Getting Started

[SketchUcation]

First of all, to briefly tell how these forums work: it is a bunch of individuals - from experts (at SketchUp) to beginners, professionals and hobbyists or "home renovators" - we are all a community helping each other with tips and good practices, finding resources and all that is needed for successful modelling.

There are (sort of) "netiquette" rules though. If you are a new member and have a question, please, post in the respective topic (or if you have a new question, start a new topic). Especially: Please, do not send Private Messages (PM) for help to any of the plugin developers with your installation problems, to any member to solve your issues - this is not a private help section (or in fact, we do have one) but regular contributors are tired of these PM's - in fact, due to the growing influx, we had to deprive newly registered members of the possibility to send PM's.

If you have a question, ask it straight in the appropriate forum. If you place it into an inappropriate forum, do not worry, we'll move it. If there is an answer, it is (and will be) for others to learn, too.

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Then, to help you with the different icons on the forum, here are some guidelines what they mean:

Off-Topic:
Currently we are tweaking these icons so not ll the info below may be up-to-date

• 

  the red iconshows that in a particular forum or topic there is a post that you haven't read yet (this pencil applies to all other forum or topic kinds below - I won't repeat in every case).

• 

  if it is black, it means that there are no new posts in that particular forum / topic.
  .

• 

  

  the small, red and blue icons before a subforum name (if it is listed on the board index) also mean that there are (are not) new posts in those subforums.

• 

  a small lock at the bottom right will indicate that a forum / topic is locked (cannot be answered - you can only read its content).

• 

  a letter "I" (for "Information") indicates that it is an announcement. Announcements are always listed separately from the subfolders or topics below them and can be global (appearing in every forum / subforum) or local (only in that particular forum).

• 

  on the top of several forums you may see "sticky" topics as well (but not separated from the other topics like announcements). These stickies usually contain useful and general information thus they are made to "stick" to the top (and not sink to the bottom).
  This topic you are now reading is also a "sticky" one.
  For further information about how to use the board, please, refer to the FAQ or if you have any question, don't hesitate to ask it in the "Ideas Box & Board Issues" under the Corner Bar at the (almost) bottom or just simply here in the Newbies1 Department where every question is practically allowed (well, related to SketchUp or the Forums or something like that).
  
  Happy Sketching!
  _______
  
  Further on, in this topic we are posting all different links to tutorials, manuals, videos etc. all which can be of great help for somebody starting with SU. The method will be the same we are using in some of the other subforums: whoever finds a good link, can post into this topic and the list will be "updated" in this first post.
  
  Current (latest) PDF Manuals
  
  SketchUp (and LayOut) versions
  
  • Current versions (download page)
  • Release notes
  SketchUp User's Guide
  
  • Windows version | Downloadable PDF version
  • Mac version | Downloadable PDF version
  LayOut User's Guide
  
  • Windows version | Downloadable PDF version
  • Mac version | Downloadable PDF version
  "Full Dump" of the Google SketchUp Help Center
  
  • Link...
    (Thank TaffGoch)
  Video tutorials
  
  • by Aidan Chopra (for the "SketchUp for Dummies" book)
  • And on YouTube
    (Thank Chris)
  Self Paced tutorials
  
  • by Google (in skp format)
  Go-2-School videos
  
  • The website
  • Direct downloads
    (Thank Chris)
  More old SU videos of earlier versions
  
  • Link
    (Thank Gata (catamountain))
  Chiefwoodworker's woodworking tutorial blog
  
  • Link to the blog
    (Thank Joe)

[cadmastr]

Hello All:

I recently came across a very helpful and informative website that offers FREE video tutorials. It is located at http://www.aidanchopra.com. Mr. Chopra has written a Dummies book on SketchUp and the videos link to the YouTube website.

There are 62 in all. You can either visit these links and watch the videos online, or download them to your computer and use a .FLV (Flash Video) freebie program to view them at your leisure. In order to download them, you will need a program like "UltraGet Video Downloader" (http://www.ultraget.com/) or one of the many .FLV download programs that are out there.

There are also some other SketchUp video tutorials on YouTube. They can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=SketchUpVideo&p=r

[blair]

Cadmastr mentioned UltraGet (http://www.ultraget.com/) and this for me is a great find for I have wondered for a while how to download a video for later viewing etc. This looks like a good one for you can download and view with the same program. If there is a way to view FULL SCREEN (or much larger) with this one, or another, that would be even better. Does anyone know of anything better than UltraGet?

I downloaded/loaded the latest v2.0.3 UltraGet just fine. I can capture a video just fine. However, it does not show the individual downloaded video's in a new left hand panel, as shown in the help content, so that I can pick one video and play it. It places all downloads in "Documents and Settings > User Name > My Documents > UltraGet > YouTube". If I try to open a video from there or from within UltraGet I get a message instead of an opening Has anyone else worked with UltraGet?. I have tried to email support but emails are never delivered.

Thanks for any suggestions.

blair

[cdubea]

Don't forget the Sketchup Show;

http://www.go-2-school.com

or direct downloads from

http://atotheo.libsyn.com/

I've learned a lot from these guys.

chris

[blair]

I never heard back from support at *UltraGet* mentioned above and I could not get it to work. However, I did find that the free version of Real Player works just fine and play back is full screen. It can be downloaded here:

http://www.realplayercafe.com/download- ... OAodMlDYeQ

blair

[cadmastr]

Regarding downloading videos from YouTube, I recently came across yet another freebie program that will do the same. It is called "Save2pc" and is available at http://www.save2pc.com I had been using "Ultraget" but found that sometimes I was unable to download a video, most likely due to the fact that every so often YouTube changes their restrictions on downloading videos.

I don't play the downloaded video with Ultraget. I use a freebie player called "Any FLV Player". You can get it here http://www.any-flv-player.com/ I like this much better because you can go into the "View" pulldown menu and select "Double Size" and see it in all it's glory.

If you don't want to watch the videos as .FLV files, you can use the "Save2pc" program to download the video as a .AVI or .MPG file. These file formats are bigger than the compact .FLV format, but are easily played using Windows Media Player, which most computer users probably already have on their systems.

Regarding Macs, I have no idea what can be used, as I have never used a Mac before.

I hope this information can help someone.

[cadmastr]

Here is the direct link to downloading the "Save2pc" program (their website is a bit confusing).

http://www.save2pc.com/files/save2pc_light.exe

This program is a standalone .EXE file. It immediately runs when you click on it, no need to install anything. The only bad part is that you can only download one video at a time.

[Danty]

Thanks everybody for the great posts on getting that much better with SU.
As Monsterzero has said on another post, "my head is going to explode".

The sheer volume of HELP by the good people in the SU universe is mind boggling.

As a Mac user -- I want to supplement what Cadmastr has said about video viewers and players.

There is freeware available for Macs called TubeTV, http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/tubetv/

In addition to the above I have an excellent DVD player freeware called MPlayer OSX:
http://mplayerosx.sourceforge.net/

I can save the any video from the Internet and then play it in half or full screen on MPlayer.

Danty

[Danty]

Since I'm on this thread I would be remiss if I didn't promote my very FAVORITE learning tool for SU: Dennis Fukai's 3D Construction Modeling.
In my initial learning phase of SU I was having enormous difficulties and nearly gave up.
Fortunately I found Dennis' book.
The whole concept of the book and it's format is terrific.
You construct an entire model house from the ground up in SU.
Dennis gives you not just the book which shows screenshots of the entire process but also included is a CD which has tutorials broken down for each phase of the model.
This book "pulled it all together" for me.
I learned very fully how to use not only the basic tools: inferencing, groups, components, etc. but how they all "fit" together.
Dennis has a natural teacher's style and voice. He personally narrates the tutorials and I actually felt like it was a one-on-one session with a SU tutor.
Plus (and this may not be the case now) he includes his phone # in the book so you can call him! I called him twice and he was very gracious each time. After that we exchanged e-mails.

So -- I cannot recommend this book too highly for someone who is really serious about learning SU well.

It's available from Amazon or other sources as well:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976274108

Danty

[Rafa]

Hi. One question. I know for example that the Free version of sketchup cant export to other formats, besides that, Is it much "crippled", compared with the pro version? Or with some rubys here and there is it fairly complete?

[remus]

The exporters are the only difference between the free and pro versions.

[Rafa]

Great!, thanks.

[Jim]

Hi. One question. I know for example that the Free version of sketchup cant export to other formats, besides that, Is it much "crippled", compared with the pro version? Or with some rubys here and there is it fairly complete?

The Pro version will get you more 3D export options (3DS, OBJ, XSI, FBX, VRML, EPX and DAE), but you also get PDF and EPS exporters, you get the Layout application, you get the Style Builder application, and 2 years of tech support.

As far as the modeling tools available and the ability to use plugins, there is no crippling of the free version.

As a related note, the licensing allows for-profit use of the free version.

[dallyc]

hi!
I'm new to sketchup. I'm taking a class.

[troyhome]

Welcome, dallyc!
The links in this thread are so valuable!
All the best with your class.

[chench10]

Allow me to introduce myself! My real name is Oscar otherwise known as "da Chench" and I will be looking forward to learning more about the computer world and increasing my digi-skills! Peace!

[troyhome]

Welcome, Chench- you're in the right place for increasing skills

Skills_Fullpic_2.jpg

[duxgga]

I've been wondering, where are those tuts i.g. under this title. It says d/l model. I need the tut!..

[solo]

duxgga, I am not sure of which particular thread or download you are talking about but if you download the .skp you and open it up you will notice that the tutorial is in the model, sometimes done using scene walkthroughs with text, others with muliple models that show progress from one to the other.

Take a look you may find this way very easy to learn from, and the bonus is you get the resulting model free.

[mujzisme]

hi there Im Abdul Mujib from Malaysia.just call me mujzisme..Just wanna learn and explore more about sketchup and other knowledge..nice to meet u all..

[Gaieus]

Hi Mujzisme and welcome. Hope you can learn a lot and soon will help other on this board!

[Architekturn]

Great post!

[KXI System]

^ agreed

[disturbed13]

okay
so how are we supposed to get any plug-ins if we are not allowed to download them?
that whole thing just seems to rub me the wrong way
i mean what if someone has been using SU for years
and they just signed up online today
but they can dl any of the add-ons
(probably because they dont have enough posts [like me])
my question is whats the magic number?

[Chris Fullmer]

Hi disturbed. We have it set that after 2 approved posts you are a full fledged memeber of the community. I guess that until that time you are not allowed to download attachments? I didn't realize that. That is unfortunate I think. So one more post from you and you should be all set,

Chris

[Gaieus]

Guys I do not understand this as "Newly registered members" are supposed to access all attachments. I did double check all these permissions (and know that some people can download these plugins with no problem at all).

[disturbed13]

hmmmmm interesting
well this should take care of it

[Chris Fullmer]

Intersting, I had also thought it was set so that any registered member could download. At any rate, he's reached the 2 post threshold so he is now set either way.

Chris

[talimgw]

thanks for the tips!

[Gaieus]

A list of GIF images we use on the Tutorial pages. Coen made them a while back and I thought sometimes they can be handy to insert into help posts especially here, in the newbie forum.

Arc

Axes

Circle

Dimension

Eraser

Field Of View (FOV)

Follow me

Line

Move

Offset

Orbit

Paint bucket

Pan

Polygon

Protractor

PushPull

Rectangle

Rotate

Scale

Section

Select

Tape measure

Text

Zoom

Zoom to selection