@CJT1963 You can make those line types with letters in them with Profile Builder.
Do tell how ?
Over & out,
CJT1963
Didnât find time today but I will.
Hi Doug
Can you check out the very simple 3d model I attached - would you order this model differently?
2019 Dashed Lines setout.skp (380.8 KB)
Using doors and windows is a simplistic example (not the best really) but my point is that we generally add new layers as a very last resort. But if we want to control dashed lines for building elements (eg voids, phases, regulatory items, wiring, etc) we have no choice but to add layers (or model a series of small lines - which I think may actually be easier)
Because dashes donât respond to scene changes (I think they should) we end up with duplication.
Letâs say I have something (like a column) that appears on Ground_Floor_Plan as a solid edge. On the First_Floor_Plan I want it to be visible as dashed edges (because it is hidden).
This should be done through scenes. Right now it seems I would have to duplicate geometry and add a new layer to the model. Not ideal.
It also can be confusing that layers are needed to apply a dashed line style, but a colored line style is applied using a material.
I should say these are all preliminary thoughts as I am adapting a 2019 workflow for our team. Itâs good to have edge styles as an option, but i just wonder how to make it intuitive.
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Hi AK_SAM,
Nice example model, Iâve taken a look at it, and adjusted it in a way that might work for some of your needs. Although close in structure, iâve changed a couple of the ways the groups are structured to allow them to be put on the various layers that could control their visibility.
To take you through the logic here, It mainly relates to how we can use groups & layers to achieve the ability to turn off the elements we are wanting to in 1 click.
Looking at the outliner you can see that
- All the top level joinery components are on the Joinery Layer, So turning off Joinery will turn off all of the doors and windows including the 2D parts
- Within the Joinery components, You can flexibly set up 2-3 sub groups containing the following.
- 3D geometry (Layer 0 if you never intend to turn it off separately from 2D geometry)
- 2D plan geometry (Layer 2D Plan)
- 2D elevation geometry (Layer 2D Elevation)
- This will mean that when you turn off 2D plan, all of your 2D plan details across all components will be hidden. Itâs a nice way to use groups to make controlling drawing views easy, because even if you had 2D plan details in the landscaping components like Trees, youâd be able to hide them when navigating the 3D view
- The dash patterns are recommended to relate to the âpurposeâ so something like a demolition wall would make sense to have a dash. If grouped close to how you already did, 2D drawing details could all share the same layer definition, as their visibility is controlled in entirety by a the 2D plan layer.
2019 Dashed Lines setout - Example.skp (378.0 KB)
Let me know if you have any additional questions. or if anything is not clear based on the model. Iâm also curious how this type of workflow âfeelsâ to you in case you have opinions about what would be ideal for you.
BTW, only the first scene was really looked at, so it seems / looks like the other scenes are a little whacky after making the changes.
Cheers,
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Is it normal that i canât resize the âdashesâ column? Itâs twice as wide as the word âdashesâ and i canât adjust itâŚ
Yep. Thatâs been critiqued before.
Hi Doug
They key to my model example was the scenes (because these relate to documentation outputs required for LayOut/export).
Iâve reviewed your model & understand what youâve done.
I did have an extra unnecessary layer in my example (Plan View door and window symbols can be on the same layer as its unnecessary to have them separated) so that can be deleted, bringing the âDashesâ layers to 2.
Removing one of those Dashed Line layers is possible using your technique, but it still requires the same overall number of layers (because we still need that level of control over visibility of objects). You workaround adds an âempty groupâ (no geometry other than a single group within it) used to control visibility - interesting, if not slightly confusing, but it does achieve the goal of reducing Dashed Line Layers to a minimum.
Iâm about to document a project of 37 three-storey terraced houses, so Iâll see which works best
Thanks for your time.
Adding a bunch of layers just for linetypes simply doesnât fit our workflow. We already have layers being used for other things.
We solved this problem in-house with a brute-force approach - we just traced over our âworkingâ lines with dash patterns for presentation. The working lines are on âworkâ layers, and the dashed lines - safely encapsulated in groups - are placed on âoutputâ layers. When we edit the working lines, we just erase the dashed groups and make them again - takes less than a second.
This approach also allows us to put symbols on the line, such as âPLâ for a property line, or little shields for a highway.
I hope that one day Trimble will make dashes a property of the edges themselves (like material), so we donât need to add layers. I also hope they will add the capability of using symbols, which we also need.
Then we can start wishing for control over line thickness and end/join stylesâŚ
I am thankful someone worked to add this feature that so many people wanted. I donât have a use for it myself. I would like to be able turn off the line type column (and eliminate the active layer column) in the Layers window. I know this approach goes with the AutoCAD line methodology, but it wouldnât be my choice.
OT: In adding features to Layers, I wish the whole SU âlayersâ concept had been re-worked for the better- a lost chance
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When I heard the announcement, I was really happy! I have tried to integrate dashed lines into my workflow - but I couldnât figure it out.
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Applying line styles to layers is not fitting at all. I must create many new layers and place geometry on it.
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No control about the line style (space, rhythm and so onâŚ)
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They donât work with section cuts. In my opinion, with this layer concept they should work with section cuts. Every face, group or component on a dashed layer should also have dashed lines in section cuts.
Finally (I think nobody mentioned this before)
- In Layout they work only in Raster Mode. This means: No clean vector lines in pdfâs and cumbersome measuring
My conclusion: Right now, the dashed lines feature is somewhere between a bug or unfinished feature.
My last point: I donât see a strategy behind this implementation. If Trimble introduces line weights the same way, it will square the layers?!?
I still hope, that one day we get a clean cut between creating geometry (in Sketchup) and styling our drawings (in Layout). Like HTML (content) and CSS (style) in Web design. If we can draw measurements in Layout, which stay connected to the model (and if the reconnecting would work flawlessâŚ), then we should also be able to attach/overlay line styles, hatches and so on to the model. Geometry, which is adapting to changes in the model. I WOULD LOVE THIS!
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Withdrawn
Generally true, in my workflow unfortunately not
Oh, I will try this again in Layout 
@dpc Iâd love to see an example of an image where youâve needed to trace over linework, if youâre willing to message on to me.
@cy.di you mention they only work in raster mode in LayOut. They should be working in vector and hybrid mode as well, so Iâm curious about that. Is it still not working for you there?
You have it backwards, Doug!
Because we are tracing, every dashed line we make starts with a âscratchâ line. Once weâve made the dashed line group, we erase or turn off the layer that contains the original scratch line.
For an example of this workflow, check out our DPLineStyler plugin on the Extension Warehouse.
Cheers,
Dave
See my post just now regarding dashed lines on a new topic I just started. Had I known there already was one I would have added here. SU and Acad do communicate dashed lines when you assign them to LAYERS. Thatâs how Iâve done it in Acad since way, way back when.
It works pretty darn well.
I started out kind of knocking this feature and how it was implemented. I have to admit I now love it. Iâm able to coordinate my line work right in the Sketchup model. I have only had to add one layer for each different linetype because all my entities reside in groups and visibility is controlled by the group not the linetype layer.
So my new rule is everything inside a group or component is on layer 0 unless itâs on a linetype layer.
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So you actually use it as a âmaterialâ?
@SketchupDoug might be interested in how you organize your model.
I have to say I think this feature is a mistake. The layer window gets crowded enough as it is in my workflow. I wont be using this feature when it ads to the visual chaos in layers window.
Hope this gets trashed in future release.
That said implementing dashed lines into sketchup as part of styles or materials as others have mentioned is a great idea of itself and I support it fully.
Cheers
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