You Decide Competition!

CPhillips

Chris, how are you managing to hide and unhide components using script? There are parts of the script you made that I understand, and parts I don't, but it seems the crucial thing is the 'ent.hidden'. The 'ent' is a variable, but I can't find the point where it was created, nor where it was assigned to any specific item. So, how can I assign variables to components? (With the purpose of hiding/unhiding them on command)

The code looks like this:


        for ent in $curEvalGroup.definition.entities
            if ent.definition.name == name+("%02d"%frame)
                ent.hidden = false
            else
                ent.hidden = true
            end
        end

First is this:

$curEvalGroup.definition.entities

Without going into details, this amounts to a list of every group inside the hero characters group.

for ent in $curEvalGroup.definition.entities

This means set to be for every entity (groups in this case) inside the character set variable "ent" to be
that group and then...

if ent.definition.name == name+("%02d"%frame)

If the "ent" has a certain name then hide or unhide.

ent.hidden=true

Remember "ent" is a Sketchup group and this is how you hide a group using Ruby.

A simpler example:


if(frame==100)
   $curEvalGroup.hidden=true
elsif(frame==200)
   $curEvalGroup.hidden=false
end

This will hide the object at frame 100 and show it again at frame 200

Wacov

Okay... that will be useful, but now I'm wondering how you changed the evaluation group to something outside the group it was written in

Is that what the first part of the script is for?

Also, is it possible to change the default SU material of an object using script? Like when you paint a group, any surfaces within with the default paint will change.

BTM

You can do that through styles, or when using the paint bucket on a default coloured face, hold shift.

Wacov

No, it has to be through script. There must be a way, because plugins are able to change the material...

CPhillips

@wacov said:

Okay... that will be useful, but now I'm wondering how you changed the evaluation group to something outside the group it was written in

Is that what the first part of the script is for?

Also, is it possible to change the default SU material of an object using script? Like when you paint a group, any surfaces within with the default paint will change.

I dont know what you mean. I didnt exactly change the evaluation group. "$curEvalGroup" is the group that the code is running on.

You know how you can make one object in SU and make it a component then copy it. Now when you edit one all of them change. That is because there is one object "definition" and 0 or more "instances" of that object. Every group is actually a instance.

$curEvalGroup.definition.entities

Given an instance ($curEvalGroup) get its definition and then get the entities in that definition.

The first part of the script just gets the x,y,z location of the body.

BTW "$" means global varible in Ruby. You can use the $curEvalGroup but do not and I mean do not try to make new ones. You could mess things up pretty easy.

hobbnob

physicsguy you didnt' tell me your challenge decision. i'm using the default option that i decided on a few weeks ago in case of such an event. in future all group decisions for the sp challenges are banned.

BTM

...Just pick whatever one was voted for the most on the other thread. I'd say that would be the best solution.

hobbnob

he'd created loads of polls and voting places dotted around, theres no way i'm goign through all of that, i might as well tell you now, the next challenge will be for a motorcycle.

BTM

That's pretty basic and simple...
... I'd still go for animated character. I'd already started, thinking it was the probable topic, as it seems to be on the top of the forum poll, and the only other poll I could find is one on the warehouse; but that wouldn't change it still.

Physicsguy1

What The?!!!!!!!!!???????? its an animated character, now give them what they voted for. motorcycle is too relevant to the desert vehicle. we don't need another vehicle

pr0

hey guys, what about something like transformable architecture. i don't know if this will be too difficult to pull off, but its worth a try.

here are some links

http://www.gatewaycoalition.org/files/patents/site/graphics/hoberman_1.gif

http://www.gatewaycoalition.org/files/patents/site/graphics/hoberman_2.jpg

http://www.gatewaycoalition.org/files/patents/site/graphics/hoberman_3.gif

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/chuck28.jpg