Joined: May 12, 2013
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Re: Sweet Home 3D 5.5
..3D model icons in the plan with a new preferences setting. From the default size 128x128...
Most interesting feature, which can significantly improve display (and print/export?) of a plan. Did not come across any issue at all when experimenting with the different icons (so in terms of beta-testing, the below is not important). In fact, the feature worked perfectly. Increasing to 1024×1024 (temporarily) could really improve 2D view (e.g. thread 7832).
The feature is also interesting for creating models with custom planIcons, so I am trying to get my head around this. Am I right in thinking:
Model icons are not saved with the home, so increasing the icon size from 128×128 to 1024×1024 will not change the file size (?)
Model icons are generated by SH3D when opening a home (or importing a model), and if that is right, will larger icons impact performance? It seems that increasing the icon size can take a few seconds (less so when decreasing), but not dramatically. And once the gray clocks vanished, I could not notice a performance loss (but I did not max out the RAM, I rarely do).
Increasing model icon size will not change an existing custom planIcon (which will be saved with the home)?
Tried a custom planIcons with odd size 78×43 (awning , same proportions as model) that seemed to work well. But for custom planIcons is it better to use square .pngs or does it not matter?
Wondering whether, in a future version (not priority), it would be difficult/possible to support custom SVG planIcons. Think this has been discussed and that SVG icons might impair performance. In another context I tested pulling 100 SVG files as images in html. Both IE and Opera displayed the page with no noticeable delay. Only at 100+ svg images (many animated) there was a quick blink before images became visible on a slow computer.
The only thing I would suggest, is considering a keyboard shortcut to access preferences. I find myself opening preferences a lot already (to change new wall/floor settings mostly), and will may toggle icon size quite frequently too.
France
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Re: Sweet Home 3D 5.5
okh, thanks for sharing your thoughts
My greatest concern with any software upgrade, is whether features are added at the cost of speed/interface.
Don't worry it's my main concern too. But as I could have forgotten some special cases, I appreciate that you double-check, especially on a slow machine. I was worried about how to retrieve the size of 3D models in existing homes and libraries, but I finally find a fast way to explore the entries in a zip file. Managing doors and windows that cut out both sides of walls is a more heavy operation, but the difference should be very little.
About the new icon size in preferences, the top views of 3D models used as icons in the plan are not saved in a sh3d file, except if that top view was precomputed and used in the pieceIcon# property of a piece of furniture. Thus, these icons are generated by Sweet Home 3D when opening a home, and generating larger icons should slow down the program a little. Images set in the planIcon# property of a piece don't have to be square, and will be always resized to the size of the piece in the plan. I don't know how much work would be required to add support for SVG for plan icons or background images. Sweet Home 3D supports only SVG Paths at the moment, but I guess Batik must also be able to convert SVG data to the needs of a Java graphical program like Sweet Home 3D. My main concern would be about performances, because drawing a SVG will run slower than drawing an image most of the time. I'll check how difficult this task is in the coming days.
I wouldn't mind to add a shortcut for preferences under Windows and Linux (under Mac OS X, it's cmd + , ). I just don't know which one is commonly used under those systems. Any suggestion?
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Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator
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Re: Sweet Home 3D 5.5
Still no issues found. And no repeat of the 3D freeze. Happy. Great features.
.. features are added at the cost of speed/interface.... ..my main concern too...
Yes, and thanks for that! There are some horror stories from large projects, where the developers had access to hardware much more powerful than the average user, and the result was a disaster. It is never a bad idea to test new releases on the slowest computer in the organisation.
..generating larger icons should slow down the program a little...
Tried a plan with lots and lots of items at 1024×1024 setting, and yes, RAM and DISK went to max and I was left staring at lots of clocks for a minute or so. But never mind, I am running a slow computer. It is great to have the option and I would only use this for 2D plan presentations anyway. (But maybe there should be a warning in the Preferences? Or somewhere?)
Images set in the planIcon# property of a piece don't have to be square, and will be always resized to the size of the piece in the plan.
Quite, it is my impression that a planIcon# png with the same proportions as the model, will render more nicely and with less blur (until the proportions are changed, that is). The nice thing with home-made planIcon# pngs is that the model-maker has control over how it renders.
..doors and windows that cut out both sides of walls is a more heavy operation...
Yes, and this surprised me. I really noticed absolutely nothing in terms of performance. So, job well done.
..shortcut for preferences under Windows and Linux...
Inkscape uses Ctrl-Shift-P for programme preferences and Ctrl-Shift-D for document properties. Both dialogues seem to be intended for frequent use and the logic appeals to me, but Ctrl-Shift-P is already used. So I dare not suggest, but + and , moves about depending on the nationality of the keyboard, which means I never learn them.
SVG icons would be nice for the set of symbols, and maybe some standard furniture with architectural symbols (bed, cooker, closet - the standard architect mark-up). I volunteer for making a library of simple models, if you come up with a way to do SVG planIcon#s (Well, after the boating season, that is.)
France
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Re: Sweet Home 3D 5.5
bdfd, sorry, it's the first time I'm reported this kind of problem with JNLP files. No idea of the origin, but don't worry, I'm pretty sure this won't happen with the finally released installer.
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Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator
or bather v2 1060: HomePane.MAKE_LEVEL_UNVIEWABLE.Name=Hide level 1061: HomePane.MAKE_LEVEL_UNVIEWABLE.ShortDescription=Hide selected level ... 1158: HomePane.DISPLAY_ALL_LEVELS.ShortDescription=Display all viewable levels in the 3D view
replace with: 1158: HomePane.DISPLAY_ALL_LEVELS.ShortDescription=Display all visible levels in the 3D view ... 1597: LevelPanel.viewableCheckBox.text=Viewable
I usually use the v2 for my taste.
---------------------------------------- A computer program does what you tell it to do, not what you want it to do. Murphy's Law When all else fails, read the instructions. Murphy's Law If you don't like "AS IS", DIY. Dorin's law
Romania
Joined: Apr 24, 2014
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Re: Sweet Home 3D 5.5
I've made a mistake. The line 1061: .... level invisiable must be 1061: ... level invisible Sorry!!!
---------------------------------------- A computer program does what you tell it to do, not what you want it to do. Murphy's Law When all else fails, read the instructions. Murphy's Law If you don't like "AS IS", DIY. Dorin's law
