[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

TIG · 1 May 2010, 09:56

I have down loaded the shape bender files but can not figure out how to get into the program to work. Does anyone know the steps?

Haven't you watched the movie on the same page as the download ?
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=147395#p147395

huckrorick · 1 May 2010, 14:44

I can't seem to get the ruby to work.
All I get is a line at the bottom that says "5%. End @ ? (1 of 5) Searching for objects to explode."
Nothing more happens.

Here is what I did:
I downloaded the zip file, unzipped, copied the folder and the 1kb ruby file to my plugin directory, started Sketchup, made a rectangular component, drew a line on one edge of the component, drew an arc, selected the component, started the plugin, selected the line, then the arc, go the line noted above and nothing else.

I attached a screen shot of what I get.

Can anyone suggest what I am doing wrong?

Thanks,

Huck

pilou · 1 May 2010, 14:56

Move the cube on the green axis or anywhere on the positive xy space
Don't draw the line // red axis on the cube edge but on an empty space!
press the up arrow for select the Bender result form
If that don't work like this, there is a problem because I make that you say and that is working and that is instanteneous!
Post your file!

TIG · 1 May 2010, 19:07

Huckrorick

Have you installed ' progressbar.rb' as instructed on the page with the main download link ?

Dave R · 1 May 2010, 19:13

Looks like it's still in the process of running according to the bottom edge of his screen grab.

huckrorick · 1 May 2010, 21:45

I tried all the suggestions:

I did as Pilou suggested.
I reinstalled progressbar.rb
It does appear that the program is still running considering the message at the bottom. However, I waited one half hour with no result. I thought the cube and arc would be a very simple test.

Is there some setting in Sketchup that could affect this?
Any other help?

I attached the screen shot of the new test.
I also am attaching the Sketchup file.

Huck

ShapeBenderProb.skp

Dave R · 1 May 2010, 22:07

Well, it isn't a problem with your SKP file. I was able to run the plugin with no problem.

Out of curiosity, is clf_shape_bender.rb is the the clf_shape_bender folder?

August · 2 May 2010, 01:51

@august said:

... Shape Bender slices up the Original Object with vertical slices, according to how many segments there are in the Target Curve. One of the keys to predicting how it is going to work is that it will keep those slice faces vertical. It will rotate them in the Red-Green plane, but the slices will stay vertical. ...

It's a little more complicated than that. The slices stay vertical, but it's not a straight linear projection, as I was implying.

Based on the attached drawing, I think the Guide Line gets evenly divided into the number of segments in the Target Curve, so if the segments in the Target Curve are not evenly spaced, different segments in the Result will be stretched or compressed horizontally.

In the drawing, a straight projection of the Target Curve onto the Guide line results in uneven spacing, but where the Source Object is divided is different, those places are evenly spaced along the length of the Guide line.

I hope this helps,
August

August · 2 May 2010, 01:59

Here's a similar drawing for a horizontal (red-green plane) Target Curve.

Chris Fullmer · 2 May 2010, 06:48

@huckrorick said:

I can't seem to get the ruby to work.

Do you by chance have component spray installed? That plugin seems to be breaking progressbar. If you have it installed, remove it and then restart SU and then try to run shape bender again.

Chris

pilou · 2 May 2010, 09:48

Maybe but I have both and no problem

huckrorick · 2 May 2010, 13:34

Yes, clf_shape_bender.rb is in the clf_shape_bender folder.d

@dave r said:

Well, it isn't a problem with your SKP file. I was able to run the plugin with no problem.

Out of curiosity, is clf_shape_bender.rb is the the clf_shape_bender folder?

huckrorick · 2 May 2010, 13:41

Yes, I have component spray installed. I removed it and shape bender worked fine.

Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?

Also, I'm wondering if having lots of plugins installed slows sketchup? (I have quite a few and some I use infrequently).

Huck

@chris fullmer said:

@huckrorick said:

I can't seem to get the ruby to work.

Do you by chance have component spray installed? That plugin seems to be breaking progressbar. If you have it installed, remove it and then restart SU and then try to run shape bender again.

Chris

thomthom · 2 May 2010, 14:00

@huckrorick said:

Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?

Download the updated version of Component Spray.

thomthom · 2 May 2010, 14:01

Chris - why not make your script detect the offending version of Component Spray? Get the file size for instance and use that to determine if the installed Component Spray (if any) is the conflicting version and prompt the user to update it.

hchiava2 · 2 May 2010, 15:08

Can't seem to get shape bender to work.
I select group, then Fullmer - tools - sb.
When I try to select the horizontal line - nothing happens.

Chris Fullmer · 2 May 2010, 15:40

I think that the current posted version of component spray might still be bugged. I tested it a month or two ago and the bug had reverted somehow I should test it again.

@Thom - that is a very wise idea. The componnent spray thing is the #1 headahce with this script. Maybe I'll find some time tonight to update it. I might just make iut not use progressbar if the user has any version of component spray installed.

@hchiava2 Perhaps make sure that your world axis has not been changed. Shape bender only recognizes the original model exis. Try right clicking on one of the axis lines and if the option to "reset" is available, then select that and it should reset your axis to the original world axis. Then try lining everything up on the red axis again.

Chris

Gaieus · 2 May 2010, 15:51

@huckrorick said:

...Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?...

I simply rename the rb extension to rbb (but anything will do just do not use rbs) and it does not load. When I occasionally need it, rename it again. I do this with all my rarely used plugins even just because they clutter my Plugins menu list.

thomthom · 2 May 2010, 16:04

@chris fullmer said:

@Thom - that is a very wise idea. The componnent spray thing is the #1 headahce with this script. Maybe I'll find some time tonight to update it. I might just make iut not use progressbar if the user has any version of component spray installed.

Yes - you could revert to just simple % in the statusbar.

So - are you saying the latest still has this problem?

thomthom · 2 May 2010, 16:08

Is progressbar bundled with Component Spray?
How is it distributed?

Your plugin use it? But it works unless a faulty version of CompSpray is installed? Installed after your plugin - or does that not matter?