Can I replace a bunch of same groups with a comp?

jgb

I'm updating a few old models from my very early SU days, when I preferred defining groups instead of components. Now I'm paying in spades for that error. Same with my mistake in not using Layer 0 and assigning layers to internal objects, but that is another story.

I have a building structure of vertical beams and cross beams, basically long narrow cubes with nearly no detail. There are 3 kinds, about 400 of cross beams, 40 verticals and a few dozen same shape, different length beams. All are copies of groups. No components. I need to make them components, so I can tinker with some common details within the 3 types. If they were components, that would be easy. Hence this post.

Is there any way, or is there any script, that would allow me to select a bunch of same groups and replace them with a single similar component?

david_h

I asked this very same question just a few days ago. of the lovely and talented ThomThom . He has developed "Selection Toys" which allow for that. I have had ST for a long time and never knew it did these kinds of wonders. . .

quothe he:
@unknownuser said:

Selection Toys let you convert group copies to components. Note that it requires that they truly are copies of each other, as in: the Entity Info says "n Copies in Model".

You can get selection toys HERE:

xrok1

selection toys via the right click menu.

jgb

That looks like one MEGA great Ruby. Now it will take a week to learn it.

I loaded it into my /plugins and all I get is an error loading; can't find base.rb

Can't find it anywhere.

and 10 minutes later..........

Never mind. Found it in TT_Lib.zip

And it works.

After 3 tries, it converted a dozen same groups to 1 component. Exactly like I asked.

Thanks TT; great job.

thomthom

If you need to convert a selection of unique groups/components into another component you can also use this plugin: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=26008

Note that it does not work on 2D components. Need to fix that..

thomthom

@jgb said:

All same groups in the model will convert. I have not tried testing with layered and visible same groups yet, but I will.

It does not matter what layer or visibility - every instance of the group copy is converted to a ComponentInstance.

Gaieus

As for your layering issues, here is a beauty by TIG:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=7638

@unknownuser said:

This script defaults all 'loose' geometry and any geometry in groups or component definitions to Layer0. The layers of groups or components are NOT changed.

jgb

Last night I converted about 300 groups into 1 component in 1 swell foop. It also showed I had about a dozen almost identical groups with a common very minor change in them, that did not convert, as expected, but they would be hard to find otherwise.

I did this by selecting ALL, and converting. After the conversion to a single comp, only those unique groups that did not convert remained highlighted. Note: it is not necessary to highlight any of the multiple groups, except the single any one group to effect the conversion. All same groups in the model will convert. I have not tried testing with layered and visible same groups yet, but I will.

Now I will try to figure how to convert those similar groups into the same single comp. I think I know how, but I haven't figured out the correct sequence yet.

(edit added) I just noticed that my old 43mb+ file is down to 31mb, and I'm not done converting yet. And it saves faster too. Bonus.