# Section Tools -- Changes?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Created:** [February 15, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883 "2019-02-15T18:43:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/1 "2019-02-15T18:43:58Z")

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As I transition from Sketchup to Rhino, I am missing the simplicity of certain things. One is my section workflow. I’m now trying to get a handle on the Section Tools plugin. The videos are for v5, and I’m using v6, and I’m finding differences as I try to edit a section.

In the video, the Solid mode offers “hatch” and hatch parameters: pattern, rotation, scale.

 ![ST_06](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/original/3X/5/0/502be4c504f0d1ff6b1a08def827d23599a7895d.jpeg)

In v6 there is no “HatchPattern” choice.

 ![ST_01](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/original/3X/e/9/e9900bace3a12b0be9a9c18222823faad983038f.jpeg)

After choosing “hatch”, mine looks solid.

 ![ST_02](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/original/3X/2/e/2e662ed473ab3fceecf96286c78b06b9e451b6e6.jpeg)

I assumed the pattern was too dense. So tried multiple scale options in increments getting no change. All section still look solid.

 ![ST_04](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/original/3X/f/a/fa78540a1b4d0bf1ad70c8092a3dc25a9b89eff0.jpeg)

Suggestions?

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**Author:** ![jespizua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/jespizua/32/136739_2.png) [@jespizua](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/jespizua)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/2 "2019-02-15T19:22:32Z")

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Sections tools it’s something I’d never get used to, too complicated or better said, convoluted for me.  
If you come from SketchUp, I think you will find clippingplanes more straightforward. As in SketchUp’s section tool, the limitation is that you can only get solid hatches, so if you need pattern hatches you will have to find another way, like using \_make2d.

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**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/3 "2019-02-15T19:23:53Z")

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Hello - the default hatch is always solid - in this case you can set the hatch per object by unlocking the layers and selecting the hatch… @rajaa - is there a better way?

-Pascal

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**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/4 "2019-02-15T20:18:38Z")

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This kinda works, but it seems in Rhino 5 this can be done within creating the section. Further. MatchProperties does not seem to work. I changed one solid section hatch to what I wanted. Then tried MatchProperties to make them the same. Nothing changed.

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**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/5 "2019-02-15T20:24:56Z")

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How do I export/extract the edges produced by clipping plane?

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**Author:** ![Nosorozec](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/nosorozec/32/669443_2.png) [@Nosorozec](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Nosorozec)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:51am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/6 "2019-02-18T11:51:19Z")

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You can use Pascal’s script “ClippingPlaneCurves”  
Gets the edge curves of objects clipped by a Rhino clipping plane as curves. Adds the following alias- **ClippingPlaneCurves**  
[https://wiki.mcneel.com/people/pascalgolay#dokuwiki\_\_top](https://wiki.mcneel.com/people/pascalgolay#dokuwiki__top)

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**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/7 "2019-02-18T18:40:18Z")

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Oh this is great! Anyway I could add the command to the Right-click context menu? Is it possible to add command there?

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**Author:** ![Fred\_C](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/fred_c/32/146394_2.png) [@Fred\_C](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Fred_C)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/8 "2019-02-18T19:33:50Z")

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@CalypsoArt  
Rhino Options\>Context Menu\>Object Menu \>Add, (dialog box) **name it** and enter **ClippingPlaneCurves** \>OK

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/9 "2019-02-18T20:22:22Z")

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👍

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**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/10 "2019-02-19T15:54:28Z")

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> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> In the video, the Solid mode offers “hatch” and hatch parameters: pattern, rotation, scale.

There was a bug introduced in V6 and is now fixed. Will release new SectionTools this week that fixes it. In summary, V6 only loads Solid Hatch Pattern by default, so if a pattern has not been loaded before (using Hatch command), SectionTools will not find it. The fix loads default patterns even if Hatch was not ran.

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**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/11 "2019-02-19T16:20:16Z")

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@CalypsoArt I just released the new SectionTools with the fix, please give it a try and let me know if it works as expected. Direct _[download link…](https://www.rhino3d.com/download/sectiontools/1/wip/rc)_

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**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/12 "2019-02-19T16:22:50Z")

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> [@jespizua](#):
>
> Sections tools it’s something I’d never get used to

I’m interested to learn what is the difficulty you see with SectionTools. Perhaps I can put together a workflow tutorial that can be useful to get people started. But I’ll need help identify what is the hard parts, and I hope you can give me some pointers.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/13 "2019-02-19T17:47:09Z")

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Rajaa, thanks for all your efforts. And I’d welcome another tutorial.  
I’m not sure for others, but coming from Sketchup, I did find Section Tools required more clicks than I was used to. I understand Rhino does more, and therefore requires more. But my SU section workflow was pretty simple:

1. Place Section
2. R-Click context menu on section plane and select “AddSectionCutFace.”(Plugin)
3. Export view as .dwg (for AutoCad where I do my 2D work.)  
I recognize if/when I start Rhino for 2D, the advantages of Sections Tools will be more evident. CuttingPlanes and Pascal’s CllippingPlaneCurves are giving me my SU section method. I do all hatching, etc in AC.

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**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/14 "2019-02-19T19:13:49Z")

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> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> - Place Section
> - R-Click context menu on section plane and select “AddSectionCutFace.”(Plugin)
> - Export view as .dwg (for AutoCad where I do my 2D work.)

For what you are descrtibing, this would be the workflow in SectionTools:  
1- stCreate (if need only curves, set SolidMode=None)  
2- stExportLayout (Set Folder=[Browse location], Extension=dwg, Type=CreateInPlace)

Let me know if this is useful.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/15 "2019-02-19T20:05:05Z")

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I am still playing with it and have created a section and exported to AC. However, it has failed several times. I believe that is because I opened the created SEC\_00.dwg file in AC which locked that opened file’s name. Section Tools was unable to overwrite SEC\_00.dwg because of that lock and failed.

I couldn’t find a way to give another section export (using the same section) a different name. I often export different sectioned objects using the same section but with different names. With ST, the name is assigned by the layer.

Below is the sequence, however, ST processes and I do not have access to the “Save File Name” to change it.

* * *

_Select sections ( List )_  
_Select sections. Press Enter when done ( List )_  
_Press Enter to export sections ( Folder=C:\Users\Calyp\Desktop Extension=dwg Type=CreateInPlace )_  
\_Press Enter to export sections ( Folder=C:\Users\Calyp\Desktop Extension=dwg Type=CreateInPlace ): _-Export_  
_Save file name ( Version=6 SaveSmall=No GeometryOnly=No SaveTextures=Yes SaveNotes=No SavePlugInData=Yes Browse ): “C:\Users\Calyp\Desktop\SEC\_00.dwg”_  
_Error creating file._  
_Failed to save as C:\Users\Calyp\Desktop\SEC\_00.dwg._  
_The file writing plug-in failed._

Other question, Would hatches from Rhino/ST export in dwg to AC?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/16 "2019-02-19T20:21:28Z")

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This works great!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/17 "2019-02-19T21:41:54Z")

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Does the workflow works for you, or you still have issues.  
In general, you can create any number of sections, through any number of objects, and name them whatever you wish, then export their layout all at once.  
If you organize the layouts in Rhino (use stLayout), and stExportLayout - From2DLayout, then the locations on XY plane are honored in the export.

If you use SectionTools hatches, then those should export as well.

Let me know how else SectionTools could be improved to help your workflow.

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**Author:** ![jespizua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/jespizua/32/136739_2.png) [@jespizua](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/jespizua)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/18 "2019-02-19T22:48:24Z")

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Hi @rajaa, thanks for replying back to me. To be fair, It’s been a long time since last time I used SectionTools, I’m on a Mac now so I don’t have access to it any longer.

My biggest problem was that SectionTools wouldn’t show any projected geometry, just the section cut. As an architect, I usually needs both, sectioned and projected geometry, both have the same importance. Another limitation I found was, that there is just one hatch for all elements, but what I need is to be able to specify different hatches for different objects or layers, some kind of object’s attribute that defines the kind of hatch I need for each element. I know that I could use multiple sections at the same place, each section for a different kind of element and that way, I could have different hatches but that’s what I meant by “convoluted”.

My current workflow is using clipping planes and running \_make2D with those clipping planes. It’s not perfect, there isn’t a live connection between the model and the 2D but at least I can control the output I get, and modify it however I need.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/19 "2019-02-19T23:38:11Z")

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Thanks Rajaa, I think I’m getting it down. I did an export with hatches and they came into AC fine, and accepted editing there. I don’t know about in Rhino layouts if that is what jespizua was using, but in AC it was easy to change hatches type, scale, etc. with MatchProp.

On a completely different subject, the only Sketchup item I’m missing now is my Profile Builder 3 plugin which is popular in Sketchup for Architecture.

[https://profilebuilder4sketchup.com/](https://profilebuilder4sketchup.com/)

I’m not concerned with the use for assemblies, just the quick path follow, and panels for choosing and profiles. I have several manufactures entire moulding/parts catalogs that I converted to .dwg profiles. I’m hoping some plugin writer might make something similar for Rhino? The panel makes picking the existing profiles and path very rapid.

 ![PB3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/original/3X/c/0/c016fd9764cdf8bbc04d4fdb061d91da05713380.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rajaa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rajaa/32/770789_2.png) [@rajaa](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rajaa)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883/20 "2019-02-19T23:43:13Z")

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> [@jespizua](#):
>
> SectionTools wouldn’t show any projected geometry,

stLayout command should create the dynamic projection for you (update when the section updates).  
As for the per-layer and per-object Hatch property, this is a long standing wish in Rhino. Nothing SectionTools can do to overcome without Rhino supporting it. I’ll keep advocating for this one in V7.

[Next page](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/section-tools-changes/78883.md?page=2)