This is the in-depth feature review I was looking for! :) The DWG workflow specifically was what I was wondering about - what is the use case for DWG referencing like this? Since I'm not doing this day to day, I can only really speculate, but the cases that came to mind for me were things like linking in consultant drawings like site surveys, or possible linking in existing detail libraries without having to recreate them in Layout? Sounds like there are still some issues with that workflow. To me this seems like something that would be used occasionally, as it seems like the goal overall would be to get out of CAD entirely and get everything up and running in SketchUp itself. Maybe not a replacement, but more a supplement on jobs that still have CAD data that needs to be referenced in? Great video!
Yo JG! Thanks for the positive feedback! Unfortunately all of the use cases fall apart in every way. It's rare that an architect would referencing in consultant drawings, in my experience it's the other way around... Architects provide backgrounds that consultants draft on top of. Plus line colors don't come through, so you would have to draw a transparent white block on top to gray them out. I suppose a consultant using LayOut as a standalone 2D drafting program could make use of this? Sounds like a corner case! Surveys really don't change, so there's no need for a reference. Plus the text and annotations don't come through, and the lineweights are out of whack. No special utility line types (GAS, WATER, SEWER) come through either. So you would either need to clean up in CAD, or explode and clean up in LayOut. LayOut would be much easier. Once you do any clean up in CAD, you are killing the efficiency of a link. For detail libraries you are up against all the same challenges. In the end it would require a hybrid solution of drawing in CAD and annotating in LayOut. This really isn't better than just drafting in LayOut. I was making the point in the video that you can whip something together pretty quickly in SketchUp, and then get the line work over into LayOut. So you aren't always starting from scratch. Then there's the busted relink, how could that be!? In my opinion, this DWG reference is missing too many pieces to be of any value in any use case. I guess this new feature is a building block? similar to how auto-text took several releases to be full realized... Maybe in LayOut 2024!?
I switched from AutoCAD to Layout Recently and find it really good. I think what i wish to have in layout is the fast movement of the program and the snap function where you can select specific part of the drawing. This things would make it so easier to use.
👍👍 nothing to the subject itself though - But: I raise a glass, of course also filled with beer, to another great Pink Floyd album in the background today! 👍👍 In the last video, I saw "The Wall" there which is still one of my top 10 albums (the most in the "live in Berlin" version). Prost, und Grüße aus D 😉 and thanks for another good video!
Couldn't agree more. Layout is a tool that still needs tons, i mean, tons of improvements and Trimble seems to have given it up. If Layout were a better app, I could even consider completely abandon AutoCAD or Archicad and focus on Sketchup. I feel like Trimble is missing a huge market not improving layout capabilities for annotating and documenting inside layout. And I fell this pain is shared by a lot of colleagues. Everyone who decides to give Layout a try gets super frustrated, because it is simply a not professional enough tool IMO.
Have not updated sketchup since 2020... and dont see any reasons to do it either. Be it for the licensing issue, or the fact that extension developers are better at making sketchup useful!
in my opinion, it will benefits old drawing blocks to the layout that's it...maybe next time they must focus on how they will make the SketchUp layout faster I think, as many can't afford a high-end computer. The reason i still use autocad even if it is not automatically linked like sketchup and layout is but it makes fun to work because it's light to use..
I hear you on that! Nothing more frustrating than lack of performance! When making this review I jumped back into AutoCAD and I have to say... It is really snappy and polished! I want that feeling from LayOut!?
@@BrightmanDesigns but 90% percent i still use sketchup and layout..hopefully the creator hear our requests. thank you for the informative videos. keep it up.
In my case. Iam the only person in my company that draws in SketchUp and uses layout. everyone else still draws in AutoCAD. So, it has been frustrating when I have to redraw in SketchUp and annotate in layout again even tough, my teammate has the complete project done and annotated in AutoCAD,
I have to disagree! Revit is excellent for documenting large complex projects being worked on by several people... But when it comes to designing and documenting residential and light commercial, new construction and renovations... I think the SketchUp workflow wins!
First they need to address layout ui, its very hell depressing, slow n outdated... second, they need to improve the performance, yet another slow case, third they need to address another sketchup reference file..hell nother slow case when it's reloaded (refresh) when skp file is big file .. nowadays we architect need to address more n more complex scene..like 100mb-1gb file...each project..we hope that it can cope all of that in one file smoothly...well sorry to say..no ..skp or layout can not do that..well technically it can but with nother note..slowlyness... Guess they will address that after another years n the price doubled..
I totally agree... LayOut looks almost the same as it did nearly 20 years ago... Remember how it was in beta for all those years!? Then they just kind of pulled the beta label but didn't really do anything. Such a missed opportunity!
I hope all is well with you Nino! I'm obviously old and obsolete, nobody should listen to me! Curious what you think of live components... I'm pretty sure I hit all the main shortcomings... There's so many! Sticking with DC's...
@@BrightmanDesigns Dearest Mike: My (our) Opinion is of little consequence to whatever it is that the "market" dictates. Time proves all. After years of trying, Live Compos have not been able to take off the ground. News last week is that resources will now be directed into NEW 2D/DWG drawing tools. Did I say "new"? Dynamic Compos is certainly a specialty within SKP that needs a dedicated focus to attain success. I'm sticking to DC's. Not only do we have a huge investment on them but a considerable extent in terms of know-how. I failed to comment on your SKP/2023 review which is ALSO Spot-On. Guess both videos demonstrate the path showing what the future holds (or not). Kindest Regards Nino
This is the in-depth feature review I was looking for! :) The DWG workflow specifically was what I was wondering about - what is the use case for DWG referencing like this? Since I'm not doing this day to day, I can only really speculate, but the cases that came to mind for me were things like linking in consultant drawings like site surveys, or possible linking in existing detail libraries without having to recreate them in Layout?
Sounds like there are still some issues with that workflow. To me this seems like something that would be used occasionally, as it seems like the goal overall would be to get out of CAD entirely and get everything up and running in SketchUp itself. Maybe not a replacement, but more a supplement on jobs that still have CAD data that needs to be referenced in?
Great video!
Yo JG! Thanks for the positive feedback! Unfortunately all of the use cases fall apart in every way.
It's rare that an architect would referencing in consultant drawings, in my experience it's the other way around... Architects provide backgrounds that consultants draft on top of. Plus line colors don't come through, so you would have to draw a transparent white block on top to gray them out. I suppose a consultant using LayOut as a standalone 2D drafting program could make use of this? Sounds like a corner case!
Surveys really don't change, so there's no need for a reference. Plus the text and annotations don't come through, and the lineweights are out of whack. No special utility line types (GAS, WATER, SEWER) come through either. So you would either need to clean up in CAD, or explode and clean up in LayOut. LayOut would be much easier. Once you do any clean up in CAD, you are killing the efficiency of a link.
For detail libraries you are up against all the same challenges. In the end it would require a hybrid solution of drawing in CAD and annotating in LayOut. This really isn't better than just drafting in LayOut. I was making the point in the video that you can whip something together pretty quickly in SketchUp, and then get the line work over into LayOut. So you aren't always starting from scratch. Then there's the busted relink, how could that be!?
In my opinion, this DWG reference is missing too many pieces to be of any value in any use case. I guess this new feature is a building block? similar to how auto-text took several releases to be full realized... Maybe in LayOut 2024!?
I switched from AutoCAD to Layout Recently and find it really good. I think what i wish to have in layout is the fast movement of the program and the snap function where you can select specific part of the drawing. This things would make it so easier to use.
Totally agree. Layout is one of my biggest issues with wanting to continue using it for CDs.
I really thought that layout was going to improve the annotation work flow, includding secondary units like metric and imperial at the same time.
Gilberto! You can definitely do this now! Just choose your dimension units in the "Dimension Style" inspector. Let me know if that helps!
👍👍 nothing to the subject itself though - But: I raise a glass, of course also filled with beer, to another great Pink Floyd album in the background today! 👍👍
In the last video, I saw "The Wall" there which is still one of my top 10 albums (the most in the "live in Berlin" version).
Prost, und Grüße aus D 😉 and thanks for another good video!
Thanks Horn Oxx!!! You know it! "The Wall" has it all... Definitely on of my favorite albums of all time!
Couldn't agree more. Layout is a tool that still needs tons, i mean, tons of improvements and Trimble seems to have given it up. If Layout were a better app, I could even consider completely abandon AutoCAD or Archicad and focus on Sketchup. I feel like Trimble is missing a huge market not improving layout capabilities for annotating and documenting inside layout. And I fell this pain is shared by a lot of colleagues. Everyone who decides to give Layout a try gets super frustrated, because it is simply a not professional enough tool IMO.
They should create a kind of component for Layout...
Agreed! Just match half the functionality in AutoCAD 2000 and we would be good to go!
Have not updated sketchup since 2020... and dont see any reasons to do it either. Be it for the licensing issue, or the fact that extension developers are better at making sketchup useful!
Thank you. Well done.
Thanks Tim!
in my opinion, it will benefits old drawing blocks to the layout that's it...maybe next time they must focus on how they will make the SketchUp layout faster I think, as many can't afford a high-end computer. The reason i still use autocad even if it is not automatically linked like sketchup and layout is but it makes fun to work because it's light to use..
I hear you on that! Nothing more frustrating than lack of performance! When making this review I jumped back into AutoCAD and I have to say... It is really snappy and polished! I want that feeling from LayOut!?
@@BrightmanDesigns but 90% percent i still use sketchup and layout..hopefully the creator hear our requests. thank you for the informative videos. keep it up.
In my case. Iam the only person in my company that draws in SketchUp and uses layout. everyone else still draws in AutoCAD. So, it has been frustrating when I have to redraw in SketchUp and annotate in layout again even tough, my teammate has the complete project done and annotated in AutoCAD,
What are layouts for please?
LayOut is the 2d page creation counterpart of SketchUp. Used to make sets of drawings.
Still Revit is the best for architectural drawings, not the 3d and rendering but for the layout, section, elevation, details drawings
I have to disagree! Revit is excellent for documenting large complex projects being worked on by several people... But when it comes to designing and documenting residential and light commercial, new construction and renovations... I think the SketchUp workflow wins!
First they need to address layout ui, its very hell depressing, slow n outdated... second, they need to improve the performance, yet another slow case, third they need to address another sketchup reference file..hell nother slow case when it's reloaded (refresh) when skp file is big file .. nowadays we architect need to address more n more complex scene..like 100mb-1gb file...each project..we hope that it can cope all of that in one file smoothly...well sorry to say..no ..skp or layout can not do that..well technically it can but with nother note..slowlyness...
Guess they will address that after another years n the price doubled..
I totally agree... LayOut looks almost the same as it did nearly 20 years ago... Remember how it was in beta for all those years!? Then they just kind of pulled the beta label but didn't really do anything. Such a missed opportunity!
Hear, Hear Mr. Brightman! Spot-On. The humble opinion of a SketchUpSaurus.
Nino
I hope all is well with you Nino! I'm obviously old and obsolete, nobody should listen to me! Curious what you think of live components... I'm pretty sure I hit all the main shortcomings... There's so many! Sticking with DC's...
@@BrightmanDesigns
Dearest Mike:
My (our) Opinion is of little consequence to whatever it is that the "market" dictates. Time proves all. After years of trying, Live Compos have not been able to take off the ground. News last week is that resources will now be directed into NEW 2D/DWG drawing tools. Did I say "new"?
Dynamic Compos is certainly a specialty within SKP that needs a dedicated focus to attain success. I'm sticking to DC's. Not only do we have a huge investment on them but a considerable extent in terms of know-how.
I failed to comment on your SKP/2023 review which is ALSO Spot-On. Guess both videos demonstrate the path showing what the future holds (or not).
Kindest Regards
Nino