Can't get Explode2Groups plugin up and running
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Can't get "Explode2Groups.rb" to work in SketchUp 8 Pro.
I'm no computer expert but I've searched this topic. I now have the plugins menu showing and I've gone to the view/preferences area and selected ruby scripts. I've restarted SU but no Explode2Groups shows up, just "Cost".
I've made a component and right clicked on it but no Explode2Groups there either.
Any help you can offer would be appreciated.
Chris
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Chris, according to TIG's first post on the topic, the plugin will show in the Context (right click) menu. So, assuming you have the file saved in the Plugins folder, right clicking will get you to it. It doesn't work on components so if you are selecting a component, it won't show in the Context menu. Try making a group and right clicking on that. I think you'll find "Explode to Groups" in the menu, then.
Out of curiosity what are you trying to use it for that you are using it on a component?
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Okay, one, I'm not very clever! I was trying to use it on components. I tried a group and voila as you suggested. I was fixated on my problem, components not groups. I don't want to use groups in SU so this plugin won't get me very far.
I've just started using SU to design furniture. I have a built-in which as you can imagine consists of quite a few components which are made up of even more pieces. I was hoping that there was a program that would take my drawing and with the click of a button give me an exploded view of the drawing (with attendant dimensions to boot - dreamer!). It would seem that this is not possible and I have to do this manually which seems like a ton of work.
In the end I want to do the least amount of work to turn my drawing into a useful shop drawing. I looked at the Smustard site and I see that they have a $20 plugin that may do this.
Any further thoughts regarding my "issue" would be appreciated. Thanks for your help thus far.
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Chris,
I see what you're after. My preference is to use components instead of groups as well so I had to install the plugin and try it out to see why it wasn't working for you.
As far as making an exploded view, there is, as you found, the one at Smustard or you can get this one. I have both. I make exploded views of nearly all the furniture pieces I draw and find it is easier to get what I want by doing it manually instead of by plugin. At least these plugins don't do things the way I want. Some folks do use them and are happy with the results, though.
As far as automatically adding dimensions, well... we can dream.
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I don't doubt that going manual for this task allows you to fine tune your drawings as you see fit. I guess that my shop drawings end up in the shop getting checked off with pencil and soaking up coffee rings so I think (don't know) that an "off the rack" treatment would be okay for me. If I was sharing drawings as you do I don't doubt that I would fall in line with your sentiments.
I did try out the Bomb plugin at SMustard and while I think that it may be useful for quick touch ups I felt pretty exposed having the entire drawing exploded. I got a bit panicky when I went to unBomb the drawing and there was no unBomb! Undo Bomb - phew.
I'll look into your link and also quit my whining and just do it manually for this built in. Perhaps this mountain is in fact a mole hill.
Thanks again Dave.
Thanks for your help Dave.
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Chris, I believe Bomb.rb explodes groups and components as in destroys them, leaving just the geometry which is really not what you want. ExplodeImplode is the plugin there that will make the exploded views.
When I create an exploded view, it is done on a copy of the model which I have moved off to one side of the original. That way I have the original, assembled model intact along with the exploded view.
Some folks would just make a second SketchUp file for the exploded view. That's an option. I don't do that because if I find I need to edit the model, I have to open both SKP files and edit them making sure I get all the changes completed accurately. Much easier to do it in one.
I hope you'll share some photos of your built in. Maybe a few views from SketchUp and some WIP views of the construction as well as some final images when it is complete.
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I agree wholeheartedly with your observations Dave. Bomb all explodes all but you can then "undo bomb all" and things are back to components. I have tried this out on a "Save as Copy" file. I see it as more of a quick edit tool. My myopic view of SU may catch me out with this tool; I can see the potential for trouble.
I am in no position to make grand statements given my newb status but I also like to develop the exploded view as you do, with an original off to the side. Caution is good.
When I'm done, I'll see if I can post my humble built-in drawing. It is not complex, it is a simple painted unit that I'm bulding as my part of a barter agreement. I now remember why I haven't bartered in years...
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Beware. Bomb.rb can be undone via Edit>Undo but if you make any modifications to geometry after running it, those modifications will need to be undone before you can undo the bomb action. If you explode a component so you can edit it, you lose the power of editing all the like components in the model because the exploded one is no longer related to the rest. It is just a lump of geometry.
A better way to edit components is to open them for editing either by right clicking on the desired component or double clicking with the Select tool. Then perform the editing operation. If there are other instances of the component in the model, they will get the same editing which wouldn't happen if they are all exploded into loose geometry. And there's no risk of modifying unrelated components because they can't be changed while another component is open for editing.
I know what you mean about bartering. It's easy to get the short end of the stick. Good luck.
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