FWIW there has never been any development with DCs since it was released, but they have always been supported. LCs do not have, and will not have any time soon the ability to report attributes, which makes them basically useless IMO. DCs are not going anywhere, I would hope that devs like yourself keep up the good work on extensions like this one so we can all leverage DCs better.
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It is not clear if the web app can export back to SKP format. (I see from the video that you are using some proprietary JSON format?)
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So does that mean they won’t be extensible in any way. I.e all that you’ve done creating LCs in Sketchup can only be used there, and not used in any other program? (Well if you can’t report attributes of LCs we wouldn’t be able to develop my software to support them, so I guess I’ve answered my question)
And do you have a particular use case for getting your hands on these attributes ?
Right okay well if there’s enough of you who need it . There’s been a fare bit of interest. I’ve been considering making it open source.
Thanks for your interest and apologies for the late reply
Ps
LCs do not have, and will not have any time soon the ability to report attributes, which makes them basically useless IMO
I super interested why that makes LCs useless. In your words
Thanks in advance
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Yes that’s right we are using json. The attributes of he dynamic component are exported as a json file. These are like the “instructions” for making the 3D model dynamic/parametric
Currently it only exports the geometry back as an obj file. We did not have a huge demand for taking the configured model back to sketchup, but not saying that’s not useful
I need to pull information like quantity, colour choice, size, etc.. into a spread sheet from the components for material takeoffs. All of this info is generated dynamically by my DCs. This functionality is the core of how I manage to run my business all by myself. One detailed model that comes together quickly thanks to the DCs being able to adapt gets me my client presentation, quantities for estimate and serves as my plan set on the job site.
So maybe saying LCs are basically useless is the wrong wording. Allow me to rephrase: When compared to what Dynamic Components can already do for me, and the reporting functionality they have that LCs do not, I currently see no reason to adopt them.
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Ok so people like architects, kitchen designers etc would benefit from LCs. They can configure them more easily with the more visual based interface and then publish client-ready drawings using layout. That’s one use case
But people like yourself who generate specs, bills of materials etc need to keep using DCs
Your another use case. You need to take your DCs further than just providing drawings. You need their properties/attributes for costing and building on site
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I would think that the reporting ability would benefit cabinet makers as well, there are a number of cabinet extensions already that use DCs. Same for Architects and designers, everything they do in the design process benefits from the ability to report information from the model. There is more to the design package provided to clients than just the Layout drawings. For Architects how much concrete, tile or framing lumber. For designers how many desks, desk chairs and tables. And for cabinet makers it can output number of pieces with dimensions for cut list applications. I don’t see any design application that does not benefit from the ability to calculate and report model information, I think most would suffer from its absence.
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