[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

Chris Fullmer · 10 May 2010, 04:24

Try opening the Ruby Console and then running the script. Lets see if it is giving any errors. On the PC, it is found in the Window menu. I do not know where it is on the Mac. But look through your menus and look for an option called "Ruby Console" or something approximately similar. Open that window, then select your component, then run th script. And try to select the line. It should either work or it should write some errors to the ruby console. If it gives errors, please copy and paste them all here into this thread. I'll take a look and see if there is something suspicious going on.

Thanks!

Chris

keithver · 10 May 2010, 09:29

keithver wrote:
Hi
Shape bender looks like the answer to a prayer. I've downloaded a "file.php". perhaps I'm being stupid. What do I do now
Keith

Hi Guys
No matter which link on Chris's initial post I use, I get a file named 'file.php' in my download folder. I can't find a .zip file anywhere to download. Please! I'm desperate to try Shape Bender

Thanks

Keith

Gaieus · 10 May 2010, 11:37

Hi Keith,

This happens sometimes with some browsers/browser settings (although I have most frequently seen it on the Mac).

Anyway, try to rename the php extension to zip and open the archive that way. Let us know if it still doesn't work (or if it does, too).

keithver · 10 May 2010, 12:14

thanks Gaieus
No luck. I re-named but winzip doesn't recognize the file format. The .php file is only 6KB big?
keith

TIG · 10 May 2010, 14:29

@rtgoogler said:

Thanks Pilou and TIG. TIG...followed your instructions step by step. Still doesn't work for me. I am unable to select the line or the path. This tool would be perfect for a design idea I am working on, but I can't get it to work. In Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/Sketchup/Plugins I placed these:

progressbar.rb
clf_shape_bender_loader.rb
clf_shape_bender.rb

Am I missing something? Anything I need to do in Sketchup to activate these scripts?
Thanks in advance.

The files progressbar.rb and clf.shape_bender_loader.rb go directly into the Plugins folder, but the other file(s) must be in a sub-folder called 'clf_shape_bender' that's in 'Plugins' as shown below
Remove any 'rogue' .rb files you have in the wrong location...

xrok1 · 10 May 2010, 14:45

@keithver said:

thanks Gaieus
No luck. I re-named but winzip doesn't recognize the file format. The .php file is only 6KB big?
keith

can you right click the download link and try open with ie, or open in a new window ?

keithver · 10 May 2010, 14:48

Hi Tig

I can't even get the ZIP file, let alone un-zip it
Keith

Chris Fullmer · 10 May 2010, 16:31

Thanks Jeff! And Keith, I think TIG was replying to someone else who is having difficulties with where they put their files.

Good luck to everyone, and a big thanks to everyone who keeps chiming in to help!

Chris

keithver · 10 May 2010, 18:10

Thanks everyone, especially Jeff for that link. I'M NOW A SHAPE BENDER!

jeff hammond · 10 May 2010, 18:36

keith.

download here:
[link removed]

reply here when you get it so i can remove it from my iDisk.

bouzzer · 11 May 2010, 08:35

Hi how do I instal the plug in?

bouzzer · 11 May 2010, 08:56

Hi for some reason I cant select the line of the Red axis, can someone help me please?

TIG · 11 May 2010, 11:37

@bouzzer said:

Hi how do I instal the plug in?

As with almost all plugins...
Unzip the folder extracting everything as it is in the zip.
There should be a single .rb file and a folder with some other files inside it.
Move the single .rb and the foldert into your SUp..Plugins folder and restart SUp.
Activate the toolbar from Views or access it from the Plugins Menu [CLF sub-menu]...

Chris Fullmer · 11 May 2010, 15:17

If you feel the plugin is installed correctly, and still can not select the red line, you might need to reset the model axis. The script only recognizes the original red axis. So try activating the select tool, then right click on the red axis and choose "Reset Axis". Then realign your items to be bent to that axis. If the option to reset axis is greyed out, then that means the axis already is correct, and the problem is something else. Good luck,

Chris

tom1169 · 12 May 2010, 17:17

Chris,

I just downloaded "Component stringer" to my 7.1 Free Version and I put it in my plugins folder..
Inside sketchup it shows under "Plugins" menu but when I highlight the component..it doesnt do anything...?
Please help, does that only work on PRO...? Thank You ..

Chris Fullmer · 12 May 2010, 19:36

--COMPONENT STRINGER ANSWER--

Hi, make sure to select the component(s) AND the lines they will be strung onto. Then run the plugin. Please see the video in the component stringer thread. I'll try to move these two posts over to the component stringer thread later too so they do not interfere with the shape bender thread.

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=23616

Thanks,

Chris

valence87 · 13 May 2010, 02:23

Chris, any chance of a version that lets you bend around closed loops? That would make a great plugin even better

Cheers,
Valence

Chris Fullmer · 13 May 2010, 04:20

I agree it would definitely make it even better. Unfortunately I just did not have the skillz to make it do that when I wrote it. When I do re-write it, that will be one of the main things to fix for sure. That and about a dozen other things. I am currently working slowly on about 5 scripts. If I could just knock them out of the way, I might finally be able to undertake re-writing this beast.

Chris

TeKnoel · 13 May 2010, 14:19

Great update to one of my favorite plugins! Thanks Chris

Judy Nielsen · 14 May 2010, 13:06

@chris fullmer said:

If you feel the plugin is installed correctly, and still can not select the red line, you might need to reset the model axis. The script only recognizes the original red axis. So try activating the select tool, then right click on the red axis and choose "Reset Axis". Then realign your items to be bent to that axis. If the option to reset axis is greyed out, then that means the axis already is correct, and the problem is something else. Good luck,

Chris

I also am having a problem selecting the red line. The plug in is there and seems to be activated. I tried resetting the red axis and the option was grayed out. I tried opening a new document created a rectangle, grouped it, created a parallel line on the red axis, created a curved line parallel to the rectangle. I then selected the rectangle but can not go any further. I am working on a mac. Any ideas? I would really like to use the Shape Bender plug in. I have to create multi curved tubing.

Thanks for any help.

Judy