SpaceDesign

SpaceDesign Free is a free add-on for SketchUp for defining attributes and creating reports from SketchUp components.

It is based on the more comprehensive Component Reporting System for SketchUp - RpReports ].

There are three basic functions:

Assign Attributes to components
Define which attributes you want to include in your report
Generate the report.

Getting Started

After downloading and installing SpaceDesign, follow these steps to try it out.

Step 1: Define Attributes for components.

These can be defined by placing the attributes in the SketchUp model before saving the .SKP file for the component

Or you can define attributes for components placed in a model by right clicking on the component instance.

SpaceDesign Free allows you to define up to 8 attributes for your components.
SpaceDesign Pro allows you to define up to 24 attributes for your components.

Step 2: Define Report

Select the attributes desired on the report.

In addition to the SpaceDesign attributes on you components, you can include:

Count - count of components with the same attributes
Name - the name of the component
Description - The description stored in the component definition. (Or the Component name if the description is blank)

Check boxes

For each attributes, use the check box to include it in the report.

Headings

Change the heading for the report if desired.

Arrows

Use the up and down arrows to change the order of the attributes for the report.

Report Title

This is used for the title of the report, and also for the name of the file for the report.

Report Format

'HTML - saves a HTML page - CSV saves a .CSV file.

Include components with no attributes

If checked, then all components will be included in the report - even those with no special attributes assigned.

Show report when complete

If checked, then the report will be loaded in a web browser, or Excel (for a .CSV file).

Step 3 - Generate report

You can generate an HTML report of the attributes selected, or create a .CSV file for use with Excel, Access, or other programs.

Toolbar

Image:Space-design-free-toolbar.jpg

The SP icon loads a dialog which lets you define how SpaceDesign will be loaded when you load SketchUp.
The Attributes icon lets you define attributes - either for the entire model if you are editing a .SKP model for a component definition, or for the currently selected component.
The Report icon loads the Reports Dialog to create a report.

SpaceDesign Pro

SpaceDesign Free should work well for simple reports. However, when you need more power you may want to upgrade to SpaceDesign Pro

RpReports

For more complex applications, including performing calculations based on component size or placement, you can us the full reporting system - ' RpReports

Feature Comparison

SpaceDesign and RpReports Feature Comparison
Feature	SpaceDesign Free	SpaceDesign Pro	RpReports
Assign Attributes to Component Instances and Component Definitions	-- Yes -- Assign attributes to component definitions only.	-- Yes -- Assign attributes to component definition or instance.	-- Yes -- Assign attributes to component definition or instance, or access the attributes from a .CSV file or from an SQL Server
Save Attributes in SKP model for Component (can be used to preset attributes for component libraries or 3D Warehouse components)	-- Yes -- Assign attributes to model	-- Yes -- Assign attributes in batch mode from a .CSV spreadsheet	-- Yes -- Assign attributes to components from a .CSV spreadsheet, or access the attributes from an SQL Server
Create a report or .CSV file of attributes in the model. Report includes collation and counting of similar attributes.	-- Yes -- Select and order attributes to be include in the report	-- Yes -- Save report definitions to the disk for re-use	-- Yes -- Create multiple report definitions for multiple report formats.
Limit on number of attributes	-- Yes -- Maximum of 8 attributes	-- Yes -- Maximum of 24 attributes	-- No -- No limit on number of attributes
Define Attributes separately for Component instance	-- No -- Component Definition only	-- Yes -- Definition or Instance	-- Yes -- Definition, Instance or Group
Include an image of the SketchUp model in the report	-- No -- attributes only	-- Yes -- image of model and attribute report	-- Yes -- ability to customize report format
Calculate extended cost or total weight of components.	-- No -- report pure attributes only	-- Yes -- Extend one field (e.g. cost or weight)	-- Yes -- Create multiple report definitions for multiple report formats.
Perform Calculations on attributes	-- No -- report pure attributes only	-- No -- report pure attributes only	-- Yes -- calculations based on width, length or other fields
Drill into Groups and Components for nested components	-- No --	-- Yes -- Packages or components	-- Yes -- Packages and Bill or Materials

FAQ

Question: I am looking for a SketchUp Plugin that will give a comprehensive bill of materials, I have had trouble finding a plugin that generates a report respective of a components alignment in relation to the axis of the whole model. Cut List 4.0 does this for me and is free, I assume that RP Report does something better than Cut List 4.0 so if I should I purchase RP Report, will it meet my needs?

Based on your request, we are creating a free version of RpReports, called SpaceDesign Free.

RpReports is very powerful, but it takes a lot of work to set up the projects. SpaceDesign Free is much easier to use for simple reports.

Here are the proposed features for the new Free version and an intermediate Pro version (projected price $149.00)

Attributes on Components

Place attributes on components in one of 3 ways:
- Place the attributes in the model before saving the .SKP file for the component.

(In this case, the attributes will automatically be included when the component is placed from the disk or from the 3D warehouse.)

- Place the attributes in the component definition after placing the component in your model.

(In this case the attributes will apply to all instances of the component in the model, but will not apply to other models which place the same component. Unless you the receive the definition into a component library.

Place the attributes on the Component Instance. This option allows you to set or override attributes for each instance of the component. But the attributes will not be saved into the Component Definition or Component Libraries. (Pro only)

Reporting

When you are ready to generate a report, all attributes will be read from all Components. You will be provided with a list of all attributes names, and can select which attributes should be included in the report, and change to order of the attributes.

This system works OK if you only have a few different components in your model, and only a few attributes. (If you had 500 attributes and 40 components, then you would have to enter 20,000 attributes values one at a time.

If you have this many components and attributes, if would be better to have an automated system to edit the attributes in a spreadsheet and apply them to the model. We plan to add that feature to the SpaceDesign Pro

Beta Tester

If this is of interest to you, lets discuss a Beta test program where you can be our "guinea pig" as we develop this, and then decide whether you want to purchase it when we are done.

Downloads and Installation

There is a 30 day Trial Version for RPS products. This is a fully functional version, with watermarks or other text added to indicate that it is a trial version.

Follow the links from the Downloads Page to download the latest version.

See: How to Download and Install