Section Plane

Pout · 17 Sept 2010, 13:17

From the API:
***"The SectionPlane class contains methods to get and set the plane for the SectionPlane in a model. Note that there is no way to get a SectionPlane object using Ruby. You must manually create a section plane with the Section Plane Tool in SketchUp and then query the entities array to find the SectionPlane object. This class was primarily added for compatibility with a third-party software product.

One workaround that does work: you could create a SketchUp model that contains nothing but a SectionPlane, then import that as a component into whatever model you wish to add a SectionPlane to."***

But, it's impossible to create a section plane in an empty drawing. Correct?
What i want to do is:
Automatically generate a section plane for each group (highest level) or component instance in a model.
Group that section plane with that group or component instance so the plane only cuts that specific entity.

A work arround could be: let the user create 1 section plane and copy that.
But maybe there is a better, more logic way?

thomthom · 17 Sept 2010, 13:23

In TT_Lib I have a wrapper that load a component with a section cut from the subfolder of the library.
But! There is more problems with sections cuts:
No way to set or get the active cut.

SectionCuts = PITA

Pout · 17 Sept 2010, 13:27

i was just looking into that set/get active cut
when you make a copy one of them gets set as non-active, so that is not an option.
I'll have a look into that TT_Lib

PITA? Like in FUBAR?

thomthom · 17 Sept 2010, 13:57

Pretty much.

@pout said:

i was just looking into that set/get active cut
when you make a copy one of them gets set as non-active, so that is not an option.
I'll have a look into that TT_Lib

My TT_Lib only inserts - no get/set.

TIG · 17 Sept 2010, 14:06

Even if you set the section-plane inside the imported component as active, when you explode the component the section-plane ceases to be active ?

thomthom · 17 Sept 2010, 14:09

@tig said:

Even if you set the section-plane inside the imported component as active, when you explode the component the section-plane ceases to be active ?

Yes.

Pout · 17 Sept 2010, 14:17

well there goes my idea of letting a section plane move over a period of time for each individual group/instance
back to the drawing board!

thomthom · 17 Sept 2010, 14:21

mhm another show stopper...

Pout · 28 Nov 2011, 11:27

For verification:

It is impossible to create a section plane through the ruby API
Its is impossible to move (transform!) a section plane through the ruby API
It is possible to delete a section plane through the ruby API (erase!)

Is this correct?

Thx!

thomthom · 28 Nov 2011, 11:33

Aye, a SectionPlane inherits Sketchup::Drawingelement - so all the methods of Sketchup::Drawingelement and Sketchup::Entity is available.

` Sketchup::SectionPlane.ancestors

[Sketchup::SectionPlane, Sketchup::Drawingelement, Sketchup::Entity, Object, Kernel]`

The only thing is that you don't get any methods that relates to how a sectioncut function other than being able to get or set the plane.

Pout · 28 Nov 2011, 12:17

ThomThom,

you got me a bit confused now.
I seem to be unable to move (translation) a section plane by the blue axis through API.
But since it is an entity, i should be able to do it?

thx

Pout · 28 Nov 2011, 12:25

ok, a bit in shame I confees that I can move a section plane but only by certain axis.
I do have to do it like this though:

ent=Sketchup.active_model.selection[0] # a sketchup section plane
vector = Geom;;Vector3d.new 0,0,-3
t = Geom;;Transformation.translation vector
Sketchup.active_model.entities.transform_entities(t,ent)

ent.transform! or ent.transformation does not work

Now, let's say i have 2 groups, each with a section plane in them.
First one i want to move -3 over z-axis, the other one -1 over z-axis.
This can be done?

But auto-creation of a section plane for (and in) each group is not possible i suppose

thomthom · 28 Nov 2011, 12:38

@pout said:

ent.transform! or ent.transformation does not work

ent.transform! and ent.transformation is not part of Sketchup::Entity or Sketchup::Drawingelement. They are part of Sketchup::Group and Sketchup::ComponentInstance.

@pout said:

Now, let's say i have 2 groups, each with a section plane in them.
First one i want to move -3 over z-axis, the other one -1 over z-axis.
This can be done?

Entities.transform_by_vectors
http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/entities.html#transform_by_vectors

@pout said:

But auto-creation of a section plane for (and in) each group is not possible i suppose

"Auto-creation"?
You can only add a section plant to a model by inserting a component with a section plane and then exploding the inserted instance. Bit of a hack. But you won't be able to activate it.

Pout · 28 Nov 2011, 12:53

ThomThom, thx for the answers!

With auto-creation I mean this:
The creation through ruby of a section plane in each of the 20 groups that are in the model.