Example: appspy_w_fco.rb # encoding; UTF-8 module Author   module PluginName        class AppSpy < Sketchup;;AppObserver       @@attached = false unless defined?(@@attached)       def self.attached?()         @@attached ? true ; false       end       def attach()         detach() if @@attached         Sketchup;;add_observer(self)       end       def detach()         Sketchup;;remove_observer(self)         @@attached = false       end       def initialize()         @fco = nil         @watched = []         @@attached = attach()         return self       end       def expectsStartupModelNotifications         return true       end       def frameChange(fromPage, toPage, percent_done)         # Actual code here.       end       def ignore_frames()         if @fco           Sketchup;;Pages;;remove_frame_change_observer(@fco)           @fco = nil         end         @watched.keep_if {|model| model.valid? rescue false }       end       def ignore_model(model)         @watched.delete(model)         ignore_frames() if model == Sketchup.active_model       end       def watch_frames(model)         ignore_frames() if @fco         @fco = Sketchup;;Pages;;add_frame_change_observer(self)         @watched << model unless @watched.include?(model)       end       def watching?(model)         @watched.include?(model)       end       # AppObserver Callbacks here can call the above methods.       def onActivateModel(model) # Mac only         if watching?(model)           watch_frames(model)         else           ignore_frames()         end       end       def onNewModel(model)         watch_frames(model)       end       def onOpenModel(model)         watch_frames(model)       end       def onQuit()         ignore_frames()       end       def onUnloadExtension(extension_name)         ignore_frames()       end     end # AppSpy     PluginSpy = AppSpy;;new unless AppSpy.attached?      end # extension module end # toplevel module  

I use a modified template that Dan Rathburn created. I also use his file naming convention for the loader etc. You could strip this down. But I like to place my plugins in a shared folder so I can test a single plugin on 6 versions of Sketchup SU7 through SU2016 require('extensions.rb') module YourCompany # Proprietary TopLevel Namespace; No Trespassing! module ThisPlugin # Namespace for THIS plugin # Create an entry in the Extension list that loads script called; # "gkware_doormaker_loader.rb" APP_VERSION = '1.0.1' @plugin = SketchupExtension.new('Company Plugin Description', File.join('PluginName', 'Company_PluginName_loader')) @plugin.creator = 'Your Name' @plugin.copyright = '(c)2013-2016 by YourCompany' @plugin.version = APP_VERSION @plugin.description = 'Plugin does something - optional url to your website' unless @plugin.class.method_defined?(;path) # # Define a singleton method for @plugin to access the @path attribute. # (... because the API did not do it in extensions.rb !!) # def @plugin.path() instance_variable_get(;@path) end end # unless # Create local path and filename constants; PATH = @plugin.path() LOADER_SUFFIX = '_loader' LOADER = File.basename(PATH) tmp = LOADER.split('_') RBSFILE = tmp[0] + '_' + tmp[1] + '.rbs' # RELDIR is relative to Plugins dir, OR the dir from # the $LOAD_PATH array that require used to find it. RELDIR = File.dirname(PATH) ROOT = $LOAD_PATH.find(false) do |abspath| Kernel.test(?d, File.join(abspath, RELDIR)) end if ROOT ABSDIR = File.join(ROOT, RELDIR) else # assume the target dir is directly below, the dir that THIS file is in. ABSDIR = File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), RELDIR) end # Register this extension with the Sketchup;;ExtensionManager Sketchup.register_extension(@plugin, true) end # module YourCompany;;ThisPlugin end # module YourCompany

I've been coding all the way back to my assembler days (pre 1980). Various flavors of (Basic, Cobol, C, C++, Pascal, C#, Java), many database scripting languages such as (dBase, MSAcces, Paradox), other scripting languages such as javascript, jquery, PHP, Ruby, CSS, SQL. AWK, TCL ... I usually go with the flow. Borland built a very good library called the VCL (Visual Components Library), which makes use of an absolutely excellent object oriented set of classes. Easy to follow and very consistent stylisticly. This library is used by Delphi (object oriented pascal) and by C++ Builder. Microsoft built a terrible interface called MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes). So when I had to use Microsoft for various early mobile devices I skipped it and used the Win API. With Sketchup I use a mix of both Classes (for tools) and simple reusable methods for helper functions. Even though I prefer using pointers with C, C++ etc. it just isn't possible with ruby (although under the hood most everything is passed as a reference). Having said all that - Ruby is quite good - although there are a few too many ways to do anything. This just means it is often a bit slower reading other code as the programmer often chooses a different way to do things. So I'm a bit more formal and like to use terse syntax where possible. ! instead of not, || instead of or, immediate if = ? :, parenthesis for all methods, lots of white space etc. For me it is all about readability so I can come back and speed read code I wrote months or years ago. But I do like some of Ruby's ways. "#{var}" the use of if after an assignment etc.

yes I will try... i would wish skp would be a format only visible in the viewer as suggestion SKV sketchup viewer file

@deanby7 said: I know I'm missing something basic here but trying to get the vertices of a selected face.... @mod = Sketchup.active_model > sel = @mod.selection > verts = sel.grep(Sketchup;;Face) {|f|f.vertices} > v = verts.position > Doesn't give me an array of 3d point values as expected? Interrogate the Ruby documentation for each method used. The Sketchup::Selection class (as well as most other API collection classes,) mix in the Enumerable library module. This is where grep() comes from. Enumerable#grep() http://ruby-doc.org/core-2.0.0/Enumerable.html#method-i-grep The grep() method always returns an array, either of the collection members matching the pattern, or the results of the block (if given.) It is similar to using a combination of find_all(), followed by map(). Your pattern was all Sketchup::Face objects, and you used a block which passed each face into the block in turn. Your block then called Sketchup::Face#vertices() upon each, which always returns an Array of Sketchup::Vertex objects. So at the very least, your verts reference could point to an empty array (if no faces were grep'ed, and therefore the block is never called.) If the collection does hold face references, there will be a nested array of vertices, for each face found. Now, there is a difference between a vertex and a point. Sketchup::Vertex objects are model entity objects (and subclass of Sketchup::Drawingelement, which is subclass of Sketchup::Entity.) Meaning they are entities that are saved within the model geometric database. They, in turn have a position property. Accessing that, returns a Geom::Point3d object, which in a virtual geometry "helper" object. Anyway, if you want points, then call position upon the vertices, within the block: point_arys = sel.grep(Sketchup;;Face) {|f| f.vertices.map{|v| v.position } } ... which now gives you an array of nested arrays of points (for each face.) Or, ... access the points in two steps: vert_arys = sel.grep(Sketchup;;Face) {|f| f.vertices } for face_verts in vert_arys face_points = face_verts.map {|v| v.position } # do something with the array of face_points end

I'll post the code here, because it's where I searched for a solution first and couldn't find one... [image: 8ARS_working_edges_centre.gif] I striped out the colouring but left the selection add, as a progress bar substitute... # with Tig's advice from PM ... model = Sketchup.active_model sel = model.selection ents = model.active_entities view = model.active_view mats = model.materials # cylindrical sine wave pair on a unit radius with 24 sides... wave = [[1.0, 0.0, 0.0], [0.9659258262890683, 0.25881904510252074, 0.050799999999999984], [0.8660254037844387, 0.49999999999999994, 0.08798818102449896], [0.7071067811865476, 0.7071067811865475, 0.1016], [0.5000000000000001, 0.8660254037844386, 0.08798818102449898], [0.25881904510252096, 0.9659258262890682, 0.05080000000000003], [6.123233995736766e-17, 1.0, 1.2442411479337108e-17], [-0.25881904510252063, 0.9659258262890683, -0.05079999999999998], [-0.4999999999999998, 0.8660254037844388, -0.08798818102449893], [-0.7071067811865475, 0.7071067811865476, -0.1016], [-0.8660254037844385, 0.5000000000000003, -0.087988181024499], [-0.9659258262890682, 0.258819045102521, -0.050800000000000047], [-1.0, 1.2246467991473532e-16, -2.4884822958674216e-17], [-0.9659258262890684, -0.25881904510252035, 0.05079999999999989], [-0.8660254037844388, -0.4999999999999998, 0.08798818102449892], [-0.7071067811865479, -0.7071067811865471, 0.1016], [-0.5000000000000004, -0.8660254037844384, 0.08798818102449903], [-0.25881904510252146, -0.9659258262890681, 0.05080000000000014], [-1.8369701987210297e-16, -1.0, 3.267705224142925e-17], [0.2588190451025203, -0.9659258262890684, -0.050799999999999915], [0.4999999999999993, -0.866025403784439, -0.08798818102449889], [0.7071067811865475, -0.7071067811865477, -0.1016], [0.8660254037844384, -0.5000000000000004, -0.08798818102449901], [0.9659258262890681, -0.2588190451025215, -0.05080000000000014], [1.0, 0.0, -0.0]] # waves have an additional point to complete the circle... segments = wave.length - 1 # single undo model.start_operation('wave') # Make the empty 'container' group. container = ents.add_group() cont_ents = container.entities # add the empty surf_grp() to cont_ents surf_grp = cont_ents.add_group() surf_ents = surf_grp.entities # Add Surface soft edges and faces using offset points... i = 0 segments.times do f = surf_ents.add_face(ORIGIN, wave[i], wave[i + 1]) view.refresh f.edges.each{|e| e.soft="true" e.smooth="true" sel.add(e) } i += 1 view.refresh end # add the wave to cont_ents... cont_ents.add_curve(wave) # and explode the surface faces... surf_grp.explode sel.clear model.commit_operation EDIT: after getting the other working using add_face I made a few adjustment to this code... john

Hi, Check this one by Aerilius: http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=990

@dan rathbun said: But that was a bug in older SketchUp versions, wasn't it ? I remember it happened when saving the model (most often.) But I thought it was fixed. Maybe, although I am not sure. But as you know, supporting older versions is also a requirement, so that, as long as the old tricks work, you finally leave it as it is. Fredo

@deanby7 said: I'm running Version 8 Sketchup. ... which runs Ruby v1.8.6-p287 on PC, and v1.8.5-p0 on OSX. @deanby7 said: I'm getting an error.... Error: #<NoMethodError: private methodclass_variable_get' called for SaM::Pick_Points:Class>` For some reason Ruby 1.8 had made class_variable_get() and class_variable_set() to be private methods. In SketchUp v14+ using Ruby 2.0+, they were changed to be public methods.

@tig said: Another way to set it by ' display_name' [i.e. what you can read] would be... mats = model.materials name = 'Brick_Antique' mat = nil mats.each{|m| if m.display_name == name mat = m break end } oface.material = mat Still another way: mats = model.materials name = 'Brick_Antique' mat = mats.find {|m| m.display_name == name } oface.material = mat

Thankyou Dan!

Fluidimporter is good and more flexible since it imports other type files at $89 http://www.fluidinteractive.com/products/sketchup-extensions/fluidimporter/ but I find that SimLab FBX importer for SketchUp is more reliable at $79 https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/simlab-fbx-importer-sketchup

I always wanted an extension that added a tool that let you specify the length of a curve, and then you could adjust the start and end of it within that constraint. I had a quick look the other day of the code - looking at how it could be adapted to taking input from a Ruby tool.

The example focused on writing a tool. Tool are so complex that in an example I didn't want to muddle everything else into it. In the examples I'm writing I was a separate "tutorial" that describe in detail how to structure the folders and register the extension and add a menu. Toolbars and localization are good separate topic - each deserving their own attention. I had thought I'd put it on GitHub once it was more fleshed out - but maybe I should try to put out the WIP since we already have a topic on this going here. As for parenthesis - that's a code style and that is something people have to pick for their own. I used explicit parenthesis myself because I was familiar with other languages that always required them. But in Ruby this isn't the norm. I found that it was easier to just use normal convention for the language - as sharing code and adopting example code required less work. For Ruby code I use the GitHub style guide which seem to be the de-facto standard. IDE's normally base their inspection rules on this and you'll hear a lot of squawking if you use a different style - unless you spend the time to reconfigure the style rules.

To get the working model axes there is a hack for older versions of SU - if you only need the direction. You aren't able to obtain the origin though. Here's a snippet directly from Vertex Tools: # SU7+ only - incorrect in older versions. # A hack to get the current model axis. # # @return [Array<Vector3d,Vector3d,Vector3d>] # @since 1.0.0 def get_local_axis if FEATURE_MOVING_AXIS # SketchUp 8+ tr = get_local_transformation elsif @model.respond_to?( ;edit_transform ) # SketchUp 7 if @model.active_path tr = @model.edit_transform else tr = get_local_transformation end else # SketchUp 6 tr = Geom;;Transformation.new end [ tr.xaxis, tr.yaxis, tr.zaxis ] end # SU7+ only - incorrect in older versions. # A hack to get the current model axis. # # @return [Array<Vector3d,Vector3d,Vector3d>] # @since 1.1.0 def get_local_transformation @model.start_operation('Get Local Transformation (Hack)') entities = @model.active_entities tr = entities.add_group(entities.add_group).transformation # (?) SketchUp bug? # The transformation returned has X, Y and Z set to 1.0e+030! # Why this high value? Overflow bug? Geom;;Transformation.new( tr.xaxis, tr.yaxis, tr.zaxis, ORIGIN ) ensure @model.abort_operation end That FEATURE_MOVING_AXIS constant comes from a check if the SU version is 8 or higher.

cheers for posting these scripts... john

Gary K - They look interesting, I will check these out! With TIG and sdmitch's very informative help I have succeeded with my little script! Posted here for information. Cheers guys. Now to look at automating the move of window component with its associated reveals! Hmmm observers? dbwindowwallopen.rb

When I have collected usage information in the past I have done so only with the consent of the user. Furthermore the numbers simply go into a database and do not have names or locations attached. Many web sites today perform analytics. Even sketchucation performs a type of analytics to establish daily download numbers for plugins. The key bit is they don't track who downloaded - they just count the downloads. These are the download numbers for cab maker. You can see that the number of downloads gained momentum around the time Sketchucation featured my plugin. Now they have settled down. [image: iwt9_analytics.png] Similarly, in the past I have counted some usage specs to determine if a feature is worth more development or not. Again I do not know or care who used the feature. For example - If I were going to gather info on my CabMaker (which I have not done), I would first ask the user if it is ok and then I would provide them with a configuration that they could turn on / off anytime they want. The info could be something like this for Cabinet counts: Standard=155 Sink=6 Angled=1 Return=5 Left Blind=0 Rignt Blind=0 Tall=1 This combined with users emailing me with wish lists would help me streamline the priorities for further programming.

Oh, my! It works! Thank you guys so so much! TIG you are a Ruby wizard! Thank you for your patience So, here is my final result: http://youtu.be/nqLcLDSt1pM?hd=1

@fredo6 said: However, and wrongly, I thought Sketchup::Color was just an encapsulation of a 4-value array ... But that does bring up a very good point, that because it is compatible with an array (ie, has a to_a method and it's constructor accepts an array,)... making a clone method is beyond simple: For Ruby 2.0+; module Fredo6;;Cloner refine ;;Sketchup;;Color do def clone() self.class;;new(self.to_a) end end end using Fredo6;;Cloner module Fredo6;;SomePlugin # code that uses refined Color class end