Calculate button in a messagebox?

tallbridgeguy

I was trying to write a little ruby, where you can enter some numbers in a dialog box (messagebox?) and before the window closes you can hit a calculate button.

The button would trigger a calculation using the numbers you entered. When you are satisfied with your results you could hit a "draw" button (in the same window) and it would use the info to draw a shape. Sort of like a calculator? with a draw feature.

Why..well I want to calculate the cross-section of a beam I would need for a certain moment, changing variables until I get what I want, and then draw it.

Is this possible?

thanks!

s

TIG

Yes... but you must use web-dialog...

jeff hammond

with a workaround or two (or maybe none depending on the cross-section profile) you can probably do this using dynamic components.. the dc dialog is actually a super good calculator though the implementation isn't the best..

you mind uploading the profile and showing the variables?

tallbridgeguy

Hi Jeff. (thanks Dan for the link.)

I want to develop a ruby for a concrete design class I teach.

The goal is to input variables and hit calculate to see if the variables you chose make a strong enough concrete beam. Then you would hit draw the cross section.

I would also like to add a list of rebar sizes that a user can choose from a drop down bar and that would go in the cross-section.

Hopefully this will encourage then to learn sketchup!

here is my first noobie ruby attempt.

thanks!

Stuart

beam section regular.jpg

concbeam.rb

Dan Rathbun

Here's a few topics that you should read, with hints and some code:

Evaluate expression as input to input form

[Code] Parsing arithmetic formulas

jeff hammond

yeah, so i don't really know what that stuff means (f'c psi ... fy psi ??? ) so i just copied your formulas and terms..
this dc could be better organized/named but since i don't really get the end result, i can't think of a decent way to organize it..

here's the dc:

beam.skp

just click on the beam and go Window->Component Options

you might like it better as everything can update (size, formulas, etc) without leaving the dialog so it makes it easier to try a bunch of combos..

i started to add some rebar in there but stopped because i don't know what it's supposed to do in this case.. it could easily be tied into the whole thing though..

tallbridgeguy

Thanks Jeff! Let me look at it a bit, I'm not used to dynamic components. It look pretty cool.

Thanks again!

s