I am wondering what has happened to Live Components. They were introduced to great fanfare in 2020 but it looks as if there has only been a single post about them this year.
Are they being taken up in a big way or have they gone the way Dynamic Components appeared to by not really evolving? It would be a shame if so as they seemed to have great potential.
I think creating an LC is a terribly complicated process. For quite a few people (like me) it is probably not worth the effort to study. At that time, I tried to understand how to do it, but the “tutorial” completely took away my desire to continue learning.
In addition, if I occasionally get the idea to deal with it, this is all that appears:
Oh dear!
One of the reasons I posted is that some of the extensions that allow you to create things like doors and windows no longer seem to work in SU24.
I actually thought that Dynamic Components had a lot going for them. The main problem for me was that the interface was too clunky. But I haven’t seen any attempt to improve them since they were introduced all those years ago, which is a shame.
There must be a lot of building designers using SU who just need a simple means of making 3D doors, windows, and staircases. Even if an extension just did that, it would be incredibly useful.
I think like @dezmo .
Using something that depends on the internet is awfull and not very useful
You should take a look at FlexTools
I have that. Doesn’t seem to be working in SU24. Is it for you?
Part of the problem is that they send you a code that never arrives.
I still hope that the SketchUp folks would find the time to give some love to the Dynamic Components. Clean the bugs. Streamline the interface. Move it into native code.
IMHO, DC is much more stable and maintainable than LC, even though it has been carrying bugs for “twenty” years. 
I use it every day.
I ping @Yoni . He i able to help you for sure
Hi Simon,
FlexTools should work in SU24!
Make sure to download and install the latest version from Downloads - FlexTools (look for FlexPack Pro).
If your license email has not arrived, contact us via the website chat, or send a message at Contact - FlexTools and we’ll do our best to help asap. If there are still issues getting it to work in SU24 send screenshots and any errors you encounter too.
Hey team,
Things have been slow for a while but I promise you they are picking up pace again… Trimble is a big organization, and the technology/direction for Live Components was directed towards other Trimble developments.
There is a drive to bring the focus back to Live Components within SketchUp, especially how they are used/configured. You’ll see a steady (but initially modest) increase in Live Component functionality and usability over the next couple of releases.
In the meantime, I think you should absolutely take Yoni’s offer and check out FlexTools, it is a great extension developed by an excellent crew.
Concordo. Live components non sono utili per la progettazione. Meglio i DC.
Tuttavia SU è un ottimo software x la progettazione e la creazione di modelli.
Purtroppo ancora poco avanzato per il BIM.
You guys are too slow. Live Component used to be the feature I was most looking forward to. I thought it could completely replace Dynamic Component, but it didn’t. How disappointing.
Why not put a fraction of that time in to completing Dynamic Components, that is hard code rather than a ruby extension, then there would not have its dissociated redraw problems, the instance name and other attributes ( six in entity info tray) need to be accessible.
Sure have LC as well for the Inernet and the likely future, that requires development. But for the professionals and the present, fix what we have, Now!
More than 10 years, a life time in software, even a life time for business.
Does not need to be, put to your leaders, managers … please
I second PCMOOR’s proposal.
Much vested in Dynamic Compos. Heck of a viable alternative within SKP.
Nino
Yes, that would be much better. And integrated directly into Sketchup. Something like Dynamic Blocks in AutoCAD with easy and direct graphical input would be nice, but with the parametric capabilities of Revit families.
But I think their main goal is to have it online, no matter how inconvenient the whole construction is.
Maybe one of the genius plugin developers can develop something like Dynamic Blocks for Sketchup instead… 
I believe that’s okay and they can continue with the development rate of LCs, then in 10 years time, when everyone has G7 capabilities on their glasses, then one can pull objects from the air and wave or finger point them into position, LCs will be the go !
The DC interface is okay, but adding an interactive text attribute would help, so when required, on a scene, info can be presented, then on activation (on click method, the finger) the text can be changed, a dropdown of size, material, or other attribute and the DC updates.
This requires hard coding, otherwise more problems with updates and redraws…
currently one divides the object into parts, “group’ being the best rather than components (OCL does not “see” groups” or invisible parts") , I use ruby to make such whole, based on union, then parts have to be solid with hidden lines, surfaces at joins (standard DC practice for corners) . A simple instruction in the DC that the Ruby code can react to.
If a DC was made of individual line “groups” after the scale they could be made, via ruby to explode, create surfaces,…so a component with a compound miter face be created.
Now the great and existing method is that any component, can be swapped with its own definition, so if simplified so it no longer “works”, it can be reinstated with its current values.
So if these techniques (being possible using ruby) were hard wired, then parametric DCs , given the correct code algorithm are possible even with a DC .
If the DC ruby code was open source ?
But despite this and with any other ruby extension, there will require updates, redraws, waiting for, accounting for, excessing code, attributes, it is a major issue
Such development should be in native code
It just does not make sense to have such a feature as an addon, I think everyone likes to see their door swing open, the drawer, the working crane, the updating of connecting walls, the bouncing ball, the effects of gravity…
@keith_thurlow
I believe the LCs are the future, but they need an incredible amount of time and effort to achieve their goal, millions?
@simoncbevans
I too was excited and expected quick results, I even gave up on DCs development using ruby interaction, but as the years went by and still mainly using AutoCAD for my business, occasionally Sketchup for 3D…
I realize I was a fool.
So back to Ruby to fill in the gaps
I feel your pain and hope you do not mind my highjack of using your post for mine own tears
hello
frankly, I posted a lot about the group at the beginning and as there is very little feedback, it’s not very motivating to post in the void
so I’m happy to stay on this subject in my French forum with my friend Simjoubert
For my part, I create a lot of live components for my use and this allows my collaborators to have the beginnings of a configurator in sketchup. but it’s a shame that this parameterization part of sketchup is not developed as it should be, it’s the same for the dynamic components, there is no evolution, fortunately my friend Simjoubert is developing new functions for the DC which still bring a plus
Live Components have had some success. There are already 98 on the 3d warehouse in two years. ( -edit- sorry four years )
.
Already 98! That is a lot better than the handful that were there on release, true. But how good a measure of success is 98 for something that probably took a shedload of money and developer’s time to set up? Less than one LC created per week on average.
I don’t want us to lose sight of the fact that both DCs and LCs were great in conception. It is the lack of development that causes concern. It is good that this thread has attracted comment from a number of “old hands” and even a response from a SU Team Member. So maybe momentum will now gather pace?