Only the Ruby method "Require" and "Load" use the globals $: and $". For other methods loading files such as icons or images, the path is taken from the method arguments, without reference to the absolute path of Ruby in $:. In addition, several plugins assume that they are located in the Sketchup Plugin folder to compute path to files to be loaded. This is the case for my plugins in current versions (I am changing the strategy for my next versions however). The question of alternate directory for Pluginsis anyway very interesting, because: this allows to sahre plugins between different version of Sketchup (useful when we have SU6 and SU7, with pro and Free versions) on Windows Vista, you have to configure some security rules in order to copy and write to files loacted in the C:/Program Files(x86). in network configurations or in some offices, the access to the drive may simply be prohibited So using an alternate folder on a private drive gives a lot more flexibility. Technically, it is just a matter of respecting some programming rules. But, for users that are not able to write scripts, there must be some conventions for providing an esay configuration tool for Sketchup to tell where scripts are. This deserves reflection and I am sure that the community of Ruby scripters could come with a solution. Fredo

Hard to see from that small image. But it looks like to be the different Tool Windows in SketchUp. Making the windows do that require no plugin. Simply click the titlebar of the window and it'll fold up.

Actually nothing as changed with SU7. I simply thought that, because SU7 offers the feature to automatically split edges when intersecting, it could cause a probleme when you transform a model interactively. What I found out, is that his feature is a property of the Line tool. In Ruby, if you create an edge that happens to intersect another one, it is not 'cut'. Same when you transform via the method entities.transform_entities, for instance by scaling or moving. Otherwise just some clarifications on the differences between Object Reference and entityID for Sketchup entities. Object Reference is unique at a given time, but can change whenever the model changes. Sketchup may need to reconstruct geometry and alter the objects even if they remain the same visually in the model. So Object Reference should be used for scanning a selection in one pass, but not across modifications of the model. The most obvious case where this would be a problem is when you perform an Undo. EntityIDsurvives to changes of geometry in the model via transformation. If you scale an edge or a face, it will preserve its entityID. Same for Undo. However, it is good to keep in mind that for Components, entityID are attached to the Component DEFINITION, not to the instance. Which means that if you do a recursive test on a selection, you can come across the same entityID several times for different component instances. Indeed, you could keep track of the entityID of each of the Component Instances, which is unique by Instance. So, you may think that the hash key should then be a combination of the Instance ID and entityID. Wrong, because your instance may itself be embedded within a Component, which has itself several instances. OK, this looks complex, but remember that the problem exists only if you explore the model recursively, that is going 'inside' components. If you keep at one level, then both Object Reference and entityID are somehow unique at a given level. Fredo

Thanks for the tip. I just made use of it and it's working good. Operation took abtou 2 minutes in SU6 while no more than 30 seconds in SU7.

@alz said: Also, I thought I saw this somewhere awhile ago -- it was a Component Browser that acted like a Windows Browser (with back,forward,up,down,etc.). But I can't remember where I saw that. It isn't east with the current Component Browser to quickly navigate through several sub-directories. I typically have to pop back to the top and drill back down if I get lost. BTW, I remembered where I saw this: http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=Select_Component

OOPS!! Sorry for the post! I found out myself that you have to select the entire box. It is already mentioned about this in another long thread. I saw it just now. Sorry for the trouble. With best regards PRSS

Thanks for your responses. I take the point about the axis and thought about that. It is a 'workable' alternative but there are a couple of issues: 1 - where components are downloaded the axis may not be in the correct place to work with ease. 2 - I am thinking about room design, and when placing components such as cabinets, it would be desirable to be able to place a new cabinet on the left or the right of a previouc one, but a component can only have one axis so could not be easily 'snapped' on either side. As far as the 'Snapping' tool is concerned, I'm not going mad after all - I found it. It's the 'Place Adjacent' item here http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=RpTools#Place_Adjacent. Shame it's not available on it's own

I find Notepad++ easy and nice. Here please find some files which makes ruby editing in Notepad++ easier. The ruby.xml goes to plugins/API folder and the stylers.xml goes into C:\Documents And Settings(users)\application support\notepad++ (or something like that... I wish I had windows right now). Further instructions in the notepad++ website. ruby.xml makes the autocompletion easy. Happy scripting!!! Notepad++ autoCompletion for ruby and Sketchup

Alright, the error popped up because of an error in the file path (fileone or filetwo in the code). Silly mistake made frustrating by a misleading error message. However, I have these observations: model.import and model.export have a second parameter which suppresses the summary window. This works exporting, and importing skp files, but does not suppress the summary for dwg files. So the user must click on the OK button for every file which is imported. model.save does not function as the application's file:saveas command, in that the open skp file does not assume the name of the saved file. model.save functions more like file:save a copy as. These two points, along with the lack of a method to close a file (have I missed it?) makes automating any sort of batch processing difficult. Perhaps its intentional, but it limiting for a scripting language.

so although you can see through the transparent area of the image, you cannot access any info or get behind the scenes on how that is achieved.. last conceptual gasps before giving up then.. can ruby recognize image colour? (i think i can answer my own question in the negative) could a ruby trace a line stroke (something like Didier's 'strokefield generator' if you know what i mean?) lastly, (big chance) could a ruby script recognise/import an ai/svg file? PS already tried the svg plugin but it's buggy (crashes and for some reason it messes up sandbox tools) (promise i give up after this)

I would also like more control of the segment lenght of the Freehand tool, either beforehand or after drawing. Anssi

SketchUp's internal units are all in inches. If you prefer to work in meters, just add '.m' after every number. http://download.sketchup.com/sketchuphelp/gsu6_ruby/Docs/Ruby-Numeric.html

i see, in these cases i always start from scratch - if you want, you can download my rubyset. it is a collection of many plugins (for pc but may work on mac) - maybe you'd find it useful. http://www.quarr-it.com look in resources (i'm also working on an updated set coming out sometime 'soon')

Work now! I think maybe a old version of balustrade.rb is installed in my plugins folder, erase and install balustrade_components.rb and work fine, more later I will try a test whit the component option. Thank you for this great plugin. Saludos [image: 2lfn_balustrade.jpg]

that did it! Thanks. I'm sure I must have messed it up somehow.

didier, my mouth was watery after i saw the animation! i wish you find a way of making it public. it would be a success, for sure. congratulations.

@tony bombata said: question - does organizer work with encrypted scripts? Yes and no. It will load encrypted scripts, but the script's menu location won't change unless the author has adopted the Organizer menu code (it's very easy, but no one seems to want to do it).

That is exactly what I was looking for ! Thank you Marcio Obs: A new documentation for SU7 Ruby APIs could be nice. It could be a kind of open Wiki so we all could help improve it, as write documentation is ... boring.

Without "include Math" statement (directly from Ruby's console or from any autoloaded plugin), it does not work here. With "Math included", it works fine. Marcio

Thanks David that was very helpful