I wonder if a slight modification to the existing Move tool would work by adding a modifier tool that by tap-tap would toggle show/hide the object being moved? It would save having to add yet another tool which I know they are loathe to do.
I know the frustration, but I guess I’m not quite as desperate for a fix while using a 3D Connexion Space Mouse – it makes it easy to fly about for a better point of view while still in mid operation.
I tried out the ‘MoveAlong’ tool (part of Fredo Tools) suggested by @tenSUuser. After initiating the move, toggling the ‘tab’ key shows an unobtrusive outline of the item(s) being moved.
So, perhaps something similar could be done with the native SU ‘Move’ tool–maybe hiding the items being moved entirely. Once a ‘move from’ point is selected, it’s not really necessary to watch the items being dragged to the target point.
I think this should be possible with some adjustments to TIG’s script mentioned earlier on. The main thing missing in this script I think is to hide nested geometry.
Many times I have found that people struggling with moving things tend to click and drag.
Click and release attaches the object to the cursor so you can move freely to the point you want to place it.
Not saying that is the issue here, just pointing it out.
I don’t click-and-drag, but the object is “hanging off the cursor” regardless, which is the problem when the object itself obscures the target geometry.
All we need is to modify the Move tool that the object does NOT leave the start position UNTIL the target position is selected. I don’t need to see it WHILE moving, I know what I’m moving, it just gets in the way.
Agreed, This would be awesome!!
this is something i made for an extension that deals with scaffolding
https://vimeo.com/912506153?share=copy
copy from one point to one or many points
move from one point to another point
the selection remains in place until the destination point is chosen
Pointing @CogentDesign at the links above.
Somehow I missed this comment before.
Yeah, I just tried it, and yeah, it solves 90% of my problems! It’s like a “localized X-Ray mode” for just that object, perfect.
This is what I think would work well too.
Why would one need to see it in its original position?
Because in that position it isn’t totally blocking its destination inference point, which is quickly obstructed now as the object moves. It’s all in the original post.
The reason I’m asking is because I’ve got the impression that one might be able to toggle visibility of geometry (faces and / or lines) in nested groups on the fly with help of the ‘Pick Helper Class’: Class: Sketchup::PickHelper — SketchUp Ruby API Documentation
I’ve had a look at it but unfortunately lack the understanding right now to turn this into a working extension.
Strickly speaking this toggling of visibility, as illustrated by TIG’s script earlier on, of course has nothing to do with the move tool in particular.
I’ve posted a question about this here: How to toggle visibility of faces in nested groups?
Edit: the question was answered switfly. Similarly you can of course also toggle Edges.
What’s the difference between this and using x-ray?
It’s mentioned in the 5th post, you change the rendering mode of the whole model. Here you only change the visibility of the object you move. Either of the face, the edge, the image or what ever. That’s up to you.
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If you don’t see the final point you have the same problem. This is not the case of the last video but it could be possible
I don’t fully understand what you’re suggesting. As suggested in the last video you can see the final point, because the object you’re moving is in wireframe mode (it also could be reduced to a very unobtrusive outline)…
Could you illustrate what you mean?
I’m suggesting that it’s possible that your final point could be hidden by other faces. Your method don’t let you to choose that point but x-ray does.
Not always your objects in the model are so simple as the ones in your video.