Hi Dan and Chris. Thank you for your answers ! @chris said: Well, those braces can be expanded to as many lines of code as you would like. You could write it like this: Yes, but I wanted to have a automated method... no need to write Module::Sub_module.method, just copy a line that returns current method in the ruby console. @dan said: Why not just open the rb in an editor, and find the command in the file ? that's what I do when I search the command. But I am not sure a "non-ruby" user could find this command easily. @unknownuser said: BTW.. sometimes there is good reason for a command to be kept private, a commercial plugin, or a Pro only plugin. The writer of a plugin, has the right, to not allow their plugin (or it's tools,) to be called in ways that could defeat the license, or cause other problems. I am not saying this bit of code MUST be inserting in each plugin, of course... Just for MY personal plugins, because I like transparency.. I just asked this forum if someone had a better (or a native) way to do like my little method...

You change [or add] the appropriate attribute[s] for the dynamic_component and then force it to refresh thus... assuming the dynamic_componentis referenced by 'dc' and you know the 'key'/'value' wanted... dc.definition.set_attribute("dynamic_attributes", 'key', 'value') $dc_observers.get_latest_class.redraw_with_undo(dc)

Well I hadn't thought of the sun vector that way, but that is great advice-- should certainly speed things up, a little at least. As for the number of faces...I'd like to take a surface and run it with arbitrary granularity; so, thousands. Running my code as it stands for 1000 faces takes on the order of 15 minutes to run. Making the change you suggested now...

@thomthom said: @dan rathbun said: And it's Windows only. We really need a solution that works on both platforms (Mac and Windows,) and that means it needs to be built into the Sketchup API by Google. That depends if he is aiming to support both platforms... Well, yes, I do want to support those for both platforms, but its just a starting test for platform that I'm using. And its not I'm the only one who want's that, I know there is much more people that would also want that ability in their plugins. So, yes after a solution to this topic, the code will be extended into more abilities of using on other platforms. @dan rathbun said: Including a library file (Win32,) in the global ObjectSpace is a big no no. Your code needs to be wrapped within a module. BIG Thanks Dan This thing was bugging me all the time I've need to wtite a code. This was a thing I needed to be sure of. @dan rathbun said: If you look at some of the pure Ruby source in Dan Berger's windows-pr package, you'll come across examples of accessing C structures from Ruby using Array.pack and String.unpack Thanks , think this is a solution. I no doubt, WILL examine the pakage!!!

@adamb said: However, in your string_to_length(), I don't think SketchUp supports units of "km", "feet" and "mile" (though it will accept ' and " for foot and inch respectively) These functions are primarily geared at getting input from user (via VCB or dialog box). So, even if units are not supported by SU, the notation accepts it (like the dot and comma for the decimal separator). The functions also support the architectural notation with ' and " (though I am not fully familiar with it). For instance s = "2'3\" + 5' 8\"" --> 2'3" + 5' 8" Traductor.string_to_length_formula(s) --> 95.0 s = "3\" * 4" --> 3" * 4 Traductor.string_to_length_formula(s) --> 12.0 Traductor.string_to_length("1.0splishysplash") --> nil Fredo

There IS a work-in-progress on a BIM type plugin that can make walls, and export to IFC. Maybe you could join in with that project ?? [Plugin] bim-tools 0.9.0 (8 Oct 2011)

@john_q said: I'm new to sketchUp, using V8 and also new to the OOP-structure business... See: Ruby Newbie's Guide to Getting Started

IDs do not subsist across sessions as they are re set every time the SKP opens. You must give entities attributes which will be carried across sessions to find them successfully...

Yes Type validation would (as TIG showed,) is usually the norm for public libraries. If it's a private library and you are the only one calling it's methods, you will know the rules (arg types,) and such validation can be left out to speed things up. That said.. I put the nil test in as the API doc refers to "a plane if successful" but does not really say what the return value is, if the call is not successful. And as there is no "real" Plane class we cannot do a type check based on that, but if it's an array with 4 elements. Comment it out if you feel it's unnecessary. (I won't feel bad.)

Good "Occamish" advice TIG.

@dan rathbun said: Components can contain nested Groups and other Components. The Components could be normal or dynamic. If nested, you'll need to do a recursive search (make a search method that calls itself.) Dan, I am an author of two exporters , I have learned it few years ago. SU2Thea exports whole SU model hierarchy. @adamb said: You would need to follow the hierarchy all the way to the top to determine if any antecedent (parent) was hidden - and thus all subsequent children are hidden - to get the correct answer. Basically it requires you to structure code as a recursive descent.. which runs counter to the definition.instances graph-like structure. I do walk all the hierarchy from the very top till the last visible? entity. It works perfectly on all objects. SU2Thea exports everything fine except this door for example: The door has several layouts of a door leaf defined. They are all being exported, because when I check e.definition.entities all return true although not all are being visible on a screen at the same moment in the same instance. I guess I have to recognize whether I have a DC, then check which option has been chosen for the instance I investigate (probably an attribute) and then discard all faces in a definition that doesn't belong to the 'option' (I guess defined in an attribute of the instance again). I hope that is easy to distinguish parts of DC definition that are optional. If it isn't obvious from attributes that a DC stores then.. it will be hit or miss. @adamb said: EDIT: as I'm writing this..are you saying hidden? and visible? are actually different? I was asking Dan whether there is a difference, but I doubt. API Docs don't mention it. I will dig into the issue. I just thought someone has already been there.

Tgi3D amorph create-texture method uses the existing texture image in creating a unique texture. You could try the trial version for 30 days for free. Ogan

thanks Thomthom for your quick answer! yeah I've got some information. Actually it's a scaffold which should be multiplied by scaling it on houses storefronts. These multiplied scaffolds should contain some attributes like "time to build","costs" or "weight". The next step in this project would be to export this model in a kind of "model-view"-program with a ruby interface. I hope this is enough information at that point.

!!=!! Name = QuadFace Tools ; author=thomthom ; version=0.7.0 ; Date= 08 Feb 12 ; info = https://bitbucket.org/thomthom/quadface-tools/ ; description = Suite of tools for manipulating quad faces. ; comment = New features and fixes. ; required = TT_Lib2 2.6.0 !!=!! !!=!! Name = TT_Lib² ; author=thomthom ; version=2.7.1 ; Date= 19 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30503 ; description = Library of commonly used functions. ; comment = Fixed OSX integrity check. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Simple Installer ; author=thomthom ; version=1.1.0 ; Date= 03 Dec 12 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=42315 ; description = Simple utility for installing plugins. ; comment = Added guard against VirtualStore under Windows. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Selection Memory ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 09 Jan 12 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42469 ; description = Simple utility for cycling through previous selection sets. ; comment = Initial release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = CleanUp³ ; author=thomthom ; version=3.1.10 ; Date= 18 Mar 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22920 ; description = CleanUp tools. ; comment = Added support for Fredo's update checker. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Transformation Inspector ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.1 ; Date= 24 Apr 12 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44859 ; description = Inspect and modify the transformation matrix directly. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Material Tools ; author=thomthom ; version=2.6.0 ; Date= 19 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17587 ; description = Tools to manage materials in model. ; comment = Added "Transparent Material to Backside". !!=!! !!=!! Name = V-Ray Tools² ; author=thomthom ; version=2.1.0 ; Date= 11 Mar 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15491 ; description = Tools for V-Ray for SketchUp. ; comment = Internal tweaks. !!=!! !!=!! Name = 3D Text Editor ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 19 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=50735 ; description = Create editable 3D text. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Architect Tools ; author=thomthom ; version=2.0.0 ; Date= 19 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30512 ; description = Collection of tools for processing site plans. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Auto Smooth ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 19 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=50739 ; description = Automatically softens and smooths autofolded edges created by the native Move, Rotate and Scale tools in SketchUp. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Scale Group Definition ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 22 Feb 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=50811 ; description = Adds Scale Definition context menu for Groups. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = VirtualStore ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 10 Oct 12 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48399 ; description = Utility to quickly inspect Window's VirtualStore for misplaced plugins. ; comment = First release. !!=!! !!=!! Name = Drop Zone ; author=thomthom ; version=1.0.0 ; Date= 18 Mar 13 ; info = http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=51330 ; description = Drag and Drop installation of plugins. ; comment = First release. !!=!!

This is only going to be accessible to those user who have require 'mysql' accessible... Can you be a little more generic in your question ? OR perhaps more specific... and change the post's title to say ' MySQL, Ruby and Dynamic-Components - HELP!'

Yeah, thanks TIG. All what you say is true. All these transformations got my head spinning. So I ditched the scaling in the tilingmethod. Went with scaling(y in this case) at ORIGIN, just after loading the component. Before placing it on the face. Not as flexible as in a method, but it will hopefully work. I think Dan suggested something similar, earlier on in this thread. Maybe that's what you had in mind all along as well, TIG. I just coulden't see it then.. Edit: When I reread you thread, did you mean to scale entities and that would become a "local" scale? Cause i did some scaling in x or y and it was in fact a global scale. The group moved from the face and tilted, even when putting the origin at center of bbox. I can't recall 100% sure if it was the group OR the entities I scaled. Ah heck. I'll try tomorrow then.. Like I said, rather had this transformation separate in the tiling method..

You may need to combine your responces with a ToolsObserver

Yea, the docs really should mention these constants, as the number used to refer to various options differ from version to version.

driven, thx!! I have reported the error an already received a debugged version (bug at their side)

I keep peeking in here hoping I'll see something that will help me understand this better... But now I suppose I will actually download it and try and to figure it out... this is something akin to a Gerbil sitting in the cockpit of an F-22 and saying " I can do this!!"... But either way I've got to try it. I wanted to say thanks for this script and for trying to find another easier way to help those of us that are UV mapping impaired! I'm really hoping to figure out how to use this to texture cylinders... Too bad there is no simple native method to paint a seamless texture on a cylinder in SU... I'd think that would seem to be a basic necessity to the SU programers? Thanks again!! Edited to add- THANK YOU!! It worked!! Not right at first, it seemed to not want to activate, but after a few tries it did and I got it to work! That is so COOL! I'm going to experiment some more... Thank you x 1000! Oh yeah, I don't know if anyone else has this problem too, but when I am viewing the video clip you made, the bottom part of the screen is cut off... so when you click on your plugin the drop down menu is below the field of view and I can not see what option you are choosing. I just thought you might want to know. [image: Iedq_Menu.jpg]