@unknownuser said: Jim, I am trying to add a plugin made by TIG into sketchup. Excuse my novice question, but since I am not the most adept at these things I need some help adding the plugins. Basically how do I a plugin to my sketchup? First I recommend that you post the question in the thread relating to the actual tool itself - you're more likely to get a response. Then explain what your problem is - currently we don't know what tool you are trying to install, or what problem you are having... Most plugins come with some simple installation instructions... Very simple plugins [e.g. single files ending in .rb] are simply placed in the Plugins folder of Sketchup. [Tip: ensure you have full access-rights on your PC to write to folders within the Sketchup folder as you will often want to 'save' plugins, components, materials, styles etc]] When you restart Sketchup the new tool will auto-load and be available to you... You need to read the tool's download page on how you use the tool. Some are support for other tools - e.g. Smustard.com's 'offset.rb' - and do nothing on their own, rather they offer additional methods to several other tools. Some rarely used tools run by typing a short command into the Ruby Console. Some add a menu item to the Plugins menu that then runs the tool. Some add the item to another menu like Tools or Draw. Some add submenus will drop-down items to choose from - e.g my 2dTools. Some only work through the right-click context-menu - e.g. my SectionCutFace or HolePunchingTool - if certain conditions are met - e.g. you have selected a Section-Plane... Some have a toolbar that is activated from the View > Toolbars menu. Some tools [none of mine] are 'extensions' and need activating [just the once] from the Window > Preferences dialog > Extensions menu [then you'll its get toolbar/menu options until it is deactivated sometime in the future...] Some tools are more complex than one simple file ending in .rb and require you to download a collection of files, usually in a single zip file format. Typically there are one or two 'loose' .rb files in the zip that 'load' other files. and subfolders [one or more] containing several other files needed to do things like make the toolbar icons, make web-dialogs etc or do the complex coding for the tool[s]: there are always clear instructions for this type of download - typically you need to extract the files from the zip file, maintaining the subfolder structure and put everything into Plugins in the same relationship - i.e. never move files out of their subfolder - they are in there for a good reason! ... Note that some complex tools also need you to download the author's supporting 'Libraries' separately, in which case it is clearly explained and linked to: some even need you to get a 'helper' plugin - like 'progress.rb' available free from Smustard.com and used by some authors to show their tools progress while it's doing complex calculations etc... Note that as well as .rb files there are some un-editable 'compiled' scripts ending in .rbs which usually for part of a more complex tool - these are treated in the same way as .rb files...

If the values are in inches then you won't need to convert from a float to length if you are only passing it to Point3d.new. Looking I your code I would have made your hard coded values into reusable variables or constants. Easier to maintain and you'll be creating less objects. The only time you need to convert to a Length is when you need to output the unit to the current model unit as Length.to_s will do that. Otherwise, make sure any hard coded lengths are in inches, or use the helper methods that converts it to Length object.

There are several 'MakeFaces' tools to add faces to imported CAD line-sets. If the CAD file is poorly executed you need to heal tiny gaps where ends don't quite meet etc - again there are several tools [e.g. TT's EdgeTools...] Also if the lines aren't 'flat' they need to be 'flattened' - again there're several tools to do this... You need to assemble a set of tools to tidy gaps, flaten, remove unwanted vertices, and add faces etc... They are out there in the Plugins Index...

It would be nice if the remove CG material plugin worked on the entire model OR on a selection only. Some plugins can make this difference by first checking if there is a selection.

I do not know how Builder Boy's plugin works (hopefully the same way) but TT also has one - UV Toolkit - where you can paint all front face materials onto back faces and vice versa while keeping UV co-ordinates be them any kind of projection or distorted/twisted etc.

Hi Tig Thanks for reply. Yes that looks promising, however I'm not remotely a programmer, so do you think someone may consider this an interesting/useful plugin - I'm sure many of the landscape folk would find this useful in a number of ways. Also would it be possible for such a plugin to make each face a component and then each face-component could hold attributes (I think this is what you were alluding to in your post on colour by slope in viewtopic.php?f=323&t=20635) such as solar gain incidence, surface erodibility, soil type etc. Sorry if this is a bit vague, but people are doing interesting things with SU and I don't know what's possible. cheers

My trick works only with components with no level of component inside and for rename a same component with definition name "Ball" existing in different positions as new components with of course new definitions name Ball1, Ball2, Ball3 etc... ? I suppose they must be "Make Unic" then renamed

Yes!!

Little teaser the 24 positions plug from the first post is made! Just a little option to add and it will be released! A very pleasant plug! Always by Sdmitch [image: NGP9_twenty4position.jpg]

Perfect, thank-you Thom.

My TIG.centerorigin moves all geometry in the current SKP so that it's centered in the XY at the origin - the Z is unchanged but can be centered too by # out a line as explained... It means you need to process the SKP for each layer exported, but it pretty quick...

@unknownuser said: Make scene1 with style1 but only save the style/fog settings (deselect camera etc) Make scene2 with style2 doing the same thing. Switch between scenes. (set animation to 0secs or else the styles will fade from one to the other. (or that may be desirable?)) Jeff That what I do now. However, I have 5 scenes with 7 layers. I just was trying to limit the scenes and layers. Thank you for the info Ken

Yea, tried that one - works, but requires exes. Was hoping for a pure ruby implementation.

I see the difference. The 2nd plugin applies and reads attibutes to the component definition. Where as the 1st plugin, uses the component instance. It works fine for edges, faces, groups. But for components, they can't see the attibutes set by the other. Also, I don't know if it matters. But if you are changing the definition of a component, then the change is not unique.

BUT SketchyPhysics is it Why not post about your problem in the dedicated SP subforum here, as I am sure there are ways of animating just 23 objects in SP - think of the exploding or falling block animations...

Excellent Tig, thanks, it's nice to know you will look at it. I'm at sea again for a while but will get back home eventually and I'll sort out the best exports for what I do. Off the top of my head I know .dwg work for my plotter, not sure of the file format for the laser cutter, don't actually have it in hand yet, but it will be capable of cutting 900mm wide by 2000mm long. In the meanwhile, if anyone else sees the benefits and knows the format they need....... Sorry, hate using a phone for this stuff, typing is a pain, and satellite connection is so hit and miss.

cheers been using sketchup for years didnt now that existed

thanks TIG, of course yours was one of the plugins I was talking about and as you said it works only with single faces. I will try what you suggested and let you know if I succeed... cheers, Alessandro

A new and improved fbs.rb is now available. Faces in groups and components are now checked along with all other faces in the model. Since the plugin is expecting numbers to be entered for the maximum and minimum areas, an empty entry is not valid. If the "Area <" is less than the "Area >" an OR selection is made and all faces with an area less then the "Area <" value or an area greater than the "Area >" value are selected. If the "Area <" value is greater than the "Area >" value an AND selection is made and all faces with an area greater than the "Area >" and less than the "Area <" value are selected. For example, Area < 1000 and Area > 0 selects all faces with an area less than 1000. Area < 0 and Area > 1000 selects all faces with an area > 1000. Area < 2000 and Area > 1000 selects all faces with an area between 1000 and 2000. Area < 2000 and Area > 4000 selects all faces with an area less than 2000 or greater than 4000. Select Faces by Size

Thanks, I was able to download & install it after disabling ESET. Do you plan to add DWG support?