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    [Plugin] Solid Inspector

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    • thomthomT Offline
      thomthom
      last edited by

      @jgb said:

      I've been using Solid Inspector for about 3 weeks now, and only a few days ago discovered the <tab> key, arrow key and <enter> functions. Never thought to look down. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

      I use it so much I have the "S" key as a shortcut. ๐Ÿ‘

      But a most unintuitive aspect of SI is when it finds and highlights the problem(s). ๐Ÿ‘Ž

      Generally you want to delete the offender entity(s).
      The process is to toggle amongst the highlights to choose one, which is now indicated by a red circle. โ—
      Press <Enter> to zoom in on it.
      Place the white arrow cursor on the highlighted entity.
      Right click and select "Edit group". If you click "erase" here, it will delete the whole group.
      Keeping the cursor on the highlighted entity, Right Click and select "erase". That will delete the single cursor-ed entity only. Either 1 line or 1 face, but not the faces highlighted perimeter lines.
      And that leaves you in a form of limbo. ๐ŸŽ‰
      Now you have to select the "edit menu" and "close group" to get back into SI for the next problem.

      Since 99.9% of the time you want to simply delete the offending entity, why not simply;
      Place the cursor on it and just double click to delete the red highlighted entity.
      Then you toggle to the next.

      This obviates the wish for an auto-fix which is complex and where a simple deletion may not be the fix one needs to do.

      One other thing; when SI encounters a true solid (no errors) please say so, maybe a green circle around the group/comp. But do come out of the white arrow select mode.

      I have plans (desire) to make the inspector work inside the active group/component instead of outside. That would improve usability.

      Thomas Thomassen โ€” SketchUp Monkey & Coding addict
      List of my plugins and link to the CookieWare fund

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      • jgbJ Offline
        jgb
        last edited by

        Thomthom said "I have plans (desire) to......"

        I know THAT feeling all too well. ๐Ÿ˜†


        jgb

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        • mariochaM Offline
          mariocha
          last edited by

          @unknownuser said:

          make the inspector work inside the active group/component instead of outside. That would improve usability.

          That would sure be a great improvement
          on an already so useful plugin! ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘ (icon of your username)
          Now youv'e made me eager .

          %(#008000)[Mario C.
          Every rule has exceptions, but some.]

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          • majidM Offline
            majid
            last edited by

            this was realllllly handy to me .... nowadays I was modeling a chair part , to be produced by plastic, and need to be a solid, and it was really handy.
            thanx a bunch.

            My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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            • E Offline
              ericschimel
              last edited by

              Nice work Thomas! I am going to check this out. I really hate trying to find small holes in groups!

              -Eric
              http://plugin.sketchthis.net
              Sketchup Kitchen Design Plugin
              Custom Models

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              • K Offline
                Kev_Ov
                last edited by

                Thank you so much!!!

                Leaks had been bugging me for days!

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                • E Offline
                  emartingr
                  last edited by

                  @unknownuser said:

                  Nice work Thomas! I am going to check this out. I really hate trying to find small holes in groups!

                  Defects in solids are sometimes produced by carrying out SU boolean operations, and these are very difficult to find. SI is a most welcome tool. Thanks a lot!!

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                  • D Offline
                    d12dozr
                    last edited by

                    Thomthom, I use this plugin ALL the time...how do I send you a cookie?

                    3D Printing with SketchUp Book
                    http://goo.gl/f7ooYh

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                    • Dave RD Offline
                      Dave R
                      last edited by

                      Marcus. I'll send one with yours. ๐Ÿ˜‰

                      Etaoin Shrdlu

                      %

                      (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                      G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                      M30

                      %

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                      • thomthomT Offline
                        thomthom
                        last edited by

                        Cookies!!! ๐Ÿ˜„

                        Thomas Thomassen โ€” SketchUp Monkey & Coding addict
                        List of my plugins and link to the CookieWare fund

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                        • mariochaM Offline
                          mariocha
                          last edited by

                          Cookies!!! โ˜€

                          %(#008000)[Mario C.
                          Every rule has exceptions, but some.]

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                          • jgbJ Offline
                            jgb
                            last edited by

                            Can't tell you TT how ecstatic I am with SI.
                            Although I have some suggestions for improvement, it still amazes me how it can find tiny random elements that SU says are "~0 in" in length that prevent a solid from forming, that would be simply impossible to find without SI.

                            When Google upgraded SU to form solids, something like SI should have been a native function, far more important and useful than merging solids that are only available with Pro. But Google has always displayed excellent software for internally identifying errors, but rate a serious ๐Ÿ‘Ž ๐Ÿ‘Ž ๐Ÿ‘Ž ๐Ÿ‘Ž for telling us exactly what the error is and where to find it to fix.

                            My only suggestions to improve SI are;
                            1- allow it to function INSIDE the group/comp. Right now it is a repetitive set of operations to
                            ** select the group/comp,

                            • call-up SI (which is my "S" key shortcut),
                            • hit <return> to locate the next error,
                            • zero in on it and place the cursor on the red highlighted object,
                            • press <spacebar> to exit SI,
                            • enter EDIT mode and
                            • select the offender and then
                            • delete it, which is 99.999% of the time the required fix.
                            • Then, exit edit mode,
                            • reselect the group/comp and, IF the solid has not formed (Entity Info box),
                            • do it all over again.* This gets tedious. ๐ŸŽ‰

                            If SI worked INSIDE the group/comp, you would only need to
                            ** select the group/comp,

                            • call-up SI,
                            • then hit <enter> to select the first offender,
                            • then <delete> to fix it,
                            • <enter><delete> <enter><delete>* etc.
                              โžก I would not want SI to automatically delete offenders, as in rare cases this is not the desired fix.

                            2- If the group/comp is already or finally a valid solid, paint a green circle around it, and if in edit mode, exit the solid.


                            jgb

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                            • thomthomT Offline
                              thomthom
                              last edited by

                              Yup - I want SI to work inside the active group as well. On the todo list.
                              I just haven't had much time lately for plugins. ๐Ÿ˜ž

                              Thomas Thomassen โ€” SketchUp Monkey & Coding addict
                              List of my plugins and link to the CookieWare fund

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                              • C Offline
                                commandercup
                                last edited by

                                This is the greatest thing I have ever used.

                                Thanks for making this!

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                                • thomthomT Offline
                                  thomthom
                                  last edited by

                                  Version 1.1.0
                                  If nothing is selected then the current context will be inspected.

                                  Thomas Thomassen โ€” SketchUp Monkey & Coding addict
                                  List of my plugins and link to the CookieWare fund

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                                  • Rich O BrienR Offline
                                    Rich O Brien Moderator
                                    last edited by

                                    ๐Ÿ‘

                                    Thanks Thom

                                    Download the free D'oh Book for SketchUp ๐Ÿ“–

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                                    • D Offline
                                      d12dozr
                                      last edited by

                                      Thanks, Thomthom

                                      http://sweetbakery.org/images/cookie-plate.jpg

                                      ๐Ÿ’š

                                      3D Printing with SketchUp Book
                                      http://goo.gl/f7ooYh

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                                      • J Offline
                                        Jim
                                        last edited by

                                        Just noticed the update. Thanks, thomthom.

                                        Hi

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                                        • J Offline
                                          Jim
                                          last edited by

                                          It seems natural that when using Solid Inspector for nested models, that when I click on nothing it should go to the parent context and start checking that. And conversely, double-clicking a Group/Component while using ST could enter that context (except I know it's not possible in the current API ๐Ÿ˜ž ) What do you think?

                                          Hi

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                                          • thomthomT Offline
                                            thomthom
                                            last edited by

                                            Ah - navigate the current context like the native Selection too does. Yes - not bad idea. Closing is doable, but it does have a nasty bug where the event is not added to the undo stack when you use Ruby - which cause geometry havoc when you do try to undo/redo anything. ๐Ÿ˜•
                                            ( wouldn't mind if more peope, besides me, went nagging to Google about the open/close context issue.) ๐Ÿ˜‰

                                            Thomas Thomassen โ€” SketchUp Monkey & Coding addict
                                            List of my plugins and link to the CookieWare fund

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