[Plugin] Three Line Tools (Updated March 9th, 2009)

Panga · 23 Feb 2009, 11:25

Chris,

Thanks again for answering so quickly to my request, and It seems that will help others !!

I got a usability suggestion to this plugin. Instead of using the messagebox to enter the values, why not use the VCB? When you activate the tool you enter the length you want, then you can freely click point where the lines are created without having to press enter while you type. And you can also at any point type in a new value for other lengths. going around the model very quickly until you deactivate the tool.

It works pretty well, but if you can implement the Thomthom suggestion, this'll be the perfect tool __

Panga.

Edson · 23 Feb 2009, 11:37

chris,

you are on a roll! one more useful script. very soon you will be among our ruby masters.

regards.

watkins · 23 Feb 2009, 13:52

Dear Chris,

Will your script make normals to surfaces? For example, suppose one has an inclined plane on which one has placed a construction point. Can one use your plugin to create a normal of specified length at the construction point?

Regards,
Bob

Chris Fullmer · 23 Feb 2009, 17:58

@thomthom said:

Chris, you're on fire! Don't think I've seen so many plugins rolled out so quickly. Good work.

Thanks Thom! so far they are all mostly pretty simple scripts that I can write in a day or less. I'm scared of the big multi-day scripts!

@thomthom said:

I got a usability suggestion to this plugin. Instead of using the messagebox to enter the values, why not use the VCB? When you activate the tool you enter the length you want, then you can freely click point where the lines are created without having to press enter while you type. And you can also at any point type in a new value for other lengths. going around the model very quickly until you deactivate the tool.

I think I'm not fully understanding this one. The VCB option workflow is:

Click on point
Type value (if necessary)
hit enter
repeat

right? That is the exact same workflow for the way script is set up now. Is there something I'm not seeing there? I don't mind setting it up with the VCB, I just couldn't see any real added benefit to it.

@rv1974 said:

Chris are you working beside cradle?

Actually, yes I am. I was up til 3:30am with a sick, which helped me get a lot of script writing done

@Bob Watkins - I really like that idea! I think that will require a separate plugin. I wouldn't want to add a pop-up box each time you start this script asking if you want vertical mode or normal mode. So let me make a new script for it. Maybe they can both be housed under a submenu together or something to help conserve precious space in the plugins menu.

Thanks everyone for testing the script and the feedback. Hopefully I'll have some update news shortly!

Chris

thomthom · 23 Feb 2009, 18:03

@chris fullmer said:

I think I'm not fully understanding this one. The VCB option workflow is:

Click on point
Type value (if necessary)
hit enter
repeat

right? That is the exact same workflow for the way script is set up now. Is there something I'm not seeing there? I don't mind setting it up with the VCB, I just couldn't see any real added benefit to it.

I was thinking more like:

Activate tool
Type length value
click on points (the length of the line will be the last value entered into the VCB)
click some more points
Type in new VCB value
click new points

You only click enter when you need to change the length of the lines. As long as the lines you make are the same length you don't have to enter any values.

Chris Fullmer · 23 Feb 2009, 18:05

Aha! I get it now. Yes, that is an even faster workflow than the current one. I think that will require some VCB figuring-out on my part. But it sounds great!

Chris

thomthom · 23 Feb 2009, 18:11

Don't think you have to change much. Take out the input box in the onLButtonUp event. Add the onUserText http://groups.google.com/group/SketchUp-Plugins-Dev/web/Ruby-Tool.html#onUserText where it sets @@last_height to the users input. ...I think from looking at the code quickly...

Chris Fullmer · 23 Feb 2009, 18:13

@thomthom said:

Don't think you have to change much.

That is music to my ears! I'll check it out later today after class (or maybe during )

Chris

rv1974 · 23 Feb 2009, 20:02

@unknownuser said:

rv1974 wrote:Chris are you working beside cradle?

Actually, yes I am. I was up til 3:30am with a sick, which helped me get a lot of script writing done

I simply heard a baby crying on the tutorial's background)

Chris Fullmer · 27 Feb 2009, 08:58

@watkins said:

Will your script make normals to surfaces? For example, suppose one has an inclined plane on which one has placed a construction point. Can one use your plugin to create a normal of specified length at the construction point?

UPDATE! Yes, I finally got this implemented. Thanks for the suggestion Bob. This plugin now offers 3 tools. Vertical line by height, by elevation and Normal Line. Normal lines will work on a face, edge, or vertex. I've updated all the info in the first post and also the video is new too and it shows how to use the three tools. Though you can probably figure it out faster than watching the video Hope its useful,

Chris

Edson · 27 Feb 2009, 11:43

chris,

thanks for the upgrade. deceptively simple, enormously useful.

broomstick · 27 Feb 2009, 13:16

this plugin IS AWESOME!

Tell me: does it work on mac?

remus · 27 Feb 2009, 13:27

Should work on a mac, there are very few platform dependant plugins.

Edson · 27 Feb 2009, 13:33

@broomstick said:

this plugin IS AWESOME!

Tell me: does it work on mac?

it surely does. no problem at all.

kwistenbiebel · 27 Feb 2009, 13:34

Wow Chris! You are really on a roll here making these tools.
I can sense you enjoy coding it. And it is so cool you share it with us.
Thanks mate!

pilou · 27 Feb 2009, 14:39

Suggestion : just enter one time the measure
then at each click a vertical is drawn
Esc = Escape for choose another type and measure

Edson · 27 Feb 2009, 15:09

@unknownuser said:

Suggestion : just enter one time the measure
then at each click a vertical is drawn
Esc = Escape for choose another type and measure

good suggestion. this would make the tool even more agile to use.

Chris Fullmer · 27 Feb 2009, 16:45

@unknownuser said:

Suggestion : just enter one time the measure
then at each click a vertical is drawn
Esc = Escape for choose another type and measure

Oh yeah, that was another feature I wanted to implement. Thom even gave me a starting point. I've got a little bit of time today, maybe I'll get it worked out during that. Thanks for the comments and compliments everyone. And yes, I am really really enjoying coding.

Chris

pilou · 27 Feb 2009, 16:50

And if you can make the same for the Greeble that will be also a super crazy cool plug!
Ergonomic must be the first thing to think for a plug!
Keep the good work!

Chris Fullmer · 27 Feb 2009, 16:58

Hey Frenchy, I know you have issues with too many plugins cluttering your menus. Would it be helpful if I tried to make all my plugins register themselves with the extension manager, so you could disable them or enable them as needed? That way you wouldn't have to have all my plugins showing in the menus until you need them. Would that be useful?

Chris