Well, at least the Back button is here. The toolbar issue is serious - although I have undocked all my toolbars aside my SU window and have been a happy person for quite a while now.

Dear Edson I hope you don't mind my using your suggestion to illustrate my view that plugins should be considered in two categories: [image: giD0_Dressandassemble.png] So in the case of your louvres it would seem close to reality to use dressing plugins to create an individual component but unworldly to create separate components with different rotations. The component is the same, only its assembly differs. So here I would recommend using a webdialog machine to assemble each louvre and determine its rotation. JavaScript has a ready-made random number generator (Math.random()), but the rotation might better be determined by sun position, or wind direction/air flow for cooling plant and so on. Louvres could also be grouped in sets whilst still retaining their individuality (no exploding of groups required) and all could be animated including delivery, hoisting, unpacking, installation, testing and use. Now all of this is unlikely to be of anything but passing interest to the Sketchup modeler but as the webdialog machine records are in comma separated plain text, other machines designed for different purposes can add their output over the Net and help compile comprehensive data. All (authorised) can see the results. This seems well and good but the main stumbling block is the difficulty in establishing a single standard for the interaction of webdialogs with PCs and Macs. I am not suggesting this should be attempted in this topic, but if what I suggest helps to build a consensus for a dedicated webdialog forum, then I think this would greatly help the development of this important aspect of Sketchup use. My apologises for "bending" your topic, Chris [flash=600,480:1p50byyh]http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6673808&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1[/flash:1p50byyh] Just testing if Vimeo now unblocked

Oops! Model.modified? might have been a good idea. I'll try this: # check before removing current file Sketchup.file_new model = Sketchup.active_model if (model.modified?) do_error("Model not cleared - cancel") return end#if

60.degrees http://code.google.com/intl/nb/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/numeric.html

I'd also support any serious attempt to improve UV mapping in SU. Thom, you know I love your UV Toolkit (that's also why I made that tutorial with it) but certainly some "more freedom" with UV mapping would really come handy. NewOne's idea is great - not that I could tell how easy it would be to implement it. Maybe indeed you need to break that big face into pieces first, make every texture bit unique, bend the shape as wanted (or whatever) and finally somehow combine them as UV mapped? Certainly (with a surface bending in all 3 dimensions like above) it would also need to involve some texture projection and such so I can imagine it is not that easy.

worked some time ago on a model2xml and it worked pretty well by extending each class with a to_xml so it was quickly implemented. this can be implemented in the same manner but as thomthom it is not possible to have a 100% dump and then reimport it back to SketchUp and have the same model

Hi Voljanko, SU has a basic ruby installation that comes with it. I think it was 1.8 or something. But it is missing a lot of things. I don't know if anyone has a complete (or partial) list of exactly what has been excluded. But you can include ruby files from a regular Ruby installation in your plugins. You just need to figure out what files you need, then include them with your plugin and require them in your plugins. Then you can use the methods and classes they provide. Chris

I believe that it is not set up yet for the authors to be able to edit their info unfortunately. Hopefully in time that will get up and running. Chris

@thomthom said: "Thingymajiggy" Would that work better in Norwegian? Seriously, Ruby is good because "plugin" and "Google SketchUp plugin" are synonyms here, but not out in the big world outside this forum.

@al hart said: We wound up using base64 encoding. Great minds... Ruby had issues until I switched from chars 32-95 to 48-111.

I've used my SelectionMemory script to do the opposite - select edges outside the space I was in. Specifically, I would group a profile shape, select and "memorize" the edges to be used for FollowMe, then go inside the profile's group and "recall" the edges, then start the FollowMe tool and click on the profile face. It prevents the extruded shape from reacting to the edges of the path - very handy in some cases.

@artofseeing said: got it1 it was my error writing "15,4" instead of "15.4" into the value German decimal points 1,2 == 1.2 !!!

wow. how you guys write these rubies is beyond me completely. am always in awe of your skills! thanks for replies

@thomthom said: Seen Fredo's thread on Mac Webdialogs? http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=13394 Thanks, yes. That was in the first link. The second link was what I did about it.

okay- SU was hanging for some other reason; removing date.rb from the Tools folder has made the dialog box go away. who knows what else will be affected, but at least all is well right now. Thanks for the input.

Yep! Thanks Massimo, that was lightning fast feedback! cheers Andre

Here is a brief explanation on how it is done. I separated it as 3 different jpeg exports. Shading, shadow, and sketchy edges. All you have to do is save a scene so your camera stays locked. Then start exporting jpegs with different styles. Shading = Shaded style edges off (White material). Shadows = Hidden line edges on (white edges). Edges = Any Sketchy edge style you prefer. In photoshop run some filters on the shading and shadow passes. I used alien skin snap art which isn't free but you can use a combination of native photoshop filters with similar results. Then set those 2 layers to multiply and adjust the opacity to your liking. I attached an example of the process. Pardon the crappy model I used as an example. [image: sketchyshadowresponse.jpg] If you have any questions please feel free to pm me.

Organizer 1.4 is now available. To update to Organizer 1.4, you have three possible options: Use the download link you previously received when you purchased your license. If you don't have it, then Use the "MySmustard" button on the free Smustard Toolbar. Register using the email address provided when you purchased your license. If you don't have that account, or if you just don't want to install the Smustard Toolbar (which also gives you access to relevant upgrade offers), then Email me and I'll hunt down your information. If too many need/choose this option, my response may be delayed, and I may need to come up with an alternative method.

Excellent. There's already a script out there that does this, but it does not work very well for me. Specifically, it often selects a vertex behind the one I want, and then gives an incorrect angle. It would be much better if you could restrict it to act only in a given plane, like the native protractor tool. The existing script by Didier Bur is called dim_angle.rb, and can be found here: http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/em_arc_page.htm

@tig said: or Matt666's PointTool.rb - here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=95648#p95648 thank you, TIG, this is the one!