[Plugin] Selection Toys

thomthom · 3 Nov 2009, 21:51

Whoop whoop! BIG update!


2.0.0 - 28.10.2009
      * Renamed "Face Loops" to "Select Edge Loops". Trying to avoid confusion with Quad-face loop.
      * Code refactoring to minimize duplicate code.
      * Uses Plugin Manager to allow customization of the UI.
      * Added support for polygon entities for SU7.1M1+.
      * Added toolbar.
      * Fixed issues when comparing floating values. Affected Area select.
      * Fixed group parent bug. (Again!)
      * Converting groups to components now transfer all but glued_to property and attributes.
      * Completed selection speed optimization.
      * Select Active Instances only selects hidden when View Hidden is on.
      * Improved Select Opposite Face.
      * Added selection filter Section Planes.

EarthMover · 3 Nov 2009, 22:19

Wow Bro...you've really outdone ye self. Awesome job with the UI and the new toolbar. I can't thank you enough for this plugin. I've grown heavily dependent upon it!!!

xrok1 · 3 Nov 2009, 22:25

you're hired!

thomthom · 3 Nov 2009, 22:32

Glad you guys like it.

I got an idea for an improved Selection Filter tool. On screen UI - inspired by Fredo's tools. I just had to get this version 2.0 done first - making the preparations.

Personally I use mostly the Edge and Face filter, occasionally Group and Component. They are all assigned to Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+4. I have found no point in adding shortcuts for the rest of the types - as I rarely use them so I never remember the shortcut. Also, there isn't enough keys on the keyboard for them all. Thats why I'm planning on adding an on-screen filter palette which pops up under the cursor for quick access. It should allow for the user to select multiple types of entities to select/deselect.

xrok1 · 3 Nov 2009, 22:35

you're making it very hard for me to decide what my favorite plugin is!

Dave R · 3 Nov 2009, 23:02

Thom, what kind of cookies? And failing the cookies, what kind of beer? I've been trying to track down some Nøgne Ø over here with little luck.

thomthom · 3 Nov 2009, 23:12

@dave r said:

Thom, what kind of cookies? And failing the cookies, what kind of beer? I've been trying to track down some Nøgne Ø over here with little luck.

When it comes to cookies and beer and pretty omnivore.
Though cookies that often rank high has chocolate in them.
As for beer, I drink mostly anything except white/blond beer. In fact - it's a particular hobby of mine to sample new brands of beer. I often go by the name or illustration on the bottle.

@dave r said:

I've been trying to track down some Nøgne Ø over here with little luck.

I remember sampling that - though I have trouble recalling my verdict...
I just got myself a book with index of beer from around the world, going to write up my notes as I traverse the pages.

Dave R · 3 Nov 2009, 23:18

I had one bottle of Ø awhile back. the label isn't much to go on but I liked it. I also liked the fact the bottle's contents would actually fill a English pint glass which most american beers won't. I read somewhere that Nøgne was ranked very highly as Norwegian brews go. Come visit me and I'll set you up with some Sprecher's and some Summit.

As to cookies, hmmm...chocolate I can do.

thomthom · 3 Nov 2009, 23:27

I find Norway to be a poor beer country. Hard to come by a pub/bar that sells any interesting beer types. Normally they all serve the same three brands. I was spoiled while I lived in England. But I have my sources.

Dave R · 3 Nov 2009, 23:38

I suppose you are right. When we were doing the Coastal Steamer cruise in 2000, there were some other Americans whose main reason for the cruise was to drink as much beer in as many pubs/bars as they could and they'd bring back the glasses. I think brought home more glass than clothes. Even if the ship was in a port for 30 minutes, they'd be off to find a pub.

thomthom · 3 Nov 2009, 23:51

I prefer to actually be in a state where I enjoy my beer. Never been a fan of pumping down the drinks as quickly as possible.

Dave R · 3 Nov 2009, 23:57

Me, too. Wisconsin is a pretty good state in which to enjoy beer. So is Minnesota and Maine and...

xrok1 · 4 Nov 2009, 05:07

@unknownuser said:

However, if you do enable it, be aware you might suffer toolbar madness - there is nothing I can do about that. I warned yee!

can't you (not you personally ,but generally) load a toolbar floating to avoid this?

anyway the point of my post is to say thanks again and also i have a small request. could you make your toolbar so it can also be placed vertically above the... well look at the picture and save me typing a thousand words:

thomthom · 4 Nov 2009, 07:25

@xrok1 said:

can't you (not you personally ,but generally) load a toolbar floating to avoid this?

Afraid not, we have very little control over the toolbars. We can create them, add items, and hide/show them. Nothing we can do to move it around.
What's more annoying is that just creating it, but not showing it is enough to make stuff shuffle around.

@xrok1 said:

anyway the point of my post is to say thanks again and also i have a small request. could you make your toolbar so it can also be placed vertically above the... well look at the picture and save me typing a thousand words:

If you resize the toolbar into a vertical size before you dock it then it should take on the same shape.

a4chitect · 4 Nov 2009, 11:06

thomas: respect! the UI is very effective yet simple - a beauty

and of course - I like the plugin itself too

thanks for this precious piece

p.s. I wonder if you would allow me to re-use some of your webdialog design elements (css, buttons, etc.) in my own plugins?

thomthom · 4 Nov 2009, 11:15

@a4chitect said:

p.s. I wonder if you would allow me to re-use some of your webdialog design elements (css, buttons, etc.) in my own plugins?

Yes.
I've tried to make it so the UI controls's styles are based on class names. So for buttons you assign a class="button" to the HTML element. Something I was planning on mentioning in the Plugin Manager SDK. I'll be using PM to build up a library of different HTML UI controls.
In the CSS folder of PM you'll also find a window.css file, which is using windows system colours. Though, it's old as I moved away from trying to emulate windows.

a4chitect · 4 Nov 2009, 11:42

thanks! if more ruby authors adopt this we could get a nice consistent UI across many plugins - looking forward to the future (and of course custom .css creating = "skins" for all the plugins at once)

thomthom · 4 Nov 2009, 11:49

@a4chitect said:

thanks! if more ruby authors adopt this we could get a nice consistent UI across many plugins - looking forward to the future (and of course custom .css creating = "skins" for all the plugins at once)

Yes, I've been thinking about allowing the user to select UI themes, and toolbar themes. Though it did not make it into this release.

notareal · 4 Nov 2009, 11:56

A on screen UI (Fredo style), sounds nice.

chango70 · 4 Nov 2009, 12:12

V2.0 is spanking! Tom this is an amazingly useful tool probably my favourite in terms of how it is implemented. A lot of thought have gone into the user interface. Thanks! I can't believe it is free.