#42 3D dimension lines

[Daniele]

This plugin brings to SH3D the capability to draw 3D dimension lines that will snap to floors, walls and ceilings, directly in the 3D view. This could be useful to give precise directives to installers.
In order to use this plugin you have to install Pan3dView plugin version 1.7 or later.
Please note that this plugin conflicts with the Wirings plugin versions prior to 1.2; if you are using it be sure to update to the latest version.

The plugin comes with an integrated user guide available in english and italian under the Help > Draw3D dimension lines help menu, please take a moment to read it to learn how to use the plugin.

Features

• dimensions can be placed on floors, walls and ceilings;
• the measurement can be done in any direction, not necessarily the same of the endpoints;
• dimensions can be edited after they have been placed;
• intelligent snap cursor: snaps to other dimensions' endpoints, and wall corners;
• measurement labels can be correctly seen from both sides, i.e. from above or below in case of ceilings, and from back in case of transparent walls.

Here some screenshots:

[Daniele]

Version 1.1

• Fixed drawing on ceiling when no room is defined
• Fixed the question mark bug
• The length label is never show upside down
• The length label orientation is guessed during line creation

Notice: though not strictly required, it is highly recommended you also update Pan3dView to version 2.0.

[Daniele]

Version 3.0

In order to use this plugin you have to install Pan3dView plugin version 3.0 or later.

Summary of changes:

• Reduced the line surface offset to prevent parallax error
• Replaced the surface normal guessing algorithm with normal picking
• Removed the constraint on specific surfaces
• Added a function to manually set the line length
• Added drawing aids
• Corrected the surface normal sign
• Added Chinese translation, courtesy of YGYL

How to use the new features
By default all the line points must belong to the same surface. To change this behavior hold the ALT key.

To precisely set the length of a dimension line, hold the ALT key, then move the cursor over the point you wish to stretch (or in the middle if you wish to stretch both sides) until the move cursor shows up, then click with the mouse. Enter the new length and confirm.

[Daniele]

Version 3.1

• Fixed a bug that breaks the rendering

[Daniele]

Version 3.2

• Fixed angular snap bug
• Implemented smart point selection when multiple points overlap
• Implemented the ability to disable snap (holding CTRL)
• Better change length behavior

[Daniele]

Tracing paper model for vertical plans
The attached file contains a model of a half-transparent rectangle that can be used to trace 3D dimension lines "in the air". It is extremely useful in conjunction with the latest version of the Pan 3D view plugin which enables to set the 3D view in parallel projection mode.

Example result:

[Daniele]

Version 4.0 beta

Compatible with SweetHome3D 7.2 and Pan 3D View 4.0 beta.
Requires Pan 3D View 4.0 beta or later.

[Olivier]

Hi Daniele,
The Help for dimension Lines 3D is , in French SH3D implementation, under menu "Help" whilst all other helps are under menu "Aide" (like for example "Aide de Pan 3D View") .
If , one day, you can normalize to have them all under menu "Aide" , it will help ... ;-)
On another hand, if you need help to translate this help, I can Help :-)
Best regards

[Olivier]

Same for "Dessiner des cotes 3D" that will be better placed under the menu "Outils" rather than under "Tools"

[David Warren]

Hello, I recently purchased the Sweet Home 3D app and after watching several tutorials, I found this plugins and a few others I want to add. However, I dont see where within the app location I can save these plugins. I am a graphic designer first and have little experience with coding. Since I am new to the app, maybe i just missing something? The tutorial I watched that connected me to this plugin showed a lot more tools and navigation tabs then my app has. Can you help provide a little more clarity? Thanks in advance.

[Daniele]

If you are on Windows, then the installation should have associated the plugin file type with SweetHome3D (if so, plugin files should be displayed with the SH3D icon), so you can just double click the plugin file and it will launch SweetHome3D, which will put the plugin file in the right folder; you just have to relaunch SweetHome3D to reload the plugin.
After you relaunch SH3D go to menu Help>About Sweet Home 3D... and press the Libraries button, you will see the plugin you just installed in the 3rd box; click on the plugin name and the plugin folder will be opened in the system explorer.
I recommend to install the Plugin Manager, it will help you search, install, and keep your plugins updated from within Sweet Home 3D with simple clicks.

[Olivier]

Hi Daniele,
I saw that you have corrected menu "Help" to "Aide" for French users , Thanks.
However I still wonder if you intend to correct menu "Tools" to "Outils" for French users, refer 'https://sourceforge.net/p/sweethome3d/plug-ins/42/#77dd
Best regards

[Olivier]

Hi Daniele,
Nothing urgent, however it will be nice to change the menu header name 'Tools' to 'Outils' for this plugin ('Dessiner des cotes 3D')

[Daniele]

Sorry for this long delay, I usually make new releases only if I have new features or important bug fixes, however there are no news at the moment, so here is the menu name correction.

[Olivier]

Works fine. Thanks