I the massive PluginStore collection... Linked through the Resources menu above... There will be lots of useful 'cribs'...

I personally felt the license agreement, and more so the language on the web site and download links, was always quite clear regarding commercial use. But more-so, I do agree with you, that it is a rather unfortunate change of course. My biggest fear, is that it will destroy the bulk of the creative efforts going into the 3D Warehouse. I personally get a great thrill out of downloading various space ships and crazy vehicle creations -- almost certainly the efforts of a 14 year-old boy somewhere out there on the internets. And there's no way they will be plopping down $500 to continue such endeavors. So if I may, I'd like to offer my suggestion -- perhaps a $199 price point for Make? Or go even further, and offer something integrated with the 3D Warehouse -- so as long as you upload at least 1 model a month to the Warehouse, you can continue using Make for free. More on the subject of your post, I feel it was a little naive of you to pursue a commercial business model off of the free software that Google was offering. I would recommend you stay with Sketchup, and contact their bulk sales department, to see if you could get some funding, and negotiate a good price to continue what sounds like an otherwise great business model. --J

It actually re-orients the model's axis. So green is up and blue is shooting straight forward, like you asked for. You can write your own camera positioning tool and you can program it's "up" direction to be pointing any which way you want. But as soon as the user flips back to the built-in orbit tool, SU will default back to forcing the original model axis z, to be up. SU very strongly favors having the z axis not tilt left or right.

Thanks Dan, I hadn't noticed that behaviour before. Initially being only interested in getting a couple of components into the model it wasn't an issue and I would always have the proxies in the model to check that the swap worked ok. Looking at this again it looks like the components are all loaded into the file in turn. When I repeat ThomThom's text as below only Comp4 gets deleted if not required to replace comp3 (being the last to be loaded). Comp2 get left behind. newDef = model.definitions.load("J:/Comp2.skp") oldDef = model.definitions['Comp1'] oldDef.instances.each{|old_inst|old_inst.definition=newDef t = old_inst.transformation ents = old_inst.parent.entities ents.add_instance(newDef, t) old_inst.erase! } newDef = model.definitions.load("J:/Comp4.skp") oldDef = model.definitions['Comp3'] oldDef.instances.each{|old_inst|old_inst.definition=newDef t = old_inst.transformation ents = old_inst.parent.entities ents.add_instance(newDef, t) old_inst.erase! }

Ah, the docs are wrong. Why am I not surprised...

New chapter for the Lost Manual.

Thank you very much,Renderiza ! I've tested the codes , it works very good.I can see the different panel types by coloured faces. I noticed the same face area of the sloped faces and the upright faces , they have different colours.I don't know why it happens for this time , I will look later. I just tried to map components on coloured faces , but I have to select faces and a panel component together to place and copy on the faces. Not sure that I have to do the attribute's name on coloured faces to have the same names as component's names for component mapping.

If you extend and instance with module "FooBar" then you can use instance.is_a?(FooBar)

@tig said: Let's start simple... Thanks, TIG, for the suggestion. Unfortunately it does not work very well at all, basically because in 3D the mouse represents a ray, not a point. Sketchup generates a point via InputPoint and PickHelper using a heuristic that does not work very well at all in this application. I have a method that works well: get the mouse ray via view.pickray(x,y) loop over all segments of the polyline compute the position along the line containing the segment, where the ray is closest to the line trim that to the endpoints of the segment compute distance from the resulting point to the ray remember the closest one now I have the segment and location within the segment of the mouse generate the Geom::Transform for that location Basically this represents the centerline of a particle accelerator, and the code is inside my custom DragTool, using the mouse to place an object along the centerline; so the object is constrained to lie on the centerline, and its local z-axis is aligned with the centerline where it is located. For <= 200 segments this tracks the mouse quite well; for 1000 segments it takes about 1 second to catch up. That's acceptable for now; ultimately I may optimize it. I'm rather surprised that this much Ruby computation is acceptable. If a segment is parallel to the pickray, the math will divide by zero. So my code disallows any segment that is nearly parallel to the pickray. This makes sense, as the user cannot possibly select a position along such a segment; use the middle button to rotate the display so the desired position is visible. I ended the centerline with a half-infinite straight line. SketchUp cannot draw that (or rather, it tries to do so, zooming out so much that it's useless). So I split the final segment in two, with the first being half as long as the preceding centerline; the code does not display the final segment. The next challenge is to generalize this to include segments that are circular arcs (so far the code is limited to radius=0).... If anyone wants my code, or references to the geometrical calculations I'm using, just ask.

Thanks, really appreciate your help. Now I am clear and wait for the 64-bit SDK.

Thank you ThomThom Moving to instance variables

This is digging up an old thread, but here's a snippet I think should work: <span class="syntaxdefault"><br />module&nbsp;TransformationHelper<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;flipped_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">axes_dot_products</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">&&&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;flipped_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">axes_dot_products</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">&&&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;flipped_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">axes_dot_products</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">&&&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">private<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">def&nbsp;axes_dot_products<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">[<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">xaxis</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">X_AXIS</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">),<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">yaxis</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Y_AXIS</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">),<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">zaxis</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Z_AXIS</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;flipped</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_x&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">*&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_y&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">*&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">dot_z&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;end<br /><br />end<br /><br /><br />module&nbsp;Example<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;self</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">inspect_flipped<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;tr&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Sketchup</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">active_model</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">selection</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">[</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">].</span><span class="syntaxdefault">transformation<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;tr</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">extend</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">TransformationHelper</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">p&nbsp;tr</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped_x</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">p&nbsp;tr</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped_y</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">p&nbsp;tr</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">flipped_z</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />end<br /></span>

Here's some getting started tips to SketchUp Extension development: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/golden-rules-of-sketchup-plugin-development/ Check out the rest of the blog for more articles.

Note that when computing the area of the faces you want to apply the transformation of the parent context in order to get the correct size. The Face.area method accepts and optional transformation argument.

I agree! I am using the LinksManager Plugin by Dieder...His instructions on using the plugin require that you unzip the file into the Plugins folder. It will not work to copy and paste the folder into the Plugins folder. ThomThom recommended that I try to open the plugin from a sketchup shortcut using an argument. It creates the icon. But because the encrypted part of the plugin does all the functional work, I can not modify it to look to another drive for the files. (The error I get when I run the .rb part of the plugin in the ruby console is that the .rbs is undefined). I am thinking it will be best to try and create one .zip package that contains everything I need to distribute, and puts it into the Plugins folder so that I don't have to remap the location of the .rbs file. My group of users is small~10, they have no experience with sketchup, and they may or may not have access to the internet...I know--the dark ages. I need to make the process of accessing the collaborative model as easy, painless, and complete as possible. The group requested that I distribute hard copies of all needed peices--software, plugins, model, files, on a DVD drive. The next best option is an external hard drive. I have to get this to work, so invent I will! (Unless someone comes up with a slick way to solve this ) Thanks for your help!

you could store the value/flag on the model instead, then it would also change with the undo steps model = Sketchup.active_model model.set_attribute('maricanis', 'dl_materials_changed', true) #... model.get_attribute('maricanis', 'dl_materials_changed', false)

Oh, if you're only intending to use the data locally, then any remote data source would be overkill. If you want to just save it to the model, you can just save it as an attribute to the model. Entity#(g|s)et_attribute can store a few different types, including Point3d objects. model = Sketchup.active_model # Save array of points to the model model.set_attribute('my-points', 'some-key', [ORIGIN, Geom;;Point3d.new(1, 2, 3)]) # Get the points from the model, or an empty list if none are present my_points = model.get_attribute('my-points', 'some-key', [])

PickHelper I will have to read up on this? Thanks tt & eneroth3 I will be following on what you find out - dj

Hi, sorry about the delayed response. One important thing about the current SDK is that it cannot work with the in-memory model that's live in SketchUp, it can only open existing skp files. So you'll have get the file saved first. Here are some answers to your questions. For the ones I skipped, it means we should be able to do it. @th3lurker said: 4b. I used to create new faces using a mesh(because of speed issues), but this poses several problems. The face does not "exist" until i use fill faces from mesh, so i have to store the texture information separately. Fill from mesh erases all entities that existed previously in the group, so i have to wait until i am sure i have no more faces to add to the mesh. Could i use SUFaceCreate instead? Like i said, speed is an issue here, some of out projects have thousands of entities, and 10+ faces/ entity is not uncommon. Yes, you can use SUFaceCreate but using meshes (i.e. SUGeometryInput*) is currently the only way to map textures due to various reasons. We are looking into adding that to individual faces as well. @th3lurker said: Locking the group is not that important We do not support locking groups yet. I'll make a note. @th3lurker said: Are the .skp's backwards compatible?(sketchup8, maybe even 7, i have no real idea what the clients use). We currently save only in the 2013 format. It's on our list to be able to save in older formats. Thanks!

I sent it in a PM as a 'code block', just copy paste, no zip... john