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Messages - Medeek

#1381
Version 1.0.8 - 03.12.2019
- Enabled auto-dimensioning for wall panels (to be used in conjunction with the Scene Generator for creation of framing elevations).
- Added the Dimension Offset and Framing Dimensions parameters to the General tab of the global settings.
- Added Dimension Layer 4 specifically for auto-dimensions (Layer tab of the global settings).





There is probably quite a bit more to be done here with auto-dimensioning of framing elevations, but at least I've taken an initial crack at it.  We will see what the feedback is from my production builders and component manufacturers and then make any needed course corrections.

The model can get quite cluttered (and ugly to be honest) with all of these dimensions floating about.  If you have layers enabled (which I highly recommend) then you can turn off the dimension 4 layer in the SketchUp layers tray and only toggle them on in the scenes that need to show the framing dimensions.  This will remove the clutter from the scenes that you are primarily working in.

To further increase performance I would actually suggest not enabling the auto-dimensioning until you are at the tail end of your primary design phase then toggle it on in the global settings and regen your wall panels and they will then show all of the framing dimensions.  From there proceed to generate your scenes for the framing elevations.

Some designers prefer to apply their dimensions in Layout rather than bringing them in from SketchUp.  For that reason the Framing Dimension parameter exists and allows one to choose to enable or disable this feature.

I've been receiving a lot of questions on workflow lately and I am hoping to further flesh out the documents module to help automate more of that process.
#1382
Here is another screenshot showing the inclusion of header callouts (text).  I'm able to set the insertion point of the text and vertically I can adjust it perfectly however there does not seem to be a way to specify the justification of the text (left, right, center) so the user may have to make some minor adjustments as they bring the scenes into Layout:



Note that all of these dimensions and text callouts are being generated automatically by the plugin.  When a wall panel is regenerated or modified the dimensions are updated accordingly.  So any manual modifications will be blown away if you change the wall up.  This of course is good and bad to some extent.

Good because it is fully parametric, bad because manual mods to the auto dimensions will not be retained if the wall is regenerated/modified.

Hopefully this feature will be a time saver for those needing to generate framing plans.
#1383
Garage doors and top plate offsets:

#1384
First look at a framing elevation created with the Scene generator and framing dimensions turned on:



In wall columns and shearwalls will also be auto-dimensioned when the framing dimensions are enabled.

The API does not allow for the setting of fonts, text height and dimension size however one can easily setup their preferred dimension and unit options under the Model Info tab and then the dimensions created by the plugin automatically inherit these settings.

In this example I used the Flux Architect font with the dimension aligned to the dimension line and above it, font size 12 PT.

I will be setting up an additional layer just for framing dimensions so that they can be toggled on/off independent of other callouts and labels.

Also the offset or spacing between dimensions will be able to be set in the global settings.

I will probably need to add a few more dimensions that are not shown in this image (eg. header height, initial stud offset).
#1385
Version 1.0.7b - 03.10.2019
- Added the indexing parameter for walls and beams to the General tab of the global settings.



The indexing parameter is the auto-increment variable that determines the enumeration of the wall panels and beams (eg. Wall1, Wall2, Wall3 etc...)

Now you can set this value to any number you choose (must be an integer) or reset it at anytime.

Also note that any wall or beam label can be modified at anytime in the edit menus.

Exposing the indexing parameters to the user just makes it more convenient if for whatever reason you want to start your count over or set it to a specific value.
#1386
Version 0.9.6 - 03.09.2019
- Fixed bugs related to compatibility with SketchUp 2015.
#1387
Version 1.0.7 - 03.09.2019
- Added the ability to generate wall (framing) elevations with the Create Scenes tool of the Medeek Documents module.

You can select the wall panels you want scenes for or click the "Select All" button to automatically grab all of the Medeek wall panels in the model.

This tool is quite basic at the moment but I've set it up so a myriad of options can be added as needed per customer request. 

Note that when you create the scenes you first want to toggle the appropriate layers first in your model (or Scene 1) then create the scenes.  I haven't added any specific logic in for making specific layers visible or invisible yet, but I probably will once I receive a bit more feedback on this feature.

The elevations are obviously shown in parallel projection with the view or "eye" always looking at the exterior side of the wall, so that the start of the wall is always on the left side.

Items for future work include but are not limited to:  floor plans, floor framing plans, roof framing plans, foundation plans, electrical plans etc...

Along with the framing elevations I have requests by a number of users to add in some form of auto-dimensioning of the wall panels.  I will give this further consideration.
#1388
Just had a nice chat with my Australian point of contact and covered some new items as well as existing ones.  Below is a summary of items that need further attention:

1.)  Customize the naming of groups within a wall.  Currently the names assigned to each group within a wall panel is hard coded into the plugin.  Naming of groups can be toggled on or off currently but one cannot customize the naming scheme.

2.)  The estimating module is a good start but we need totals not just per wall quantities.

3.)  When upgrading the plugin the user needs to retain wall presets, custom header library, custom material library.  I will probably need to move these sub-folders outside of the plugin folder so the information is not blown away when a user upgrades the plugin.

4.)  In Australia the top plates are not typically lapped as they are in the United States and Canada.  I will need to make an option to toggle this behavior on an off.

5.)  Ability to reset or change the wall and beam count/enumeration.

6.)  Ability to toggle the wall labels from on top of the wall to in front of the wall as well as customize the size of the text.

7.)  Toggle the number of studs, blocks etc...  this is related to item #1 above.

8.)  Tee intersection blocking.  There are many permutations but maybe we just start with one method and see how it goes.

9.)  Need to have the gable/rake and shed wall.
#1389
Looks good, I'm not a big fan of advanced framing from a structural standpoint but I can see the reason for going this route.  At some point it might be useful to allow the user to automatically insert hangers for the headers.
#1390
Version 1.0.6b - 03.07.2019
- Parameter change highlighting enabled for wall draw menu.
- Parameter hightlight (input) color added to General tab of global settings.



To disable this feature just set the input color to #ffffff (white).  This update is per user request.

This feature is still quite new and once I am satisfied with it and receive enough feedback I will roll the same behavior out to the other HTML menus within the plugin.  This is relevant to all HTML edit, draw and global settings menus.

Personally I like the light blue color (pre-selected color within the HTML color picker) but allowing this to be customized is the right thing to do.
#1391
We probably need to do a Skype session so I can see better what your doing and understand fully the issues firsthand.  Also note that Version 1.0.6 has just been released which allows for eliminating the trimmers around window and door openings.
#1392
Version 1.0.6 - 03.06.2019
- Added the option for no trimmers for windows and doors (Advanced Framing).
- Fixed a bug with the HTML window edit menu.



You also have the option to turn on/off sill trimmers (shown as off in the image).  This should allow designers/framers more flexibility and better enable advanced framing or Value Engineering.
#1393
I'm also looking at providing the option for eliminating the trimmers around windows and doors.  It might be a simple modification or it might require quite a bit of jiggering to the logic I won't know until I really dig into the code and start testing it.
#1394
Where you have an inset wall (versus outset wall) the plugin should take into account the 5.5 inches and space the studs accordingly.  However in certain circumstances an offset could probably come in handy where you want to fine tune the stud spacing start point. 

The two wall below were created with a stud spacing of 24", a 16' wall adjoining a 12' wall.  Notice the stud spacing is exactly where it should be:

#1395
I've rolled out an update to the Electrical plugin (Version 0.9.5) with what I call parameter change highlighting.

If it is well received then I will make this same feature available with the draw menus of the wall plugin.