Manipulate a ruby from command line?

mut · 26 Oct 2010, 08:03

Hey, just wondered if there was any way I could launch sketchup as follows: sketchup.exe -rubyname "string"

essentially, I want a ruby script take the string, do some automated modelling based on what's in that string, and save the file... think this is possible?

Thanks,

Tom

tbd · 26 Oct 2010, 09:55

see Sketchup Bridge - http://labs.plugins.ro/

honoluludesktop · 26 Oct 2010, 18:29

WOW!!!!!............

mut · 27 Oct 2010, 12:49

hmm, I could do with a "hired gun" to get this sorted for me. do you guys know of anywhere I might be able to find someone?

Thanks,

Tom.

Jim · 27 Oct 2010, 15:06

Yes, it's possible. It sounds like you want to batch-process some models. SketchUp won't run in any sort of window-less mode - the gui window is always opened.

SketchUp does have a command-line switch that will execute a Ruby script:

Sketchup.exe -RubyStartup "C:\Scripts\My Script.rb"

Maybe related: Dan Rathbun posted some code for closing Sketchup here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=29162

mut · 27 Oct 2010, 15:47

you guys are very helpful.

Jim, do you know if you could also send through a variable with the switch, like so:

Sketchup.exe -RubyStartup "C:\Scripts\My Script.rb" -variable

Jim · 27 Oct 2010, 15:50

No, but you could use an Environmental variable which is accessible via the script. Or simply have multiple scripts which hard-code the value in the script since you are able to select any script on the command-line.

mut · 27 Oct 2010, 16:05

ah yes,

I guess I could insert a line into the ruby on the fly... basically a variable with the relevent string.

Ok, getting somewhere now!

1 more thing, I assume I could automate a save operation too?

thanks,

Tom.

Jim · 27 Oct 2010, 16:11

You can save the whole model:
http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/model.html#save

Or you can save individual ComponentDefinitions:
http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/componentdefinition.html#save_as

Jim · 27 Oct 2010, 16:14

@mut said:

you guys are very helpful.

Jim, do you know if you could also send through a variable with the switch, like so:

Sketchup.exe -RubyStartup "C:\Scripts\My Script.rb" -variable

Let me correct my answer to: I don't know. It may be possible to pass arguments to the ruby script, although I have not tried:

Sketchup.exe -RubyStartup "c:\Scripts\My Script.rb SomeString"

mut · 27 Oct 2010, 21:01

ah, OK cheers Jim.

It looks like it will be possible one way or another!

now I know its possible, time to hunt down someone with the capabilities

Thanks a lot for the help,

Tom