First, check out the tool in action:
It is a procedural tool for geometry paneling that preserves Material IDs/SmoothGroups/Sub-Object selection.
Features:
- Selection only - map panels only to selected faces.
- Replace - Replaces selected faces with panels.
- Keep base - preserves base geometry.
- Keep Non-Quads - preserves tris/n-gones.
- Set Height - Keeps panels height along face normal constant.
- Driver Axis - defines panels flow direction.
- Panels alignment options.
- In-Place panels transformation.
You can learn more and get the tool for $12.99 on Gumroad.