Wall Plugin for SketchUp

Started by Medeek, March 05, 2017, 12:03:48 AM

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Medeek

This completes all of the upgrades necessary to enable the 2nd sheathing layer for all wall types. A tedious but necessary process, over 30 files where updated in the code but only four actual parameters added to the wall types.

Some minor cosmetic updates to the draw and edit menus of all the wall types. Hopefully the advanced options section is a bit easier on the eyes now and a bit more organized. All of these parameters can get a bit overwhelming at times even for myself, however each one is necessary so we can't just wash our hands of them.

I may take a bit of a break today from the code but at the same time I'm chomping at the bit to at least get some sort of "Wall Dropper" tool up and running since I don't think it would be that hard to implement and I do think it would be very useful.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.3 - 01.31.2021
- Added pocket doors to the door module.





The pocket door algorithm is based on the 1500 series Johnson Hardware Pocket Door Frames:

https://johnsonhardware.com/pocket-door-hardware

I am not modeling all of the details of the door assembly such as the steel studs or the track and jamb brackets, however I am modeling the prefabricated (wood) frame header assembly.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/52164162-2e89-42ba-a47d-9c53608d5bf0/Pocket-Door-1
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

First look at a 4 Panel Bifold (closet) Door:



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/d9a30380-0ebb-4024-803c-ac4ede7ebd5d/Bifold-Closet-Doors

I still need to come up with the 2D symbol at the base of the door and even a more interesting problem is the opening algorithm for this door type.

The two outer panels are simple, they are merely a rotation just like a standard swing door.  The inner panels on the other hand not only rotate but they also translate in relation to the outer panels since a hinge constrains them at that point.  I like these kinds of "hard" problems.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

First look at a 4 panel bifold door being opened and closed:

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.4 - 02.02.2021
- Added bifold (4 panel - solid) doors to the door module.



You can also add a threshold if used as an exterior door however I don't have a lot of options yet for exterior applications (ie. full glass).  For now these are primarily for closet doors.

You can also switch which side the doors face by choosing LH INT or LH EXT.  For the four panel bifold it doesn't matter whether you choose LH or RH, it essentially ignores the handedness of the parameter.

I still need to add in the 2 panel variant and then I think we will have most of the basics covered as far as doors are concerned, at least for now.  Really exotic stuff will be up to the user to add into a framed opening (which I can provide).

The door opening algorithm was a bit more challenging than everything encountered thus far but after a couple of hours tinkering it finally came together.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Version 1.8.4b - 02.03.2021
- Added bifold (2 panel - solid) doors to the door module.



There are four possibilities for a 2 panel bifold door:

LH OUT, LH IN, RH OUT, RH IN

Whereas there is only two possibilities for a 4 panel bifold door:  OUT or IN
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

I think I'm going to the call the "eyedropper" tool the "Copy Wall" tool.  One additional icon will be added to the "Medeek Wall Tools" toolbar:



I know, I will hear it from everyone about the proliferation of more icons.  However, there is an extension out there that allows you to customize the actual toolbars if you feel the need to:

https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/e413511f-0517-4115-8d81-90039a20a72c/toolbar-editor
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.5 - 02.07.2021
- Enabled the "Wall Copy" tool within the Medeek Wall Tools toolbar.



Note I've only enabled this tool for rectangular walls.  After I am fully confident that it is working well and I've addressed any bugs or issues I will set it up for all the other (gable,shed and hip) wall types.

Please try out this new tool and provide any feedback or comments directly to nathan@medeek.com
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.5b - 02.08.2021
- Fixed a bug with the top plate cut out algorithm when walls meet in a "cross" configuration.



Each wall teeing into the primary wall has had its corner offset set to 1/2 the thickness of the primary wall.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Version 1.8.6 - 02.11.2021
- Added the following Simpson Strong-Tie hangers to the beam hanger library: LUS26-2Z, LUS28-2Z, LUS210-2Z.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

I've had a number of people recently ask me for the ability to apply a wood grain texture to the lumber (ie. studs, plates, blocking, etc...)  This really isn't a big ask, so I am going to enable another couple parameters in the global settings (Material Tab) so that the user can apply a texture to lumber and pressure treated lumber.  Here is a first look at what that will look like (compare the wood grain wall to the solid colored wall):



I've tried to be very subtle with the wood grain texture so that it approximates my default lumber color but as you can see it is a slightly darker shade.  I'm not sure I am entirely happy with it yet but it is a start.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Comparison between the solid coloring and with the textures enabled (Lumber and PT Lumber):



I am quite happy with the way the pressure treated texture came out.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.8 - 02.17.2021
- Enabled options for wood grain texture for lumber and pressure treated lumber in the global settings.



Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.8.9 - 02.22.2021
- Added a "Cedar Siding" built-in material (vertical) into the material library.



Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


ChugiakTinkerer

Medeek,

I'm leaning heavily on your wall plugin for designing some outbuildings for our Alaska cabin.  I noticed something that is probably a Sketchup feature, but I want to call it to your attention on the off chance that you're not aware of it.

Whenever a wall is updated using the Edit Wall tool, the wall remains in its assigned layer but components within it are moved to the active layer.  A workaround is to be sure to select the walls layer before making any changes to a wall, but it would sure be great if the components were to stay in the same layer as the wall itself.

Thanks,
CT
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Medeek

Version 1.9.0 - 02.24.2021
- Fixed a bug with the end stud height for Shed Walls with an "Inset Outside Corner".
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Quote from: ChugiakTinkerer on February 24, 2021, 05:07:49 PM
Medeek,

I'm leaning heavily on your wall plugin for designing some outbuildings for our Alaska cabin.  I noticed something that is probably a Sketchup feature, but I want to call it to your attention on the off chance that you're not aware of it.

Whenever a wall is updated using the Edit Wall tool, the wall remains in its assigned layer but components within it are moved to the active layer.  A workaround is to be sure to select the walls layer before making any changes to a wall, but it would sure be great if the components were to stay in the same layer as the wall itself.

Thanks,
CT

I wasn't aware of this behavior, I normally stay on Layer 0 when I am modeling in SketchUp so that is probably why I have never noticed this before.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

mdkBIM Introduction (Japanese - 日本語)

A brief introduction of the mdkBIM bundle in Japanese.
mdkBIMバンドルの日本語での簡単な紹介です。

https://youtu.be/i0K08RzmmMM
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.1 - 02.27.2021
- Added one additional parameter to the "User Interface" section of the General tab of the global settings. This allows the customization (color) of the text of the HTML buttons.



This should also resolve the issue with the "white" text of the HTML buttons for MacOS.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

First look at the new Custom Beam Library.  This will allow the user to create custom sized lumber, SCL or Timber beams:

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Version 1.9.2 - 03.01.2021
- Added a Custom Beam Library/Manager in the Beams tab of the Global Settings.
- Enabled custom sizes for Sawn Lumber, Timber and SCL(PSL,LSL,LVL) beams.

This may seem like a rather minor update but there actually is quite a bit of code behind any of these custom libraries (within the global settings) and their menu systems, hence the three days of programming that was required.

Since glulam beams use a different sizing system I did not enable custom sizes for that beam type.  Additionally, all of the steel profiles are also quite a bit more complicated than a simple width x depth profile (rectangle) so they were also not included in this update.  If there are specific wide flange steel beam sizes etc... that you would like to see me add, please feel free to contact me.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.2b - 03.02.2021
- Fixed the framing bug with the top plates of rectangular walls so that they are not cut out when a tee intersection is created with non-rectangular walls.

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.2c - 03.02.2021
- Fixed a bug with tee intersection blocking for gable, shed and hip walls.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.3 - 03.03.2021
- Added the ability to set the lower and upper wall heights of a shed wall within the edit menu.



Note that the relation between the upper and lower wall heights is a function of the wall length.  Therefore if you adjust the wall length the menu will adjust the upper wall height while maintaining the lower wall height.

Adjusting the lower wall height will cause the upper wall height to be calculated, based on the current length.
Adjusting the upper wall height will cause the lower wall height to be calculated, based on the current length.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 1.9.4 - 03.05.2021
- Minor adjustment to the tee intersection algorithm (tee blocking and top plate cut outs) for all wall types.

This update addresses some issues with tee intersections and walls of differing heights.  I think this latest update in an improvement over the previous algorithm however I am still open to further tuning and refinement if there is further call for it. 

As always I appreciate the constant feedback and testing being performed by the passionate and invested user base, without this valuable feedback the plugin(s) would certainly not have advanced as far as they have.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer