IMPORTANT SETTING FOR USING SKETCHUP AND CryENGINE3

Hi All,


I forgot to say in the tutorial that if you are using Windows 7 you will need to turn your User Account Settings (UAC) down to "Never Notify" to be able to export from SketchUp to CryENGINE3.


This is because Windows 7 doesn't like one program asking another program to do something. The dialogue box says that this isn't recommended ... but driving a car, swimming in the ocean and falling in love are all things that Windows 7 doesn't recommend, so I wouldn't worry about it.


Step 1.


To turn your UAC settings to "Never Notify", type UAC in the start window at the bottom left ... at the top you'll see a "Change User Account Settings" option. Click that.

Step 2. 

Turn the slider down to the bottom.

Step 3.

Restart your computer for the change to take effect. This only has to be done once.


This was probably the most common problem we had last year ... so if your model doesn't show up in the Geometric Entities tab, even after you've pressed "Reload", check this.


Cheers

COORDINATION AND SPACE

HI ALL,

THIS REALLY KICKS IN AT 1:20.

CHEERS

THE BLACK VILLA SAVOY

Hi All,

Following it's reference in last weeks lecture take a look at the Black Villa Savoy on Stephen Peters blog:

http://www.arch1101-2012sp.blogspot.com.au/

Cheers

ASSESSMENTS AND THE BLOG

Hi All,

I mentioned below that I'd write a post to clear up some issues around assessment and the blogs.

Firstly all the assessment details are on the course outline and each experiment briefs.

Here: http://russelllowe.com/arch1101_2012/course_info/course_outline.html

and here: http://russelllowe.com/arch1101_2012/experiment1/brief/brief_exp1.htm

The link to the marking schedule is at the top of each brief page.

Pay special attention to the "Assessable Outputs" component in the "Experiment Outline" section of the brief. These assessable outputs won't change. They are also reflected in the marking schedule.

One question from the Student Reps yesterday was regarding how the Blogs fit into all of this.

All of your submissions are accessed via your blogs; in other words ... your tutors will be marking the work they see on your blogs (you don't hand in your sketchbooks, you scan and upload/link everything to your blog). They'll not only look at the work you've indicated is directly linked to the assessment outputs (the sections, animations of the SketchUp model, etc) they'll also see all the progress and process work that has gone into creating them. While this is not a part of each experiment assessment it does sometimes help to see how you got to where you got to; and it counts towards the 10% participation mark for the course overall.

Uploading everything to your blog as you go along has other advantages too. It serves as a great backup system. If the dog eats your sketchbook it doesn't matter if all the drawings have been uploaded before she does. I met a student last week who's notebook was destroyed by a freak act of nature ... think taxi and huge puddle and you'll get the idea. This stuff does happen; so using your blog as a backup is a sensible thing to do. The blog is also a great way to establish your international reputation ... people from all around the world look at these blogs, why not have all the great architecture, arch computing or engineering firms following your blog before you graduate? Done right it will show them the extents of your talents well beyond what a job interview ever could. Finally ... the whole class benefits from a vibrant and constantly updated blog network. You'll learn an enormous amount from your classmates, so make sure you check out what students in other tutorial groups are doing.

Cheers, feel free to leave a comment if you'd like anything else regarding assessment clarified.





 

FIRST STUDENT REP MEETING FEEDBACK

Hi All,

As you know we had our first student rep meeting yesterday. It was a great discussion with a few issues coming up that we (Me, Jeremy and Hank) think we can resolve to everyone's satisfaction/advantage.

Here is a list of what we talked about, with actions and possible solutions:

1. There was a request for added clarity around the assessment criteria ... especially regarding uploading material to the blogs. My next blog post will be about this issue, so keep an eye out for that.

2. Extra tutorials for the software that we are using and will be using in class. There are a few ways we can help with this one ... I'll approach the Head of Program (Ann Quinlan) and ask if we can pay for some extra tutorials. Another option is to facilitate you guys setting up informal study groups ... in other words, post a sticky on the forum that you can suggest times that you'll be in the computer labs, or on the computing benches on levels one, two and four. I'll go ahead with the forum idea and we'll keep you posted re any extra tutorials.

3. 10-15 minute break during studio. We spoke about how it's difficult to fit in lunch before class and recognised that the 12-6pm session is a long one. I'll send a note to all the tutors asking them to schedule in a 10-15 minute break so you can go away and get coffee, or a bite to eat, at some stage during the tutorial. Also, we'll try and get the lectures finished a little earlier so there will be time before studio to fuel up!

4. Power for laptops. Our facilities management guys have just finished installing a locked box in most of our studios with 8, or so, powerboards in each box. This will give about 40 outlets per studio room. The idea is that you daisy chain them between desks and we pack them away at the end of each studio session ... which is an occupational health and safety requirement. me, Jeremy and Hank have keys for the boxes, and will unlock them all at the start of each class. It's a little different on level one ... down there we have a smaller number of massive powerboards (I think they have 8 outlets each) that we will bring out at the start of each session.

5. One rep asked what drawing apps on iPhones/iPads were the best. I have Adobe ideas on my iPad. Jeremy has Autodesk's Sketchbook Pro for iPad ... which is $4.99 ... so pretty good value. We can't say that these are the best options ... but we are using them, so they can't be that bad.

6. Related to the above; I'll check to see if the Mac store on campus stocks the special pens you use to draw on the iPad (much more accurate/easier than using your finger). I'll report back.

7. The issue of keeping backups came up. I'll mention this in the post about the blogs ... but in addition, both Me and Jeremy save our work as different versions every 15 minutes or so. In other words every 15 minutes I go save as, and save the file as RussellExperiment2v02, then v03, v04, v05, etc, etc. The data can mount up ... but if your file becomes corrupted, or something strange is happening, it's very easy to go back to an earlier version. You can also go back to an earlier version if you find you've reached a dead end with the option you chose from 5 versions ago (just go back 6 versions and head in the other direction). External hard drives are very cheap now days, so make sure you budget for one of those and keep it just for backups.

That's all for now. Keep an eye on this blog to see how some the issues above were resolved ... and if you have anything you'd like us to know, but don't want to bring it up with us directly, talk with your Student Reps ... they are a smart and enthusiastic bunch, so take advantage.

Cheers

Compression and Tension

Hi All,


The post below, by Dallen Chan, gives a nice definition of compression and tension; a topic that came up in the lecture on Stairs.


http://dallen-chan.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/compression-tension.html


Thanks Dallen.


Cheers

SketchUp Curvy Geometry

Hi All,


Have a look at the post below by one of our tutors, Rosamond Kember, on using plugins for SketchUp to create curvy geometry.


http://arch1101-2012rk.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/sketchup.html


Cheers