Problems with Sketchup 3D models

[Judy Heindl]

Hi, Everyone!  Was hoping I wouldn't have to pay a visit for a longer time, but another problem has arose in my Turbo FloorPlan world.  Lately, a lot--and I do mean a lot--of 3D models I've downloaded from Google Warehouse have been freezing my TFP.  I still have TFP Pro 15, on a Windows 7 Ultimate OS.  I haven't done anything to my lappy lately except updating my Nvidia.  What's happening is:  I would download a model with no problem.  Then when I'd go to add it to the catalog and my project, the model would either have measurements humteen digits long and can't be displayed or edited.....or the model would freeze my TFP and I'd have to close it down with the Task Manager.  This happens with almost every new model I try to use, and it's frustrating me to no end because there's some perfect models I'd love to use for my projects!  I also have Google Sketchup--not sure off the bat if it's 7 or 8.  Is there a way I can reduce the size of these problem models in Sketchup?  What else can I do to solve this problem?  I've ran my anti-virus and other things on the entire TFP program and there's no viruses, etc.  This started about a week ago. 

I can give more info if y'all need it.

Thanks!
Judy

[garystan]

Hi, Everyone!  Was hoping I wouldn't have to pay a visit for a longer time, but another problem has arose in my Turbo FloorPlan world.  Lately, a lot--and I do mean a lot--of 3D models I've downloaded from Google Warehouse have been freezing my TFP.  I still have TFP Pro 15, on a Windows 7 Ultimate OS.  I haven't done anything to my lappy lately except updating my Nvidia.  What's happening is:  I would download a model with no problem.  Then when I'd go to add it to the catalog and my project, the model would either have measurements humteen digits long and can't be displayed or edited.....or the model would freeze my TFP and I'd have to close it down with the Task Manager.  This happens with almost every new model I try to use, and it's frustrating me to no end because there's some perfect models I'd love to use for my projects!  I also have Google Sketchup--not sure off the bat if it's 7 or 8.  Is there a way I can reduce the size of these problem models in Sketchup?  What else can I do to solve this problem?  I've ran my anti-virus and other things on the entire TFP program and there's no viruses, etc.  This started about a week ago. 

I can give more info if y'all need it.

Thanks!
Judy

   laffingchipmunk :

                            Sorry to hear you having such a serious problem
                            I use version 7 of Sketchup.
                            Maybe try downloading it a "new"  project.     By new, I mean closing one you're working on and clicking on NEW.
                            Then download from the warehouse.     Then try using the  SCALE tool.   After that,  if all goes well,  save it to one of your folders in your System.     I usually save mine  (for temporary) to the Pictures Folder.  I'm not an expert,  but hopefully this will help.
                            In many of my   TFP projects,  I import Sketchup objects into Turbo Floor Plan.

                                                                                                                                                         garystan         
                 

[Draft Patrick]

Hi there,

Sketchup V8 was released on Sept / 2010. I bought TFP V15 on May / 2010 therefore, TFP V15 doesn't import SU V8

TFP V16 supports SU V8
http://imsidesign.com/Products/TurboFLOORPLAN/TurboFloorPlan3DProv16/NewFeatures/tabid/1652/Default.aspx

However, if you have SU8, you can Save As --> save your object as SUV7 and then import it to TFP V15

Pat

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Judy,

Nice to have you back again! 

Then when I'd go to add it to the catalog and my project, the model would either have measurements humteen digits long and can't be displayed or edited.....or the model would freeze my TFP and I'd have to close it down with the Task Manager. 
....
Is there a way I can reduce the size of these problem models in Sketchup?  What else can I do to solve this problem?

If the model is too large ("unpteen digits long") you can change the scale during import, using Custom is necesary, so that the 'resultant size' is about what the object should be.

After import you can also use the 'Reduce Polygon Count' option in Properties.  Depending what it deletes this can have a negative effect on the object, but you don't know until you test it out. If it doesn't affect it visibly then this will reduce the memory requirements of the object.  Bear in mind too that in the past, imported objects have caused corruptions in the project, so care is warrented and imports only used if TFP's own objects cannot be customised enough to get what you want.

However it sounds as though, as Pat indicated, you may be import later versions of Sketchup than your version ot TFP can handle  OR you are importing very complext objects.  While you can have very complex objects in TFP that it has created itself, ones imported from SKP or 3DS take up a lot more memory and 'bog down' your PC, so it becomes very slow or freezes altogether.  The problem is exasserbated if you import the objects into the catalogue rather than just into the model.  If you import lots of extra objects into the catalogue, (for the obvious reason that you can use them in other projects), then it blows out the catalogue size too and this can affect ALL projects, even if an imported object is not actually used.  If you want to put store these objects because you are going to use them a lot, then consider putting them into a catalogue of their own and just open that when you need to. This protects the basic TFP catalogue.

Allan

[Judy Heindl]

Hey Guys, thanks for your advice!  I'll be trying your suggestions later today.....  I'll let you know how it goes.  :-)

[Judy Heindl]

Well now I'm even more frustrated!  I thought of making a new catalog, with my imported models from Sketchup Warehouse so that the main TFP doesn't get bogged down with all my "junk" I'm adding to it.  I followed the directions exactly on how to do this...... well, it either doesn't work or I'm doing something wrong.  So.... then I decided ok, I'll just create new, custom folders in several catagories in the catalogs and put my models there, they would be easier to find than having to look all around the catagories for a certain model I had imported.  Well, I managed to get two elements into a new custom catagory, then the catalog restored itself--now the two elements are gone! 

Ok, what am I doing wrong??  I'm doing exactly what the instructions in the help manual say!  Questions:  1. How can I make a new catalog with the models I've imported from Sketchup Warehouse?  Can I transfer certain default elements from the main catalog to my new one, too?  Here's where I put my models after downloading them from the Warehouse: C:/Jude/Downloads/models for TFP 15.  Then I have separate subfolders for things like Appliances, Electronics,  Decor and Accessories, Food and Drink, People and Animals, Vehicles....and so on.  Question 2: If I can't make a new catalog, how can I keep my imported models/elements in the custom groups I create in the catagories?   Once my imports are in the main catalog, they are under the appropriate catagory, but I still have to look all over the catagory for a model.   I just wish I could have all my imports in a separate place, all neatly organized and right there when I need them.  I'd like to have my imported textures organized like this, too. I use the stuff I download/import a heck of a lot more than the default elements that came with my TFP! 

I've had my TFP for how long now.....and I can never seem to figure it out right! 
Sorry to bog y'all down with my woes.... I hate not knowing how to work or figure out things. :-( 
Ok, now I need to take care of my previous problem.... lol!


-Judy

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Judy,

The simplest way to create a new catalogue (especially if you want to keep some of the existing objects) is to simply go to the Catalogues folder on your PC, copy and paste your current catalogue and rename it.  You now have a new Catalogue and can just delete what you don't want and add what you do.

In TFP go to File / Catalogues / Elements Manager. All the groups in the Catalogue are listed.
Expand a group by clicking the + sign and delete all the elements you don't want.  You cannot select a more than one at a time but you can just select the first and keep pressing the Delete key on your computer to delete them all. There is no warning so it is very quick to delete them but make sure there are none you want to keep first. Once you have deleted all the ones in a Group then you can delete the Group itself or simply Rename it and use if for something of your own.

You cannot rename the main folders (Appliances, Interior Accessories etc) but you can add or rename groups within the folders. For example you could go to Interior Accessories, go down  to Decorative, rename it to Household Items or keep that name and add a new Group (right click) called Food and Drink and Add (right click) all your food and drink objects in that group.  You can also just drag objects into different groups, within the same folder, if you want to reorganise them.

You can do tha same thing with textures.  Go to Catalogues / Catalogue Manager - you can now add,  rename or delete textures or Groups and move them around if you want.

Hopefully that all makes a bit more sense now.

While this will protect your main TFP catalogue, don't forget that imported objects can use a lot of memory (see this post if you haven't already seen it: http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,2311.0.html ) and things can literally grind to a halt, corrupt the whole model or make rendering almost impossible. Make sure you save frequently and keep backups of your model and catalogue just in case.

Allan

[Doug.S]

When working with SU .skp files, suggest you:

- check the .skp file size downloaded to make sure it seems to be a reasonable size compared to the complexity. files under 200K should be fine, files like 10MB may be a problem

- if any issues in TFP, try opening the .skp in SU to verify it looks like you expect...and as noted above; if needed you can save to an earlier SU version that is suitable for your TFP version....there was a discussion thread a few months back; try a search if you are unsure of which SU version works in which version of TFP.

[Judy Heindl]

Hi, Guys!

Ok, I took your advices and things are going a little better.  Yeah, I tend to want some pretty complex models in my main house, especially, since some of the rooms are themed.  I'll need to upgrade to TFP Pro 16 in order to have certain models I really want for my Goth bedroom.  They didn't show up at all then when I redownloaded them to Sketchup 7 from the little drop-down thing  (nothing less than 7 was offered), some of the components were missing, so I'll just upgrade my TFP soon as I'm able. 

Allan, thanks for the lesson on how to make a new catalog and yes, how you explained it does make sense!  I'm probably one of the very few people on the forum that doesn't use TFP for work/job purposes, but I do appreciate the professionals and more knowledgeable people here, it makes my hobby easier and more fun for me!   

Doug, thanks for your input too, I'll make a note to try to stick to those files under 200K.  I'm starting to save files in earlier SU versions now and it's working a little better for me. :-) 

My thanks to garystan and Draftcad for your advice, too! 

--Judy

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Judy,

I'm probably one of the very few people on the forum that doesn't use TFP for work/job purposes, but I do appreciate the professionals and more knowledgeable people here, it makes my hobby easier and more fun for me!   

I think you might be surprised how many are like you in using TFP just for fun.  Basically I am one of those too. I do use it to model some church design and decor ideas but that is only voluntary work.  Most of what I do is just because I enjoy it or to test things out to give answers on the forum. Quite a few I think are basically designing their own house as they have a few questions for a short while and just about one project but some others obviously use it professionally.'

Certainly is a fascinating program isn't it?

Allan

[garystan]

           Allan :

                        Thumbs up...............................

                                                                           garystan