Solar North - A simple explanation?

[desconsh]

This is really confusing.

I want to be able to work on my model lined up with my red and green axis top to bottom and right to left.

Now I import the location which obviously is inserted with north in the correct position.

Either the terrain get rotated which throws out the shadow calculation, or
I rotate the building which makes modelling awkward, or
there perhaps is a SIMPLE functional add-on that allows one to model in ortho (up/down - left/right) with the cadastral information electronically adjusted.

Perhaps someone can explain this in VERY simple terms.

Thanks

[eneroth3]

You can use the solar north plugin from SketchUp Extension | SketchUp Extension Warehouse.

Unlock the terrain component, rotate it however you want it, activate the tool in the middle of the Solar North toolbar, click on either of the two south side corners of the terrain and finally click on the corresponding north side corner of the terrain.

[endlessfix]

@desconsh

or I rotate the building which makes modelling awkward,

You can rotate your building to any angle that suits you, without the terrain. Then use the axis tool to reset your axis (red green blue) to match the rotated building. This will give you the familiar working relationship to the building while leaving the terrain and shadows in place.

[Geo]

@desconsh

Now I import the location which obviously is inserted with north in the correct position.

If you want to keep things simple, then, manually geo-locate the model.
Don’t clutter the model by using Add Location

In SketchUp Pro…
Window > Model Info > Geo-location > Advanced Settings > Set Manual Location

See these topics…

MAC: Best practice to geolocate models and keep everything square in layout-

What is best practice depends upon what you want to create. There are two ways to geo-locate the model: Add location and Set Manual Location You say you use Add Location to geo-locate the model, but you don’t say why you use that method. Is it necessary to have the GE terrain in the model? Either way you can have the building aligned with the global axes while maintaining the proper relationship of the terrain and true north. Explain a bit more about what you want to create and we’ll be ab…

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MAC: Best practice to geolocate models and keep everything square in layout-

SketchUp’s model space embodies a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. By default, everything you do in SU correlates with the inalterable x,y,z world axes. I.e. • Inference Engine • Inference Locking via Arrow Keys • View-based Tool Alignment • Camera > Standard Views • True North for the Shadow Engine Best practice is to keep it simple. Model on-axes along the default x,y,z world axes and leave it there. Use the intrinsic relationship of the tools to the world axes to your …