[Plugin] cgScenesMAC v 2 April 2010

chrisglasier

Scene dialogs.png

John (driven) kindly made a Mac version, the latest version with sample model is here.

chrisglasierScenesMac-v.2.zip

He hopes to make a self extracting version if you would like to wait for that.

Feedback from Mac users and/or coders would be much appreciated.

Helps manage scenes, layers and components in a single re-sizable automated interface.

Here is Release 1.051 for PC users:

cgScenes R 1.051.zip

%(#0000BF)[GUIDELINES FOR SCENE MANAGEMENT

Use cgScene's

left reel to browse (1st click) and open (2nd click) each scene and current aspect (e.g layer)
middle reel to check each aspect of the current scene
middle reel layer menu to sort layers by abc or visibility and to add and name new layer
middle reel components menu to show or hide all current scene components
right reel to browse (1st click) and hide/show (2nd click) properties to save, layers and components, and change (2nd click) views and styles.

Update to save scene properties selected. Update before Synch.

Synch to update web dialog content after making changes or component selection in Sketchup display.

Use Sketchup's

context menu to add, delete, rename or describe a scene
layer window to rename or delete existing layer
layer window to select layer colors
shadows toolbar]

I think it best to download test model for initial familiarisation from here. It has perspectives, orthogonal views and trade scopes, using many layers and components and seven different styles. Also have a look at the gallery of images. Here are some recent additions showing design in progress:

Complete roof.jpg

If a scene is not showing what is expected double check Properties to ensure everything required is being saved and check layer and components status as these can contradict each other. If still not performing correctly, PM me or post here.

But if you have any general suggestions please post them in Behind cgScenes.

Thanks

Chris

Edson

hi chris,

would you care to explain a little more about your plugin? i am afraid not everyone will know what it is about.

chrisglasier

@edson said:

hi chris,

would you care to explain a little more about your plugin? i am afraid not everyone will know what it is about.

Yes, sorry. I made a video but all uploading has been blocked since some dispute over Youtube. So I thought I would try without; not too clever I guess!

The basic idea is to take essential elements of entity info, scene manager, layer, outliner, and styles windows, together with views and other items in the camera menu and put them into one web dialog "machine" (it has moving parts as you can see below).

This is made possible by nameset technology, a mix of listing by association (e.g. spaces associated with a building; ff+e associated with a space; layers associated with a scene) and web site animation. Unfortunately I can only claim the adaptation of the original idea to modern technology and thinking, as explained here.

I hope the set of animated images of the machine is helpful; but really if you are interested in using scenes to illustrate multiple aspects of designs with 3D presentations, dimensioned orthogonal views, dedicated trade details and on and on, I of course recommend trying out the real thing to see the whole interaction and where it might lead.

Thanks for your interest and advice,

Chris

Edson

@chrisglasier said:

The basic idea is to take essential elements of entity info, scene manager, layer, outliner, and styles windows, together with views and other items in the camera menu and put them into one web dialog "machine" (it has moving parts as you can see below).

i am sorry, but it remains obscure to me. perhaps the video would clear it up. have you tried to host your video somewhere else like vimeo or blip.tv?

chrisglasier

@edson said:

@chrisglasier said:

i am sorry, but it remains obscure to me. perhaps the video would clear it up. have you tried to host your video somewhere else like vimeo or blip.tv?

I have tried many - all fail - Vimeo after waiting 6 hours!

I have to go to dinner now, but simply if you select a scene in the left column, it opens that scene; if you select Layers in the middle column, it shows you the scene's layers and their visibility status in the third; if you select Components in the middle, it shows the scene's components in the third; the same for styles ...

The menus at the top enable you to toggle things on and off, add, erase and so on as in the SU windows. In other words it does nothing new, it just does it without you having to open and/or move from window to window. The information comes to you. More of your model is left exposed.

Really thanks, you know when so deep into something it is sometimes difficult to put things across. I hope this is a bit better!

My regards

Chris

Edson

chris,

this is much better. i'll have a go at it soon. thanks.

thomthom

Downloaded to have a look at this. I see now that it's some kind of organizer window that takes on the roles of the many individual SU windows and merge functionality into one. Am I correct?

I got an error message when I tried it though. When I activated the tool in a model with no scenes I got this:

chrisglasier

@thomthom said:

I got an error message when I tried it though. When I activated the tool in a model with no scenes I got this:
[attachment=0:kxsxxkug]error.png[/attachment:kxsxxkug]

Sorry it should open an alert. For the moment please just add a new scene before opening the plugin. Better still download the 5.7 mb test model from here so you can see how it handles (inshala) several scenes, layers, components and styles. Blank applications can be dead boring!

Sorry for teething problems ...

Chris

tomasz

@chrisglasier said:

Sorry for teething problems ...

To run the script successfully one needs to add

require 'sketchup.rb'

at the start of the code.

I am testing it Chris right now. It looks interesting.
Toggling items could be done by double click also. It would improve layer\component sets editing speed.

Thanks
Tomasz

tomasz

Now if we could have groups of scenes. What I mean - a higher level in hierarchy, above scenes alone.
If a user could move\copy a scene from one group to another it would be great.

In the given SU example the Groups could be called Perspectives, Elevations, Plans, Sections.

EDIT: There is a tricky thing I realized. Some plugins may attach attributes to scenes, so you would need to copy\move them too.

Tomasz

chrisglasier

@unknownuser said:

To run the script successfully one needs to add

require 'sketchup.rb'

I have added it for the next release. If I remember correctly it is more precaution than necessity so the current code should work without it. But I am a reluctant coder particularly where Ruby is concerned, when I do little more than lip-sync. Any straightening out recommendations are well received.

@unknownuser said:

Toggling items could be done by double click also. It would improve layer\component sets editing speed.

Indeed. But please remember I am trying to make this a device module that can be added to the core nameset. I use some core minimalist panel and event handling conventions for overall control. I have avoided double click so far because I have been sceptical how it performs on handheld devices - a single stab or poke seems safer.

But I become more aware of things like editing speed as I am finishing the little house model. Yesterday I changed the top menu to be right aligned, directly above the main (3rd) clicking list, which is more natural. You will be able to move the white stripe closer (but this means more clicks for upward scrolling).

[BTW did you see the window is resizable (to help determine the compromise between screen obstruction and long names)?]

@unknownuser said:

Now if we could have groups of scenes. What I mean - a higher level in hierarchy, above scenes alone.
If a user could move\copy a scene from one group to another it would be great.

Yes, higher level groups are the real challenge not just for scenes but also components. Not to be confused with SU groups, I categorise these as collections and groupings, collections that define the physical aspects of the project (buildings, floors, spaces, products) and groupings that are less influenced by final positioning that may relate to scheduling (sanitaryware), buying (purchase orders), distribution, containerisation, sustainability (to jump on the band wagon), colour boards, regulations (fire), operating (diagrams) and so on.

Two important points are that one component can belong to many groups and all collecting and grouping is computed outside modeling; and one important question is: can components be used in lieu of SU groups to the point of extinction - what do you think?

Thanks for your interest and help

Chris

chrisglasier

Just to keep things updated :

cgScenes R1.01 (basic config).zip

Release 1.01 includes the following amendments:

Added sketchup.rb (thanks to Tomasz SCF)
Added scene setup for new files
Right aligned menu for easier toggling
Rename layer function
Excluded Layer0

cg

Chris Fullmer

Hi Chris, you can organize it however you want, but most authors update the file in the original post so that people don't have to read through an entire thread to make sure they are downloading the most recent vesion.

Also, I think you started another thread where you posted this new version already. It might be adviseble to delete it from this thread, and just put a link to that thread from here, and also in the top post. And also, again, remove the old file from the top post. That way you only have one file - always the most current - posted somewhere. Otherwise it can be confusing for users to try and fin the most recent version.

But, you can do it however you like. Just in the end, try to make it so users can't accidentally find old versions of your scripts.

Keep up the great work! I can begin to finally understand namesets in the context of layers, scenes, styles, etc and how all these things are connected and all affect the same objects. Little by little it is coming together.

Chris

BTW, have you looked at Google Wave yet? It is interesting!

Jim

@chrisglasier said:

" I asked Jim to be put cgScenes on the register so I can just refer to it there for the releases and continue my mumblings here in the usual fashion. Do you think that would be OK?

]
Sorry about this, Chris. I hope, in not very much longer that you will be able to enter and edit your entries yourself. I'm talking a couple of days, if you can wait...

chrisglasier

@chris fullmer said:

Hi Chris, you can organize it however you want ...

No, I don't want to take that line, but I just thought as this thread has [code] in the title it should also get the latest version. The other post is a background piece, but of course it needed to have the updated version to make sense. To save the "on and on," I asked Jim if cgScenes could be put on the register so I can just refer to it there for the releases and continue my mumblings here in the usual fashion. Do you think that would be OK?

@chris fullmer said:

.. how all these things are connected and all affect the same objects.

Yes and this underpins "linking data" that Kevin Kelly and others keep raving on about.

@unknownuser said:

BTW, have you looked at Google Wave yet? It is interesting!

I can only imagine right now - youtube has been blocked here, but I am planning to look elsewhere soon

Thanks

Chris

jmmad

Hi Chris
looks a really useful plugin.
I downloaded version 1.3
But I don't know how to install it please give me a hint
Thxs

chrisglasier

If you have a PC extract zip file to your plugs-in folder. Suggest you use model Test file (downloadable from web site). Open Sketchup. Look in plugins menu for cgScenes.

We are still working on Mac version.

Thanks

Chris

chrisglasier

I put release 1.04 in the first post. You can also download it from the Namesets web site (Output section).

Dave R

Thanks for the update, Chris.

Could I ask a favor? Would you please edit the thread title to reflect the current version and revision date? That would make it easier for folks to know there's been a change to the plugin.

Thanks again.

Dave

chrisglasier

@jim said:

@chrisglasier said:

" I asked Jim to be put cgScenes on the register so I can just refer to it there for the releases and continue my mumblings here in the usual fashion. Do you think that would be OK?

Sorry about this, Chris. I hope, in not very much longer that you will be able to enter and edit your entries yourself. I'm talking a couple of days, if you can wait...

Would you be so kind as to put cgScenes on manually now I have released 1.04(PC)? Do you need any info from me? Thanks.

Chris