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

massimo · 23 Mar 2009, 16:51

I meant that when I click on a surface that is, for example, at + 100 cm over the 0,0 original plane, and i type 200 cm for that line, the line will be long 100cm and not 200 cm, because the reference is the original plan and not the surface that I clicked on.
Massimo

Chris Fullmer · 23 Mar 2009, 17:37

Hmm, yes the script is set up so that the groundplane is essentially sea level. If you want a line that goes to elevation 200cm, then you type in 200cm and it creates a line that endsw exactly at 200cm elevation.

If you want a line that is 200cm long, then use Lines by Height. And it will create a 200cm tall line from wherever you click.

I do not have a tool that allows you to specify a new 0,0 level. Is that what you are asking for?

Chris

massimo · 23 Mar 2009, 18:10

Exactly that, Chris. I had in mind something like “vertical lines by relative elevation” from a new 0,0 plane. I know that I can make a line by typing the length or by using “line by hight”, but if you have many lines to draw, all with different length, but with the same elevation from a new 0,0 plane that would be useful.
Massimo

Chris Fullmer · 23 Mar 2009, 18:37

I know its not much consoloation, but if you figure out the total elevation you are going for, then it works just the same. If you know you want a line that is 200cm above a plane that is 400cm above the 0,0. Then make that first line go to an elevation of 600cm and it will be as long as you want and all subsequent lines will also go to the desired height.

JGA · 1 May 2009, 21:12

Thanks very much. The video explanations also help a great deal.

plot-paris · 4 May 2009, 08:06

first of all, thank you very much Chris, great tool!

I have two little suggestions:

1. use the select tool to select an object (e.g. terrain) then click one of the 'Three Line Tools' buttons. instead of clicking onto the terrain surface and manually placing lines you right-click the selected terrain and choose the option 'place line on each face'. now the plugin places a line on each face of the selected object
(important: if you work with a smoothed object make sure to enable 'view hidden geometry' to make sure that a line is placed on every face. otherwise the plugin will place lines only on those faces that are visibly divided).

2. click one of the 'Three Line Tools' buttons to start the process of placing lines. but before you start, right-click and choose the option 'place components'. now the plugin places the same component instead of a line. the vertical axis of the component is aligned to the line within the component. if you worked with the 'elevation'-function, the component's height will be defined by the first one placed and all the others will be scaled.
this tool makes it very easy to later replace all these components with another one of your choice (trees, columns or needles, like in the above image).

both these functions are disabled by default. so if you don't need them you can simply ignore them. but if they have been chosen once the settings will be remembered for this SketchUp session.

what do you think? or ?

publied · 6 May 2009, 13:44

very interesting tool! many congrats (and thank you).

Chris Fullmer · 6 May 2009, 15:48

Thanks!

@Plot, I'm thinking about it. Some of that functionality fits right in with some of Frenchy's wishes too. I just haven't had time to do it yet. If I get more time to work on this one again, those are good ideas.

Chris

Doodler · 10 May 2009, 22:58

Hi Chris, I'm new to this forum. Thanks for the great plugin. I wanted to try something different today and I came across this plugin. I've had fun with it, just playing around. I also wanted to say the tutorial is good too. Not only does it show me how to use the tool, I could actually see what you were doing, the video was clear and your explanation was to the point.

Chris Fullmer · 15 May 2009, 17:34

I don't quite get it. Seems like the tool should do that already. Do you have a quick drawing to show better what you mean? I think I don't understand how you're using (or wanting to use) line tools in your workflow.

Chris

JClements · 15 May 2009, 17:45

You answered too quickly ... I updated my previous posting. The more I think about it, the lines tools wouldn't.

I think what would be needed is a way somehow set the origin Z value to a specific base elevation (like a site's ground level or slab level of a building), and then somehow have your line tool reconize this and draw up from that value to a specified elevation or distance.

JClements · 15 May 2009, 17:47

Hi Chris:

Could you add one that draws lines UP FROM an elevation to a specified elevation.

I'm often given scan of old section drawings for piping which only give the elevations of their centerlines and joints.

Chris Fullmer · 15 May 2009, 17:48

Ahh yes, I think the ability to set a base z height was requested before too. It could be done. I won't get to it soon though I'm afraid. But when I get around to updating scripts, that could go on my list of features to add. Thanks for the great suggestion John!

Chris

JClements · 15 May 2009, 18:00

Thanks Chris, for considering this. You've done so much already.

It sure would save me a lot of time from manually subtracting elevation valves to determine vertical pipe lengths or the placement of their horizontal centerlines (many elevations in the drawings I get are specified to the tenth or hundredth of a foot as pipe slopes are critical to gravity feed flow ... yikes).

rombout · 22 May 2009, 22:22

what are all these plugins ??? never saw them before

Chris Fullmer · 23 May 2009, 00:14

I think that is a toolbar full of various plugins and with new icons. So they might be plugins you already have, just different icons. I'm not sure if they are still available as a group like that. But you can download them all separately.

Chris

markozeta · 3 Aug 2009, 22:31

Chris,

Can you also make the normal tool work so if a single edge is selected (without a face), it'll draw a line perpendicular to that line? And then you'd just choose the rotation of that perpendicular line?

Or something like that?

Or would that have to be a fourth line tool?

Mark

Chris Fullmer · 3 Aug 2009, 23:06

It would be tricky to figure out how to reliably set the rotation.

But I keep wanting the tool to work when its clicked on a vertex of 2 or more lines that do not necessarily make a face (like on an arc). I would be interested in exploring more possibilities like these with this tool.

Chris

c.plassais · 29 Sept 2009, 21:40

Hi Chris,
a new translation, that of de Three Line Tools
Thanks for link repaired

The link for your translate plugin http://biblio3d.1fr1.net/plug-in-sketchup-f19/plugin-three-tools-line-en-francais-utilitaire-de-tracage-de-lignes-t451.htm

At next time

Christophe

hamster3 · 28 Oct 2009, 11:29

Very useful plugin.
Thanks Chris!