This is not a “bug report”, nor a “known issue”, seems it fits best here under “Technical problems”:
Most(?) of you know, when you made a geography a COMPONENT and later want to replace the entire geography (instead of changing parts of it), you simply right-click “Replace selected” when you hover over the to-be new component in the default tray component browser.
What do the gurus of you do however when:
you have designed say a complex/multi-tier WALL segment (has 8 different “material” tiers)
to replace the existing (quick draft) single-tier wall
notably the existing wall starts and ends in countless places around the house, at different lengths, different angles, possibly even some of them already having a “test” material applied
and say your new wall sample segment is 1000x500x181mm (LxWxThickness), as an example.
How would you go about replacing such (widely different) wall throughout the house with the new sample segment wall to end up all around the model?
lengths of wall segments auto-adjusted
angles/corner walls adjusted
all “simply” replaced with the geography from your new sample segment of a WALL
Dynamic components isn’t it, I see. But is it doable somehow? Is there any other “concept” I fail to see? Or is this some “you are out of your mind to expect Sketchup to be able to do that!” thing?
Maybe I don’t see the wood for the trees (often) ?
DCs can be made to swap with each other and retain size and custom attributes by using the current formula. This works well for individual objects like beams.
Ruby scripting is required for more complex objects, so check out extensions like “profile builder” ,. “Medeek wall”… “PlusSpec”
“Show some images of what your speaking of.” is tough, I can’t think of an image to “show it”. How about I attach a simple model here that exemplifies the point?
Because your tip “My first advice is if it’s become too complex, simplify things” is spot on: likely you would do this MUCH simpler, if you can please just give one keyword-style hint HOW?
No need for long explanation, the trees will become visible when my eyes are taken off the wood, so to speak…
Quick draft of part of a simple floorplan that prospects get, not customers, making clear what layout they might mean, bla bla.
To make the overall workflow for/with them more efficient though, I thought to pull more of what we do later (when customer) into what we do at the start: aka why not already have the walls like they actually will be later?
(they’ll first get 2D still, but my “sample wall segment” is already 3D, not important)
So basically: How to replace all “wall” with the imported correct wall?
(that outer and inner walls will be different, again is not relevant here)
It depends on the information you want and to calculate. For simple multi-layer walls, moldings, gutters or any profiles then “Profile Builder” is your best option. Basically you trace the path, then swap with any different profile. Plus you can use its companion “Quantifier” to estimate the job.
If you want greater detail then the other may fit your needs. If like myself, you want specific data to complete an estimate then DCs and your own ruby scripts would be the option, but you would need a clientele of 5 or more jobs a week to justify the expenditure where the workflow would be the same, like creating 3D framing plans and material lists from AutoCad 2D plans.
Wasn’t ignoring you, only just got back from project.
Thank you Dan. Well, it isn’t radically specific to a single job, then I wouldn’t bother, you know. It rather is sth (I think) MOST users would love to know and do in many models they create: replace all instances of a geometry with another. Sounds like standard to me.
" In the “In Model” Components collection (in the Components inspector panel,) right-click the “Wall” definition, and choose the “ Reload… ” menu item."
Yes This goes partly along with that: After posting here, I remember I discovered a video that seemed to solve this common desire with ease. Just quickly searched again for this precinct video title I remembered, and this it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RULlGTOt9lw
“Select and replace all your troubles away”
Now, I haven’t yet tried that on my models (only just got back, then dinner) BUT doesn’t that look like it does what it says on the tin? I think so. While watching it again I just quickly replaced the “bed” in the above posted sample model with the “sink” as a test:
If the origin of any component is where its axes meet (as seen in Model Info, Components, See Axes) - which I believe it does - then it looks like the SU functionality replaces exactly at the origin (hard to see in the image, but believe me), like it should. Excellent.
So, to my mind, this means: Anyone who needs to replace a geography in SU (call it “wall” here), just needs to consider that if the replacement is not the same dimensions (s)he will have to make adjustments thereafter: it’s a component. While adjacent geometry of course can add another challenge then, yes. I gonna try it all out after sleep.
Thank you.
Well that sounds like sth else to me. While I do have Profile builder it doesn’t seem to help with the above issue at hand (I think). Could be wrong though. I really need to have more time to try all functionality, I am not even through with all of SU and my 100 extensions…
Unfortunately I have to get back to this as well: Tonight I had the time to APPLY the above to my model, after re-watching the video to make sure I do it right.
And no, while the video is awesome and suggests it will always work, it does not:
I tried endlessly but many many times the critical options all stay GREY (gray?)
in the Tray - Components, you know there are three options when right-clicking:
** “reset insert point” (couldn’t figure out yet what it means/does, but not what I want/need, lol)
** “select instances” (is clear, but as I said, stays grey most times)
** and “replace selected” (the magical one, yes; stays grey too)
It’s such a shame. Would have been awesome if it actually was as easy as the video suggests it is. But in my model “replace selected” ONLY lighted up on geometry that I is meant to-be-replaced (the opposite).
Has anyone a clue why for the video-maker it works so well, but in reality many/most times all three just stay grey?
