The "Duh!" thread (aka the Doh! thread)

[jgb]

Another thing with Follow-Me I discovered a while back (and reported) is when you are defining a path that has curves, place the template face somewhere on a straight portion of any line segment, NOT at an endpoint.

If follow-me starts on an endpoint, the face template follows one of the subtended angles and royally screws up at the end, with an end face out of alignment. This is especially a major factor with closed loops.

However, if started on a straight section, it will end perpendicular to the last line of the path, and if the path is a closed loop, it will join properly.

[Pilou]

Useful to know!

[broomstick]

I've seen this pointed out before, but I just discovered that while orbiting with the middle mouse pressed, if you press the left button, orbit becomes pan.

It's a useful way to orbit/pan without using two hands

[Pilou]

Mini Doh (due forgotten function)
+ Alt gives you the possibility to Move a segment escaping at the X Y plan

[thomthom]

I've seen this pointed out before, but I just discovered that while orbiting with the middle mouse pressed, if you press the left button, orbit becomes pan.

!!! OMF-DUH!!!

[thomthom]

A bit awkward though, as I use my index finger usually to press the middle mouse button, so I need to shift to my middle finger to free up my index for the left mouse button. ...which it was the right button that did that...

[Gaieus]

A bit awkward though, as I use my index finger usually to press the middle mouse button, so I need to shift to my middle finger to free up my index for the left mouse button. ...which it was the right button that did that...

Ditto. I have known this "feature" but could never adapt myself to it.

[Pilou]

I use my index finger usually to press the middle mouse button

That is very curious, because with the medium you can rotate many more the Mouse wheel than with index!
So more speedy scolling!
For the simple reason that the Medium is biggest than the index!
So the medium is always on the whell, so click it is a formality!
Try it!

[jgb]

I use my index finger usually to press the middle mouse button

That is very curious, because with the medium you can rotate many more the Mouse wheel than with index!
So more speedy scolling!
For the simple reason that the Medium is biggest than the index!
So the medium is always on the whell, so click it is a formality!
Try it!

I have always used my mid finger on the wheel, with index on the left button. I also move my mid to the right button when needed as the ring finger has less control (which is why it is the "ring" finger ).

It shouldn't take long to adjust to that finger position.

And now I know why my "orbiting" suddenly goes into "panning" when my index finger twitches downward sometimes. Now that I know, I can exploit that feature. Thank you Broomstick.

And Pilou, I fail to see what you mean with Move+Alt. Could you please explain a bit more?

[Pilou]

Is that more clear ?
Without Alt Z axis is locked!
You can make some prisms or no coplanar faces with Move + Alt!
The Z axis become free with Move + Alt

Movetool.jpg

[Jean Lemire]

Hi Pilou, hi folks.

Yes, pressing the ALT key enables Autofold.

Just ideas.

[Gaieus]

And here is the autofold description:
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/ ... swer=94865

[thomthom]

I wish there was an option to make SketchUp Smooth+Soft auto-folded edges.

[Jeff Hammond]

I've been harping on this for years now but I don't think anyone ever tries it.. oh well

orbit with a thumb button (if your mouse has one).. not only is it more comfortable, it also gets rid of the double duty zoom/orbit mmb... AND- makes panning with the LMB much easier.

[thomthom]

Thumb buttons are Copy, Paste ...

[jgb]

And here is the autofold description:
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/ ... swer=94865

Read it, tried it and I still don't see any advantage.

If I want to go Z (blue) I press the UP arrow and it seems to do the same as the autofold, but with exact axis control.

It seems to me that autofold may hold an advantage if we had true 3D screens, but mine is standard 2D, and I cannot control, with any precision, where my object is moving to.

[Jeff Hammond]

And here is the autofold description:
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/ ... swer=94865

Read it, tried it and I still don't see any advantage.

If I want to go Z (blue) I press the UP arrow and it seems to do the same as the autofold, but with exact axis control.

It seems to me that autofold may hold an advantage if we had true 3D screens, but mine is standard 2D, and I cannot control, with any precision, where my object is moving to.

using the arrow key is the same thing.. you're giving sketchup permission to break a plane(s) into multiple planes.. that's what autofolding means (in sketchup speak).. [and moving along the Z isn't always what's wanted.. hence the cmmd/alt key]

now if only follow-me had an autofold option.. we'd then be able to, say, extrude around a helix without the twisting.. (notice if you try that now, sketchup prefers to keep planes in tact as opposed to folding them which is required for a non-twisting extrusion)

[TIG]

That's where FollowMeAndKeep steps in... No twisting !
Also 'EEbyLathe' sorts the FollowMe around and Arc issues too...

[Jeff Hammond]

That's where FollowMeAndKeep steps in... No twisting !
Also 'EEbyLathe' sorts the FollowMe around and Arc issues too...

right.. i was just trying to point out a case where autofolding doesn't (and can't) happen so that jgb understands when/where it's needed..

maybe the follow me example just confuses the matter even more unless you already understand the inherent problems of that tool.. ??

[brookefox]

I refuse to apologize for being ignorant... I couldn't figure out for the life of me why when twisting with fredo scale, etc., I got nothing much. I had neglected to learn about auto-slicing in the parameters settings menus, or of enabling it with F4. I thought that some form of slicing had to occur, and tried slicing before executing and saw that worked as I thought the routine was supposed to work. In my defense, since I seem to need some, I think it should be more prominently mentioned. Or did I miss it?

[Gaieus]

And here is the autofold description:
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/ ... swer=94865

Read it, tried it and I still don't see any advantage. ...

Autofold (as the name implies) is mostly an automatic feature of SU when you force it not to maintain co-planar geometry. But you need to force it somehow. In your case, by pressing the up/down arrow. Some other cases (when axis alignment is not that obvious), you press the Alt key letting SU know that now you do not mind if it breaks a face or not.

This is just like inferencing: you can always "encourage" SU to infer to certain things like parallel / perpendicular to something instead of axes etc.

[jgb]

I C

[ArCAD-UK]

I hadn't realised until recently that if you set Model Info>Components>Fade rest of model to hide you can still edit a group/component, triple click to select all faces and then (rt-clk) "intersect with model" which you can then edit as required.

In some ways I prefer this over solid ops as it avoids creating a new group on layer zero .

[jgb]

I hadn't realised until recently that if you set Model Info>Components>Fade rest of model to hide you can still edit a group/component, triple click to select all faces and then (rt-clk) "intersect with model" which you can then edit as required.

In some ways I prefer this over solid ops as it avoids creating a new group on layer zero .

A cupala tips on this.....

1) Use layers as well for each group/comp that you are working on, even if you assign them to temp layers. Assign the temp layer ONLY to the comp/group envelope, NOT to the entities inside which best remain on layer0.

Intersect with model intersects with visible layers (on) even if they are "hidden" within the edit mode. That way you avoid unwanted intersections with other groups/comps by simply turning ON only the layer(s) as appropriate. You can then turn on/off layers while in edit mode to better see what you are doing.

2) If there is too much stuff around the group/comp you are working on, then make it a comp (even if temporarily) and pull a copy of it into free space. Do the edits on the copy, then delete it when finished. You can also pull copies of stuff surrounding the prime comp over to the working copy as needed for edit or intersect reference.

3) You can also hide (in edit mode) other copies of the same comp so they do not distract when editing. Sometimes you may have multiple copies quite close together and you cannot see what you are doing.

4) If you have a comp that intersects with stuff on multiple faces that are not involved with the actual "intersect w/Model" then only select the involved faces, rather than a triple click. And that is faster as well.

[ArCAD-UK]

Some good tips there Joel!

[Pilou]

Doh of the day! we can make "*12" or "12*" in the VCB after the first copy move !

Or "x12" or "12x" if you wish.

Super DOH

[thomthom]

Really Pilou - a veteran like you didn't know that?
It also works with /12 and 12/.

[Pilou]

I allways use the "*" against the "x"
Because I have a numeric keyboard so no movement and can be pressed with the same hand!

[jgb]

Really Pilou - a veteran like you didn't know that?
It also works with /12 and 12/.

In my experience you should put the numbers before the function. I have had problems with defining arc/circle segments and rotation multiples putting the function 'S' or 'X' first. So to be consistent, and remember it, for all these moves, rotates, arc and circles I put the numbers first.

[TIG]

Putting these numbers 'first' IS only necessary... IF you have set shortcuts that clash with those characters.
It's recommend that you avoid 'raw' shortcuts of numerals / X * S AND 0-9 - . , ; [ and <.
Then the position of that 'modifier' character becomes unimportant.
You are ready prevented form specifying 'raw' Ctrl/Shift/Alt key presses; and 'Tab' is flaky anyway - help yourself...
However, the use of " ' m c i f etc are all OK to use as shortcuts, because these will always occur after numerals in any dimensional inputs anyway.
Also remember - many 3rd party tools now use the four 'raw' arrow-keys [for example to 'nudge' textures], so it's also best to avoid shortcutting to those.