Version 1.1.6c - 12.11.2019
- Updated the garage door edit menu and the door edit menu.
- Added standard sizes of LVL headers (1-3/4") to the built-in header library: 7-1/4, 9-1/4, 11-1/4, 11-7/8, 14, 16.

Within the global settings under the custom header settings the user can easily setup additional LVL headers.  I setup these standard sizes for convenience, however any size (width and depth) may be defined.

I've been thinking about this plugin some more as I've been occupied with upgrading the javascript/ruby interactions within the wall plugin.

Some floor framing plans are very simple, while others are considerably more complex. 

I need to make the plugin as flexible as possible so it can accommodate the more complex floor variants.

One issue I'm trying to address is how to best handle floor plans that have floor joists running in different directions within a single floor plan/assembly.

My proposed solution is to limit the direction of the floor joists in any given assembly to one direction.  Then to allow for a complex floor assemblies I will need a tool to suppress the rimboard along any given edge of the floor assembly.  This will then allow for the butting up of floor assemblies next to each other to get the desired floor framing layout.

This particular edge tool will have three options for any given edge of the floor assembly:  rimboard, no rimboard, or ledger.

I'm not sure if this information is out there or widely known so I am posting this notice just in case.

If you are a teacher, professor, academic instructor or a student (high school or university), you are entitled to a free license for each of the Medeek extensions (full versions) at no charge.

In order to take advantage of this offer all you need to do is create an account (client profile) on the Medeek website (design.medeek.com) and then notify me via email that you would like a student/instructor license.

I typically will request some form of student/instructor verification and then I will issue the serial number for each plugin (Wall, Truss, Floor, Electrical).

The academic licenses are no different in functionality or features than the full licenses of the plugins. When I issue a license to an instructor, the license can be used on up to 50 machines/workstations. The student serial can be used on up to 3 machines, the same as the regular license.

In an effort to make my extensions more accessible to the student I have also maintained compatibility with SketchUp Make 2017, which is still available for download here:

https://help.sketchup.com/en/downloading-older-versions

I also fully support the plugins (via phone and email) for academic customers, however this support is expressly for issues having to do with the plugins and not for general SketchUp questions, training or establishing methods of workflow between SketchUp and Layout.

Per discussion and input this morning from a valued mentor/adviser I've added a few more items to the list:

1.)  A tool for adding in mid-span blocking where the user can specify a location, extant and type of blocking.

2.)  A blocking tool (also need this for the wall plugin) which will allow the user to create special blocking for point load conditions etc...

3.)  An in-floor beam tool similar to the in-column wall tool of the wall plugin.  The wall plugin already has a beam tool but this is for stand alone beams.

4.)  Option for cavity insulation within the floor assembly, however an additional parameter which allows the control of the batt thickness since it may not be the same depth as the floor cavity.

5.)  With the floor covering tool provide a vertical offset parameter.  I may also set it up so that multiple layers are possible.

Version 1.1.6 - 12.08.2019
- Improved the stability and execution speed of the wall edit menu and the window edit menu.

This improvement is courtesy of my recent work on the complex roof module of the truss plugin.  I've improved the speed and stability of my algorithms for transferring data between the ruby code and the javascript.  I will now need to update every other HTML menu found with the wall plugin and eventually within all of the plugins. 

The wall edit menu contains the most parameters and hence its stability will be improved significantly by this code change, that is why I addressed it first.  Other edit menus include: doors, garage doors, stairs, beams, etc...

I am starting this new discussion thread as a fork from the Medeek Truss Plugin thread since the Medeek Floor extension will now become a stand alone extension/plugin.

Its icon(s) will be:


This new plugin will ultimately replace the floor joist/truss module currently found in the truss plugin. 

Similar to the complex roof module the designer will be able to create any polygon shaped floor outline, and edit the shape by moving/adjusting the edges.

There will be a tool for creating and editing holes within the floor.

There will also be a tool for creating polygon shaped floor coverings (ie. carpet, tile, wood, pergo etc...) with an associated label and optional sqft callout.  These floor coverings will be situated on top of the sub-floor and can be individually edited.

Eventually the floor assemblies will also be integrated with the estimating module currently found in the wall plugin (this will be moved to the Medeek Project extension in the near future).

There will also be an option for gypsum on the underside of the floor with a user editable offset (ie. 5.5 inches).

I have a few more ideas for this new extension but I would be interested in hearing what ideas you might have that would make this extension have even more utility for you and your workflow.

Version 1.1.1b - 12.04.2019

- Added more 20A (NEMA 5-20R) outlets to the outlet module:  GFCI, WP GFCI, USB etc...

Creating a few new electrical components gives me a much needed break from the code and is actually quite relaxing.  I'm at the most difficult part of the complex roof module, so I'm taking a couple days to clear my head so that I can take a fresh crack at it and allow myself to think outside the box if required.  I find that sometimes it helps to take a break sometimes, which effectively takes the blinders off, and then alternative (better) solutions almost magically appear.

If there are any specific outlet or fixture types you would like added please email me.

I apologize that I have not provided a solution for other electrical standards yet.  Eventually I will do this but I'm not ready to bite it off just yet.

Even if you do not purchase the plugin, I think it would be worthwhile to download the trial version just for all of the pre-built electrical components now available in the library sub-folder.  Of course, I would prefer that you purchase the plugin but if you don't need the parametrics and some of the other automated features then even the trial version and the library files might be quite useful.

Version 1.1.1 - 12.04.2019
- Added additional 240V duplex and simplex outlets to the built-in library: NEMA 6-15R and NEMA 6-20R.
- Added some simplex outlets to the floor outlet built-in library.



I'm wondering with the undesignated 240V outlets if I should provide the NEMA number (ie. 6-20R) next to the 2D symbol.  I would assume that this would be very useful information, a 240V receptacle can take many forms and various amperages.

Has anyone ever seen or used a symbol for a duplex switch?

I always get a lot of questions about what features are available within the truss plugin.

Many of these questions can be answered with a quick search of the changelog:

http://design.medeek.com/resources/pluginchangelog.html

Just a reminder that the changelog lists every new feature, modification or correction to the plugin since its inception (Oct. 2015 - Present).

Version 2.6.3 - 12.02.2019
- Fixed multiple bugs in the complex roof module as related to metric templates.

After a bit of a Thanksgiving break I'm back on the complex roof module.  There is still a considerable amount of work to do with the framing of the roof, some of the details I am still sorting out, in particular a very efficient rafter framing algorithm.  I'm hoping to wrap this all up in the next couple of weeks and then jump over to the new Medeek Floor extension which will replace the floor truss/I-Joist module of the Truss plugin.

The new floor extension will allow for complex floors with the ability to alter the outline of floor similar to the complex roof.

Version 1.1.0 - 12.01.2019
- Fixed a minor bug in the General tab of the global settings.
- Enabled the ability to draw floor and ceiling outlets.



The included outlets: Raco 5500, Leviton 25249 (Nickel and Brass) Series, Standard Duplex Outlet.

The plugin automatically detects whether the outlet is a floor or ceiling outlet and assigns the appropriate symbol.  This may require some further refinement for outlets mounted to slightly inclined floor or ceiling surfaces, I will be testing this particular situation further.

User defined outlets can be utilized by dropping the component files into the appropriate library sub-folders:  library/fc_rcpt/gang1 or library/fc_rcpt/gang2

The default label for floor/ceiling outlets is 'RCPT', however this can be set independently from wall mount outlets in the global settings.

Version 1.1.5 - 11.27.2019
- Added a rotation parameter for in-wall columns.



Previously I was listing two sizes in order to get the rotated version (ie. 2x6 and 6x2) of a column size, however this proved to be a clunky and a non-scalable solution.  This update rectifies this limitation.

Misc. fixtures added to legend tool:

Honeywell vs. Nest