TIG, Every suggestion you have made works perfectly; the issue was actually with my system. I am running OSX and it turns out that when smart quotes are enabled sketchup does not recognise " as a valid symbol. I discovered this when I copied and pasted code I found online it worked but when I retyped it, symbol for symbol, it did not. Very weird In order to fix this I needed to do the following: System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Text -> uncheck "Use smart quotes and dashes" This is something that I am sure trips up many OSX users and should probably be looked at by Sketchup. Thanks again for all your help. Brad

There's lots out there... Here's an example: http://sketchupapi.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/dynamic-components-that-react-to-scene.html

I assume you are using Save_As on a DC, or exporting your DCs as part of a Collection. The SKP file[s] that results might appear like a normal 'Component', but if you then add it to a Model it will display the DC attributes/properties you gave it when you made/saved it. The various 'dynamic_attributes' which you gave it within its 'cradle' Model, are saved with the external SKP itself, when you do the Save_as etc... So when you upload a DC SKP it should retain its special abilities as attributes attached to its own model. When you download a DC it still has those abilities saved within it, but they do not display if you simply open that downloaded SKP - they only manifest themselves when you insert that DC into another Model... It is a Dynamic Componentafter all... the clue is in the name...

Ignore my last post ive worked it out, by taking 2cm off the v a_space_H and the a_space_V I can now get the correct number of bays required I am very deeply indebted for your assistance Thanks again

Hi pcmoor, Many thanks for the reply and example files. Yes, that is a nice trick that works: changing any parameter in the component option window and clicking apply will update the calculation without redraw. Cheers! A.

You can let the nested component reference parent.

this is the idea of TIG http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49564#p525146 video how it works (sorry, in Russian) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWGGfoR5slI

Hi Gary Thanks for your help. I've found a solution. Please just play with the file. Explanation: 2Theta is changed into a sub component of Theta, then I considered Theta component as parent...then I can click on cristals to change the position, while the goniometer is turning.Sub DC 2 component.skp Have a look on the drafty modification. Cheers Pierre

I'm not knowledgeable enough with Ruby to know whether this can be scripted or not but I guess this would be the place to start: http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/tutorial_attrreporting

Personally, I just explode and regroup anything that I need to un-dynamicise, but I believe there's a script hanging around somewhere, possibly by TIG? edit: here it is http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15%26amp;t=40538 , but the iterative version (that kills more than one nested component) is broken, so you might have to beg TIG for a fix

Pilou, I try this way. ; ) Pierre

Prokrastinator, your solution is the best one I've seen so far on anywhere on the net. Can you explain how your solution works? All of the rotations are linked to a counter so they keep moving until the counter reaches a certain point?

Well i thought id just add the final model , although basic to look at, i'm pleased with the dynamic aspect of it. I can change the overall dims and the key design aspects using the components options box, and I have assigned the components to different layers for selective viewing of different parts. Just one last thing! how to miter the ends of the plinth rails in such a way is will redraw correctly? The answer is probably the scale function but i haven't yet got a full grip on this control in the attributes fields. Please excuse the pace of learning... Dan Test box mk3.skp

No, you would not. Dynamic attributes are a feature of sketchup only. Sorry :S

good stuff!

there is a problem with your version for multiples of 6.5, 13m rounds down to 12, whereas my formula produces the require 3 x 3m and 2 x 2m

@pixero said: Thats great. Can you make it work with millimeter? I would assume so.

Thank you very much Not only is the written information very useful in understanding dynamic components better, but the model (which works perfectly) gives me something to deconstruct and reference to for future models. Dynamic components has a steep learning curve but am slowly grasping the basics with practise and help from people like yourself. Your time and patience is greatly appreciated. Thank you again

Yeh, thats spot on Thank you

If I understand the question correctly, you want to be able to rotate the component, but only a certain distance? You can just use a conditional statement. Angle = if(inputAngle<maxAngle, inputAngle, maxAngle) If you wanted to actually be using the rotate tool, you could nest the component within a shell, and have the nested component compensate when the shell's rotation exceeds the max rotation. I don't think you can have a single rotation attribute constrained with a formula and still be able to directly alter it with the rotation tool, unfortunately.