How do I move a Group of entities on their own?

SJH333 · 30 Apr 2011, 10:47

Please excuse my ignorance, this is all new to me!
I'm having trouble moving a Group of entities on their own; if I move both my Groups (all entities) everything is OK, but if I move entities from only one Group, SU displays a crazy result.
I'm really not too sure that I'm understanding, the entities = model.entities
vs entities = model.active_entities idea, is this my problem?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve.

I've attached two screen shots, one OK and one very obviously NOT OK!
Here's my Code:

# 30/04/2011 SJH_Groups_Add_v02.rb
puts "Running... SJH_Groups_Add"

  require 'sketchup.rb'

  model = Sketchup.active_model
  entities = model.entities
  #entities = model.active_entities
  selection = model.selection

  # Set some length variables
  rl = 1
  gl = 1
  bl = 1
  
  rlmid = rl*0.5  
  glmid = gl*0.5
  blmid = bl*0.5
  
  # To convert to SU current Model units
  rl = rl.to_s.to_l
  gl = gl.to_s.to_l
  bl = bl.to_s.to_l
  
  rlmid = rlmid.to_s.to_l
  glmid = glmid.to_s.to_l
  blmid = blmid.to_s.to_l
  
  
  # Create Face points array
  fpts = []
  fpts[0] = [0, 0, 0]
  fpts[1] = [rl, 0, 0]
  fpts[2] = [rl, gl, 0]
  fpts[3] = [0, gl, 0]
  
  # Create String and counter for incrementing group names
  sjhname = "SJHGroup"
  groupcount = 0

# ---------- Start Main Code ----------

  groupcount+= 1
  groupname = sjhname + groupcount.to_s
  
  
# Create a Group - mygroup1
  mygroup1 = []                                        # Create an empty array to prevent Bug Splat!
  mygroup1 = entities.add_group                        # Make the array a Group Entities class
  gentities1 = mygroup1.entities                       # Create an array of the Entities in mygroup
  mygroup1.name = groupname                            # Change the Group name
  face = gentities1.add_face fpts                      # Add a face to gentities1
  pullface = face.pushpull -bl                         # Do a push/pull to the face
  tcoordinates = [rlmid, glmid, blmid]                 # Set coordinates for text
  tpoint = Geom;;Point3d.new tcoordinates              # Create a 3d point for text
  mytext = gentities1.add_text "#{groupname}", tpoint  # Add a text label
  model.close_active                                   # Close mygroup1
# Closed the Group
  
  
# Move everything in the model
  entlen = entities.length
  transform = Geom;;Transformation.new([(rl*2),0,0])
  
  for e in (0... entlen)
  entities.transform_entities(transform, entities[e])
  end
  
# Select mygroup1
  #selection.add(mygroup1)  


  groupcount+= 1
  groupname = sjhname + groupcount.to_s
  
  
# Create a Group - mygroup2
  mygroup2 = []                                        # Create an empty array to prevent Bug Splat!
  mygroup2 = entities.add_group                        # Make the array a Group Entities class
  gentities2 = mygroup2.entities                       # Create an array of the Entities in mygroup
  mygroup2.name = groupname                            # Change the Group name
  face = gentities2.add_face fpts                      # Add a face to gentities2
  pullface = face.pushpull -bl                         # Do a push/pull to the face
  tcoordinates = [rlmid, glmid, blmid]                 # Set coordinates for text
  tpoint = Geom;;Point3d.new tcoordinates              # Create a 3d point for text
  mytext = gentities2.add_text "#{groupname}", tpoint  # Add a text label
  model.close_active                                   # Close mygroup2
# Closed the Group
  
  
# Move everything in the model
  entlen = entities.length
  transform = Geom;;Transformation.new([(rl*2),0,0])
  
  for e in (0... entlen)
  entities.transform_entities(transform, entities[e])
  end
  
# Select mygroup
  #selection.add(mygroup2)  


# ---------- With this Code it goes crazy ----------
# Move gentities1 (mygroup1) ONLY
  entlen = gentities1.length
  transform = Geom;;Transformation.new([(rl*2),0,0])
  
  for e in (0... entlen)
  entities.transform_entities(transform, gentities1[e])
  end
 
# Question; How do I move a Group on it's own (using Ruby API Code)?  

# ---------- End Main Code ----------
  
puts("\n   END \n..........")
# end of SJH_Groups_Add.rb

TIG · 30 Apr 2011, 11:31

Your request is a little unclear...

You can move a group simply by applying a transformation to the group.
This 'transforms' the group within it's context [here the model].
You can move a group's entities [all or in part] by applying a transformation to them.
This moves the specified group's entities within the group itself.

You have a reference to the group - e.g. mygroup1 - so use mygroup1.transform!(tr) - assuming 'tr' is a point-transformation or a translation-transformation, then the group moves to that new location or by that vector to suit... This is the simplest way to relocate whole groups within the model or even when they are within other groups etc...

A transformation can move to a point, move by a vector, rotate, scale etc...

When you want to move a collection of entities [say within a group] use something like this...
ents=mygroup1.entities ents.transform_entities(tr, ents.to_a)
This transforms all of the group's entities by 'tr' - note how we change the 'ents' to an array [with .to_a] to construct the list that will be changed...

SJH333 · 30 Apr 2011, 12:05

Thanks Tig.
I've got it to work with your suggestion:

# Move (mygroup1) ONLY  
  tr = [(rl*2),0,0]            # Set transformation
  mygroup1.transform!(tr)      # Move mygroup1 (apply transformation)

I was making it more difficult than it needed to be!
I didn't need to touch the Groups Entities.

Easy, when you know how!
Thanks again.

Attached is the 'moved' (transform!)ed Group.

TIG · 30 Apr 2011, 12:15

Try making it as a proper transformation
pt=Geom::Point3d.new(rl*2, 0, 0) tr=Geom::Transformation.new(pt) mygroup1.transform!(tr)
To move by a set vector use
vt=Geom::Vector3d.new(rl*2, 0, 0) tr=Geom::Transformation.translation(vt) mygroup1.transform!(tr)
Using an array as the transformation might give unexpected results...
Also the Geom::Transformation model has several other useful methods like rotation and scaling.......

SJH333 · 30 Apr 2011, 15:28

Now the Penny is dropping! Slowly...
After a day going round in circles, I've had a productive evening...

For absolute Newbies, here are some Group transformations (thanks yet again TIG):

# 30/04/2011 SJH_Groups_Add_v03.rb
puts "Running... SJH_Groups_Add"

  require 'sketchup.rb'

  model = Sketchup.active_model
  entities = model.entities
  #entities = model.active_entities
  selection = model.selection

  # Set some length variables
  rl = 1
  gl = 1
  bl = 1
  
  rlmid = rl*0.5  
  glmid = gl*0.5
  blmid = bl*0.5
  
  # To convert to SU current Model units
  rl = rl.to_s.to_l
  gl = gl.to_s.to_l
  bl = bl.to_s.to_l
  
  rlmid = rlmid.to_s.to_l
  glmid = glmid.to_s.to_l
  blmid = blmid.to_s.to_l
  
  
  # Create Face points array
  fpts = []
  fpts[0] = [0, 0, 0]
  fpts[1] = [rl, 0, 0]
  fpts[2] = [rl, gl, 0]
  fpts[3] = [0, gl, 0]
  
  # Create String and counter for incrementing group names
  sjhname = "SJHGroup"
  groupcount = 0

# ---------- Start Main Code ----------

  groupcount+= 1
  groupname = sjhname + groupcount.to_s
  
  
# Create a Group - mygroup1
  mygroup1 = []                                        # Create an empty array to prevent Bug Splat!
  mygroup1 = entities.add_group                        # Make the array a Group Entities class
  gentities1 = mygroup1.entities                       # Create an array of the Entities in mygroup
  mygroup1.name = groupname                            # Change the Group name
  face = gentities1.add_face fpts                      # Add a face to gentities1
  pullface = face.pushpull -bl                         # Do a push/pull to the face
  tcoordinates = [rlmid, glmid, blmid]                 # Set coordinates for text
  tpoint = Geom;;Point3d.new tcoordinates              # Create a 3d point for text
  mytext = gentities1.add_text "#{groupname}", tpoint  # Add a text label
  model.close_active                                   # Close mygroup1
# Closed the Group
 
  UI.messagebox("mygroup1 added.  What's next?")       # User Message to see what happened!
  
# Move everything in the model
  entlen = entities.length
  transform = Geom;;Transformation.new([(rl*2),0,0])
  
  for e in (0... entlen)
  entities.transform_entities(transform, entities[e])
  end
  
# Select mygroup1
  #selection.add(mygroup1)  

  UI.messagebox("All entities moved.  What's next?")   # User Message to see what happened!
  
  groupcount+= 1
  groupname = sjhname + groupcount.to_s
  
  
# Create a Group - mygroup2
  mygroup2 = []                                        # Create an empty array to prevent Bug Splat!
  mygroup2 = entities.add_group                        # Make the array a Group Entities class
  gentities2 = mygroup2.entities                       # Create an array of the Entities in mygroup
  mygroup2.name = groupname                            # Change the Group name
  face = gentities2.add_face fpts                      # Add a face to gentities2
  pullface = face.pushpull -bl                         # Do a push/pull to the face
  tcoordinates = [rlmid, glmid, blmid]                 # Set coordinates for text
  tpoint = Geom;;Point3d.new tcoordinates              # Create a 3d point for text
  mytext = gentities2.add_text "#{groupname}", tpoint  # Add a text label
  model.close_active                                   # Close mygroup2
# Closed the Group
  
  UI.messagebox("mygroup2 added.  What's next?")       # User Message to see what happened!
  
# Move everything in the model
  entlen = entities.length
  transform = Geom;;Transformation.new([(rl*2),0,0])
  
  for e in (0... entlen)
  entities.transform_entities(transform, entities[e])
  end
  
# Select mygroup
  #selection.add(mygroup2)  

  UI.messagebox("All entities moved.  What's next?")         # User Message to see what happened!
    
# Move (mygroup1) ONLY
# Try making it as a proper transformation (TIG 30/04/2011)
  pt=Geom;;Point3d.new(rl*2, 0, 0)
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.new(pt)
  mygroup1.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup1 moved by Point3d.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  
  
# Move (mygroup2) ONLY
# To move by a set vector use (TIG 30/04/2011)
  vt=Geom;;Vector3d.new(-rl*2, 0, 0)
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.translation(vt)
  mygroup2.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup2 moved by Vector3d.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  
  
# Rotate (mygroup1) along Red axis
  pt=Geom;;Point3d.new(0, 0, 0)
  vt=Geom;;Vector3d.new(rl, 0, 0)
  an=45.degrees
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.rotation(pt,vt,an)
  mygroup1.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup1 rotated along Red axis.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  

# Rotate (mygroup1) along Green axis
  pt=Geom;;Point3d.new(rl*6, 0, 0)
  vt=Geom;;Vector3d.new(0, gl, 0)
  an=45.degrees
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.rotation(pt,vt,-an)
  mygroup1.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup1 rotated along Green axis.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  

# Scale (mygroup2) uniform about origin x3
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.scaling(3)
  mygroup2.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup2 scaled uniform from origin.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  

# Scale (mygroup2) uniform about origin
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.scaling(0.3)
  mygroup2.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup2 scaled uniform from origin.  What's next?")  # User Message to see what happened!  

# Scale (mygroup2) non-uniform about origin
  tr=Geom;;Transformation.scaling(3, 2, 1.5)
  mygroup2.transform!(tr)

  UI.messagebox("mygroup2 scaled non-uniform from origin.  The End! ;o\)")  # User Message to see what happened!  
  
# ---------- End Main Code ---------- 
  
puts("\n   END \n..........")
# end of SJH_Groups_Add.rb

Attached is a pic of my moved, rotated and scaled Groups. Doesn't seem much but this morning that would have been a pic of a Bug Splat! Happy, happy!