[Plugin] 2D Tools

JClements · 3 Oct 2009, 16:52

2D Hatching

Any possibility to automatically orient the fill pattern to a rectalinear loop or to an edge of a loop? Perhaps use a two click method or use the current model axis rather than the default axis.

JClements · 3 Oct 2009, 16:54

@tig said:

... OR alternatively I might just limit the Making of Faces to any Loops on the Z (in your case at 10'). I might also need to do this for Hatching as it works in a similar way... I'll make a decision about which way to do it shortly...

I think using the current Z to pick the loops is a logical, useful method.
? Could your code also check to see if there is a selection set first, then automatically fill the selection set? This way the user could do a select all or go to an orthographic view (ie., front or left) with the camera in in parallel projection mode and easily select geometry at specific Z elevations and then Fill.

mitcorb · 4 Oct 2009, 16:40

TIG: Here is a skp for your review of linestyle experiment with some other operations as described in the text in the model.

trial of linestyle tool in 2dtools and related operations

mitcorb · 4 Oct 2009, 16:57

TIG wrote:
"Thanks for the feed back...
The Hatching issue seems related to XOsp3 and v6 BUT I am on to a fix for those users... I would like to know if the LineStyle Tool works for those with Hatching problems, and what happens if they right-mouse click when hatching is failing..."

What I am seeing is this: (in two tries, with different geometry)
Linestyle tool activates, instruction line describes what to do, selection happens, dialog appears on right click, example select: hidden, 36 width, crimson, ok. Selected lines are displayed in a fine dotted style thinner than the SU default. Zoom very close in on that, and the width is obviously different, but it is displayed as continuous, and black. Nothing in the ruby console. "Enter" does not end the tool for me. I must hit the spacebar.
XP SP3 Last update of SU6 Pentium4 NVidia GeforceMX400, or something like that. Old Dog.

ps At about 150 feet above the zplane, the selected lines are displayed as thin, and dashed.
Does any of the info above help?

EDIT: NVidia GeForce2 MX/MX400 is the graphics card, 1.6Ghz for the Pentium, 1G main board ram

Dan · 4 Oct 2009, 19:01

Tig,
Is there any possibility to use .png instead of .jpg files for the line style patterns?
This way, one could apply the hatching patterns on a colored surface.
Just a though...

TIG · 8 Oct 2009, 15:07

V3.2 is now available here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=185760#p185760

It should address several issues...

v3.2 20091008 Changes to all tools: All file-paths made 'relative' rather that absolute. Z-plane value now displayed on VCB prompt of all 2D Tools' using it. Z-plane Tool can now be set absolute, or relative to existing value. Line Tool VCB value glitch fixed and double-click to end improved. Z-plane changeable during Line Tool by pressing <Tab> key. Arc Tool VCB/inferencing improved. LineStyle Tool now also works with drag-selection and also in 3D: Styled-Line now placed 'inside' the perimeter of single or not co-normal face [with normal nearest to camera view-line]. Make Face and Hatching Tool more precise in affecting extg faces not on Z-plane. Adjust Tool's trimming of Circles/Poygons/Arcs improved. [Note: Arc Extension not available (yet)] - see 'Help' htm for full details of all changes...

dedmin · 8 Oct 2009, 17:52

Working fine here.

JClements · 8 Oct 2009, 19:03

Once again, thank you, TIG.

However ...

I tried the script in SU6, SU7.0, and SU7.1. All gave the same error message.
I tried to search the text string shown in the error messaage via Windows Explorer and Note Pad Pro and found no file containing the string.

[UPDATE]

I do have Chris Fulmers and Fredo's scripts installed, both of which used "loaders". Could there be a conflict there?

TIG · 8 Oct 2009, 19:15

Sorry ! I made a typo in the 'tidyup' folder path [which only caused an error if you threw away everything and reinstalled absolutely everything !]... now fixed...

v3.3 is now available here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=185760#p185760

honoluludesktop · 8 Oct 2009, 19:35

TIG, Very nice. Hmm... The tiger tail is no longer on my screen, and when 2dFreehand is active, the shadow under the SU drop down menu flutters, and eventually SU hangs (can not click anywhere). If I run a SU tool before SU hangs, the fluttering stops. Turned off all OpenGl settings, but no difference. Maybe a problem unique to my system ?-(

I guess an eventual step would be to "select a active plane" on which to draw. I always wonder how SU knows that a entity is on a face. Can't be the math, it could never be accurate enough.

Addendum: The tail is on again. 3.3? back to reload Still flutters

JClements · 8 Oct 2009, 20:44

TIG:

Script loads fine now, thanks.

Tools work pretty well. Nice job. I really like being able to use the tab key during line drawing to change the elevation for the second click. Also the ability to input absolute or relative values; this gives us a lot of flexibility.

I see that if a tool is used in white space, then the tip of the Cursor can have a lot of white space between it and the geometry being drawn. If an inference is used with the first click, then it is not an issue.
?Anyway to direct the cursor icon to the imaginary Z-Plane if drawing in white space?

The "Bonk" when tabbing during a line draw is a little ... well, can we toggle that off?

2D Face Maker and 2D Hatching tools do their job if there is geometry or a guide point inside a loop but if not then user has more to do. What about initiating a new mode when the ALT key is kept depressed? The user clicks on a segment or vertex of the loop and drags inside the loop to define the area needing a fill and releases the mouse? Could this also define the alignment of the Hatching too?

CAD Father's icons are not mapping to my toolbar correctly. Looks like they are all shifted one icon to the left.

========

Maybe later on, if it would not slow down performance or cause display problems, have a toggle option to tint either the geometry not on the Active Z-Plan or the geometry on the Active Z-Plan.

pilou · 8 Oct 2009, 21:26

Does exist a little video of this plug on youtube?

TIG · 8 Oct 2009, 21:27

@jclements said:

TIG:

Script loads fine now, thanks.

Tools work pretty well. Nice job. I really like being able to use the tab key during line drawing to change the elevation for the second click. Also the ability to input absolute or relative values; this gives us a lot of flexibility.

I see that if a tool is used in white space, then the tip of the Cursor can have a lot of white space between it and the geometry being drawn. If an inference is used with the first click, then it is not an issue.
?Anyway to direct the cursor icon to the imaginary Z-Plane if drawing in white space?

The "Bonk" when tabbing during a line draw is a little ... well, can we toggle that off?

2D Face Maker and 2D Hatching tools do their job if there is geometry or a guide point inside a loop but if not then user has more to do. What about initiating a new mode when the ALT key is kept depressed? The user clicks on a segment or vertex of the loop and drags inside the loop to define the area needing a fill and releases the mouse? Could this also define the alignment of the Hatching too?
CAD Father's icons are not mapping to my toolbar correctly. Looks like they are all shifted one icon to the left.

Use myicons then !

FaceMaker/Hatching will work IF you are reasonably vertically located above the FAce - it is a2D Tool after all...

Maybe later on, if it would not slow down performance or cause display problems, have a toggle option to tint either the geometry not on the Active Z-Plan or the geometry on the Active Z-Plan.
/

I'd love to be able to fix an 'input_point' from a 3D point - any helpers ?

I could consider extending the MakeFace and Hatching tools to allow you to pick an Edge and then it'd find the Faces - however, picking inside the loop determines where the Face is - but picking an Edge allows at least 2 Faces...

The Bonkis there to tell you you have just exited the 2D Line drawings mode and gone into changing the Z-plane mode...
To de-Bonk your TAB key open the file 2DlineTool.rb in a plain text-editor [like NotePad.exe] and find the line with UI.beep in it add a # to the start of it, so it reads #UI.beep ... save the file and restart SUp - then there's NO more Bonks!

Thanks for the feedback... we will continue to evolve...

TIG · 8 Oct 2009, 21:31

@unknownuser said:

Does exist a little video of this plug on youtube?

NO ! Perhaps you could make one... I'm too busy making these Tools to 'sell' them too...
[NON! Peut-être vous, pourrait le faire... Je suis trop occupé à faire ces outils pour «vendre» eux aussi ...]

DIEGO-RODRIGUEZ · 9 Oct 2009, 21:00

hi tig. I have been testing its 2dtools tool.
I found finding a mistake.
1 - Extend the line from the farthest node to the destination line. superimposing two lines
2 - I still generates an error, let alone when the left mouse button pressed to extend the lines

I tested on sketchup 6 to 7 and 7.1

it may solve the problem?

[flash=425,344:3q2gwkcx]http://www.youtube.com/v/zN3dIAThsvA[/flash:3q2gwkcx]

TIG · 9 Oct 2009, 21:48

elcorto

You are right. The Adjusted Lines should be re-made without their former ends being left behind - I'll check what's wrong and issue an update.

The Select by Dragging was really made for Selecting the Targets, but it CAN be used for Selecting the Lines to be Adjusted, BUT as it warns in the Help file ... if you Drag-pick a Line more than once you can get strange results - it's still under development - it is the newest of the Tools after all... If using it breaks that way then please use the 'Pick' method for now...

EarthMover · 9 Oct 2009, 22:37

Good to hear that that there is no Arc extend (yet!). Looking forward to that addition. I have been using this script for so many things. Works awesome for drawing contour lines. Set an elevation and just draw without worrying about inferencing.

If no one else does, I'd be happy to put together a visual walkthrough of the plugin and the different tools available.

Many thanks again TIG!!

JClements · 9 Oct 2009, 23:01

EarthMover:

Glad it is working for you for doing elevation work. Same here!

pilou · 10 Oct 2009, 01:53

@unknownuser said:

If no one else does, I'd be happy to put together a visual walkthrough of the plugin and the different tools available.

Cool! You can make that!

mitcorb · 10 Oct 2009, 14:05

Hi, TIG:
2d hatching is still not working for me in v3.3.
Still getting the "cancelled 2d hatching" phrase in the ruby console.

I extracted the zip file and overwrote the previous version. I did not delete any files, first.
If 3.3 was supposed to correct this, it did not work for me.
Thanks,
mitcorb