[Plugin] Groups to Components

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 08:23

Overview
By request; bulk conversion of groups to components. The Group's name is transferred to the component's definition's name.

If anything selected, it processes only the selection, else it processes the current context.

Access
Plugins -> Groups to Components
(Supports ThomThom's Menu )

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CadFather · 9 Jul 2010, 08:46

Thanks Thom - i take it if there are multiple instances of a group, we'll get one component definition too (a la select toys)

how about mining into nested groups?

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 09:01

@cadfather said:

Thanks Thom - i take it if there are multiple instances of a group, we'll get one component definition too (a la select toys)

No - it doesn't. This was quickly produced according to some specific requirement in time of a deadline. It's very basic.
But I can update it to take into account multiple group-instances.

CadFather · 9 Jul 2010, 09:18

That would be great

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 10:30

There is a logic issue here:
This plugin works in a selection or current context scope. Group instances can exist across this scope.
What is expected to happen to group instances outside the scope?

TIG · 9 Jul 2010, 11:37

You use model.definitions to get all of the group.instances [?] and then swap them out for the new component's definition, even if they are outside of the active_entities...

Just as you could if you were swapping all definition1.instances for definition2 with
definition1.instances.each{|ins|ins.definition=definition2} - which ignores 'context'

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 11:43

That's the thing - ignore the working context or not... ?

TIG · 9 Jul 2010, 12:01

IF you are to replace all instances of a group with a component surely you'd [usually] should do it across the whole model.
Perhaps if there are 'other-context' instances of a group [which is easily checked by getting all instances and comparing their parents against the current context parent ?] then a simple dialog along the lines of "There are Instances of Group 'xxx' outside 'active_entities'\n Make a Component of these too ?" Yes/No - which would allow the user to choose to leave some unfixed or fix all...........

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 12:41

I'm wondering if this isn't a feature fit for this plugin after all.

mac1 · 9 Jul 2010, 12:43

There is a plug in Make_components by Matt66 I think is the author. It will change groups to single or one overall. Is there any diff here??

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 12:47

@mac1 said:

There is a plug in Make_components by Matt66 I think is the author. It will change groups to single or one overall. Is there any diff here??

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=17590

@matt666 said:

Make a group of just one entity (right click or menu plugins/Make group)

Make a component instance of just one entity (right click or menu plugins/Make component)

Convert each entity in the selection in a single group (right click or menu plugins/Convert on single groups)

Convert each entity in the selection in a single component (right click or menu plugins/Convert on single components)

Convert the selected component into a group (right click or menu plugins/Make group)

I don't see any Group -> Component feature there... no?

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 13:02

Might be partly duplicate functions - but a key feature in this script was the naming: the definition inherited the group's name, not the instance.

@mac1 said:

I use it very often to convert single groups to components especially in models where some one has used a number of identical groups.

Does SketchUp still consider them copies of each other? If you select one and open Entity Info - does it say "Group (3 in model)" ?
If so, Selection Toys can convert them into components in one operation.

mac1 · 9 Jul 2010, 13:03

I use it very often to convert single groups to components especially in models where some one has used a number of identical groups. Then you can use the component browser function of replace selected to replace all these converted groups with one component. Caution there is a quirk with the program. You also have to include in your selection a line also. http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=28395

mac1 · 9 Jul 2010, 13:08

@thomthom said:

Might be partly duplicate functions - but a key feature in this script was the naming: the definition inherited the group's name, not the instance.

@mac1 said:

I use it very often to convert single groups to components especially in models where some one has used a number of identical groups.

Does SketchUp still consider them copies of each other? If you select one and open Entity Info - does it say "Group (3 in model)" ?
If so, Selection Toys can convert them into components in one operation.

Don't remember but you can take say 50 groups and then convert them to a single component or individual components (50) If my memory is correct it did use the same name for the component as the group number but what I don't like is how it moves around in the outliner and in a large model you have to then search to find the ones converted to replace as noted above

mac1 · 9 Jul 2010, 13:21

Here is a good test case for you if you want to go crazy. http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/sketchup/thread?tid=0a9b7b20ecc8e1bf&hl=en The model uses a number of identical groups and those should be reduced to a single definition

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 13:23

I did not see any model to download... where about in the thread is it?

mac1 · 9 Jul 2010, 13:28

@thomthom said:

I did not see any model to download... where about in the thread is it?

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B37CGPyQd3oiMWE1NDJlMWEtYTdmMC00MzYwLWIzMzMtYTAwMGE3NjM2NTRh&hl=en_GB

DIEGO-RODRIGUEZ · 9 Jul 2010, 13:35

thom hello.
thanks for the new plugins.
a question:
what is the difference with the "Group copies> Convert Into components" of your plugins SELECTION TOY 2.0.

thomthom · 9 Jul 2010, 13:43

@diego-rodriguez said:

thom hello.
thanks for the new plugins.
a question:
what is the difference with the "Group copies> Convert Into components" of your plugins SELECTION TOY 2.0.

This one converts each group instance into a component instance. (plus it transfers the name to the definition)

Selection Toys will convert all instances of a group into instances of one component definition.

CadFather · 9 Jul 2010, 15:29

Matts plugin is still buggy, he has been very busy and not able to update many of his scripts - on the other hand Fredo's scale tools include a group to component command, so Thom you don't really need the extra effort for this plugin - but perhaps a CTRL toggle between the wider context and not could be handy...