Control (native) windows [REQ]

[pbacot]

I suppose if this were possible it'd be done by now. I wish I could keep my dialog windows (entity, components) under control. EVERY time I change monitors or open SU they are in a mess. SU crashes regularly and then too...the windows end up unconnected and all over the place Every time, I have to move all the windows into place again, some are even off screen.

Maybe this is SU wish list item. The Windows and icons in SU make it the sloppiest application I have ever seen. It's not a control-freak thing, just a huge waste of time pushing these windows around. I would rather just have them fixed if that were the only option.

Soo... do you think plugins can control this sort of thing? a "close and dock all" function even?

Maybe someone has some "duh!" clue for me

Probably a "Mac" thing, huh?

[Aerilius]

The Ruby API gives no access to do anything like that (only show "inspector windows", but no positioning, docking etc.). Do the inspector windows and dialogs still mess up if you just keep them in the upper left part of the screen (on both monitors)?

You might be jealous on this guy's solution:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25676&p=222110&hilit=docked+tools#p222110
Infact he was never seen again.
(If it was real), it was made using the Win32 API. Maybe John has ideas how to do it with AppleScript? There should be a more cross-platform way. I would like if Trimble SketchUp has enough courage or power or whatever they need to take better UI decisions (more modern, intuitive and powerful).
I like Blender's strict single window principle, there is never anything occluded by some other window/dialog.

[pbacot]

I use two monitors most of the time, so I appreciate the flexibility to make windows float but I like one-window solutions as an option. Gimp 2.8 has a good best-of-both solution. You can quickly change what is foremost as well as have tear-offs and tabs, but mostly the ability to just open it and have it already in some orderly fashion is best.

[glro]

My experience:

> each time i open a dialog windows (entity, components), i close it after use
> as few icons as possible on the screen (keyboards shortcuts are much more efficient and dont waste space on the screen)
> icons on the left side of the sketchup windows, so when i reduce the window, and enlarge it again, they stay in the same position
> when really icons position has to be re organized, i use the menu (toolbars > restaure position ...)

As sketchup cannot adapt to the way i work in certain aspects, i adapt the way i work to sketchup...

[Jeff Hammond]

you could use applescript to control this stuff..

i have a preliminary script called 'tighten-up' which perfectly arranges all windows and toolbars etc..

but, it's only preliminary and i haven't taken it any further..

(currently, it will take the two top-left-most tool bars and snap them perfectly to the top left corner then place the drawing window next to them (i.e.- no gaps in there etc and no manual moving)..

but that's as far as i've taken it so far.. and i don't foresee me being able to work on it for at least another month or two..

but, i guess my point is.. i too wish for a better solution to what sketchup currently offers regarding workspace organization.

[pbacot]

Good notes. I usually try to keep them collapsed, but this still happens, so I guess keeping them closed altogether (except maybe "Entities") would be better, with shortcuts (then the wishlist item for more shortcut modifier keys comes to mind).

plugin icons-- Never have a good solution, especially since many (like perpendicular face ) open when I have closed them in previous sessions (yes I've seen a code fix for some of them). I just close them each time unless I think I'll be using one. Wish the Apple toolbar was more useful (more compact and having multiple lines). But that's how it is. Thanks for the replies.