIN"T.
I'm currently getting set to make a cabinet/base/tool storage for my SCMS (Hitachi 8-1/2")

It has been stored for a couple of years as it just makes too much dust and takes up too much floor space when not in use.  i seem to have solved some of the dust problems.  space is another problem to solve.  For 1300 smackers, I could solve that one also.  Since i have the SCMS, (and in practically brandnew condition) I am designing a set of shelves/drawers for it to rest on with sliding lazy susan top shelf arrangement so i can slide it out of traffic while not in use.  I am drawing it with my old program for now.  Days are gettin' shorter and my time is gettin' hurrier.

I will be getting on with the Sketchup in another few weeks as I will have simpler drawings to make.  I'll be in touch as my experience gets a little more satisfactory.  I am really a klutz when it comes to learning new tricks with the computer.  i do much better with the more noisy toys in both WW shop and landscaping (where I can make real noise).

Tinker

 

[peter halle]

As you go thru the learning curve with sketchup just keep in mind that there is a huge user base out there. Feel free to ask for help. Brice is a power user. I'm a rookie.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

Thanks again Peter

Part of my problem with understanding computer lingo is i need a dictionary.  When i got my first computer, i got very frustrated as I could not figure out what the directions were talking about.  A friend tried to help me and i could not understand a thing he was talking about.  He was using the same language as the book.  i think he was more interrested in showing his knowledge than teaching.

Later, a man (who grew to be a great friend) came to my house and spent considerable time.  I learned a whole lot from him by just watching.  Very little explanations, just doing.  I seem to learn much better that way.

A little off topic:  when i first started learning the mason trade, my boss (and teacher) told me that when i leaerned how to lay bricks (blocks, stone, stucco, whatever) I would be working with others, probably "on the line".  he told me that if I was having trouble keeping up with the leader, don't try to out do him.  I will not be able to catch him by working harder.  He said to take a break.  Go get my coffee jug and sit down where I can watch him.  Look closely and figure out "what he is not doing that your are doing."  I have used that philosophy many times.

I'll be taking a break for awhile.  I have learned a little.  i have gotten confused a little.  I'll let it all sink in and come back.
Tinker

 

[Dave Ronyak]

All, I just "stumbled" upon this thread.  I wholly sympathize and empathize with Tinker when it comes to things PC.

I also want to express my gratitude to Matthew, Peter, Brice, Dan C. and many others on FOG who have helped me with my many PC related problems.  If MS or other computer or software companies served their clients as well, they would dominate their chosen fields!!  Because of their help, I am finally able to post photos on FOG. 

Next year my goals will include SketchUp or another drawing program. 

Dave R.

 

[pbogi]

Hello to all,

I'm new to FOG and would like to offer up a couple of links that may be helpful with regard to learning to use SketchUp.

http://forums.sketchucation.com

http://www.garymkatz.com/charts_drawings.html

There are others available as well.

What I've found after trying to learn some of the true CADD programs, which SketchUp technically is not, is that their learning curves are extremely steep.  SketchUp allows you to take that idea that you've scribbled on the back of a napkin and present it in a legible fashion on paper.

I don't claim to have any expertise with the program. What I do is take simple ideas that in reality would be easier to draw on a napkin and draw them in SketchUp. At first, all I concerned myself with was making the drawing look normal. Orbiting around helps you find design flaws. Then, once I felt comfortable with that, I added dimensions, which I later learned could be input when drawing a particular object.

Of course, I would read lots of articles and watch tutorials, such as in the links above, and subsequently try my hand at what I thought that I had just learned. In some cases, I had indeed learned how to use one of its features, while in others, I hadn't and am still stuck. However, when I see what others have been able to accomplish with it, that keeps me motivated to continue.

Perhaps I'll never get to their level of expertise, but I can say that, in my opinion, it makes getting my ideas on to paper much easier than trying to learn a CADD program. Not that doing so is a bad thing for those who have the skill and time.

Hope the links help.

Peter B

 

[harry_]

2 parts:

1). Can we get sketchup related under it's own board heading, under this one?

2). I am well into a drawing and realized that all my panels are too big by .75 inches on one axis.  (19x28.5 should be 18.25x28.5)

My panels are a saved component. Is there a way to reduce the panel by the .75 _and_ have it drag all the attached components with it.

My apologies if I did not articulate this well.

[edit: typos]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Harry, if I understand question #2 correctly the answer is no.  There are ways to make this kind of editing easier if you plan ahead.  Check out this video to see what I mean.  Let me know if this addresses your question.

Getting the most out of component librarys

 

[harry_]

Brice,

Kind of.

Essentially what I have going on are cabinet carcases. Each individual component I have created as such. Now my side panels are too deep and all the stretchers are in place. What I was hoping to do was reduce the depth of the sides by the .75in and have the stretchers 'follow' to the new dimension. Looks like this is something I must do manually?

I will monkey with it a bit and see how things go.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Yep, you'll have to do it manually.  There may be ways to align your view to be advantageous for selecting most or even all of the your stretchers and move them all at once.  The video should give you ideas on how to select items you want to edit or move.

Since your panels are components you only need to edit one and all the other will change.     

 

[harry_]

yeah,. the panel change was easy. there stretcher i did have to move manually, but not individually. I can live with that.

[thanks] for the help

 

[jonny round boy]

2 parts:

1). Can we get sketchup related under it's own board heading, under this one?

2). I am well into a drawing and realized that all my panels are too big by .75 inches on one axis.  (19x28.5 should be 18.25x28.5)

My panels are a saved component. Is there a way to reduce the panel by the .75 _and_ have it drag all the attached components with it.

My apologies if I did not articulate this well.

[edit: typos]

There may be a way of doing it - there's a plug-in called FredoScale:

FredoScale 2.0 - Sketchup Plugin - New Transformations

Skip to 4:20 to see the 'stretch' function that works with components and groups.

 

[harry_]

1). Can we get sketchup related under it's own board heading, under this one?

this way we could have sketchup sub-topics, as opposed to one gigantic sketchup thread.