[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

mitcorb · 31 Dec 2011, 03:26

Hi.
I have not used shape bender in a while, but due to another post on it I was experimenting. Probably somewhere in this thread it is mentioned, but I noticed this: I started with a group as instructed. When I decided to edit this group, only "Edit Component" was available on right click. Probably better that way, but I was not aware of this before.
Thanks Chris for a job well done.

TIG · 31 Dec 2011, 15:25

ShapeBender's result is always a component, even if the original UNbent object starts its life as a group !

Chris Fullmer · 2 Jan 2012, 02:49

Yup, that was "by design" though I'm not sure it is the correct way to do it.

irwanwr · 2 Jan 2012, 02:51

i like it the way it is.
probably because i tend to make components more than groups

TIG · 2 Jan 2012, 11:35

@chris fullmer said:

Yup, that was "by design" though I'm not sure it is the correct way to do it.
It doesn't really matter... If the user wants a group he simply Selects the new Instance, Explodes it and immediately makes a Group of the still Selected Geometry... Sometimes we authors worry too much about how users will use tools - they always find new ways of using [or breaking] them and some always want them to work differently from the way they do - sometimes they have a good idea and I adopt it - sometimes its pants!

Atena · 17 Jan 2012, 13:14

Hi Chris

I've the same problem as other people described. Cannot select line parallel to red axis. In my Ruby console I get Error: #TypeError: No implicit conversion from nil to integer>. Do you know what might be wrong?

TIG · 17 Jan 2012, 15:39

Atena

Is your red-axis line completely separate from all other geometry, and your curve too? They can't 'touch' anything else...

Atena · 18 Jan 2012, 08:52

Hi TIG

Yes it is comletely separate.

TIG · 18 Jan 2012, 09:39

Have you reset your axes ?
Open the Console before starting the tool.
Please post the whole Ruby Console message.
A screenshot would help us too...

Atena · 18 Jan 2012, 11:29

gilles · 18 Jan 2012, 11:41

you should post your model for test.

TIG · 18 Jan 2012, 11:49

There's nothing wrong with the SKP, although placing the group that's to be bent on that side of the line/curve might give an unexpected bent result!

The error message means you don't have the icon png files in the right subfolder, so the tool fails as it can't make the cursor needed at the pick-line stage...
The tool's clf_shape_bender sub-folder inside the Plugins folder should look like thisIt must already have the .rb file in it otherwise you wouldn't get as far as you do before the error appears [unless of course that too is in Plugins by mistake] !
Find the missing .png files... Were they put directly into Plugins ?
There should only be a script file called clf_shape_bender_loader.rb in Plugins.
If so move them back: if not reinstall the toolset and ensure that this time you get everything in the right places!!

Atena · 18 Jan 2012, 14:31

This is what I did:
Downloaded the file from this website;
It was a zip file so I extracted it on my desktop and I tried follow instructios on Sketchup Help how to installe ruby skript.
This is what my plugin folder looks like:

Dave R · 18 Jan 2012, 14:36

As TIG said, you installed it incorrectly. The png files should be in a folder as they were in the ZIP file.

As the instructions for installing plugins from ZIP files clearly says, you must not change the file structure when you extract the files.

Look at the screen shot TIG posted. All those files you see in his screen shot are supposed to be in a folder called clf_shape_bender and not loose in the Plugins folder.

ISRA1111 · 23 Jan 2012, 05:29

Help please! the bender is not working.
After selecting the component it asks
to "please select asingle line on the red axis"
But does nothing more (does not let me select)

TIG · 23 Jan 2012, 10:09

@isra1111 said:

Help please! the bender is not working.
After selecting the component it asks
to "please select a single line on the red axis"
But does nothing more (does not let me select)
Please read the recent posts...
I suspect an incorrect install with missing png files for the cursors [mention to another member a few posts back with the same issue!!!]
Are there any error messages in the Ruby Console?
Have you really installed all of the files properly in the correct folders?
The failure of most scripts to work is user error and incorrect installing.
Double check your setup.
Retry.
If you still can't get it to work then post any error messages from the Ruby Console, a screenshot of your problem SKP [and/or the SKP itself], and a screenshot of your Plugins/subfolder showing what's where...

edweiss · 24 Jan 2012, 21:25

I feel really dumb posting this, but I'm trying to install Shape Bender for SU8 and there's only one file in the ZIP archive. Am I missing something?

Dave R · 24 Jan 2012, 21:43

No need to feel dumb.

There's a file called clf_shape_bender_loader.rb and a folder called clf_shape_bender. Both are in the ZIP file and both need to end up in the Plugins directory with the contents of the folder still in the folder. I just downloaded it seconds ago and both the folder and file are there. If you aren't seeing both, it could have something to do with how you've got things set up to display.

massimo · 24 Jan 2012, 21:45

Also, as said in the first post, you need to put the progressbar.rb file in the plugins folder.

edweiss · 24 Jan 2012, 22:07

@dave r said:

No need to feel dumb.

There's a file called clf_shape_bender_loader.rb and a folder called clf_shape_bender. Both are in the ZIP file and both need to end up in the Plugins directory with the contents of the folder still in the folder. I just downloaded it seconds ago and both the folder and file are there. If you aren't seeing both, it could have something to do with how you've got things set up to display.

This is very odd, I tried downloading the file again, and still there's only the loader script. Never had this problem with ZIP files before. Can you tell me which URL you're using to download the ZIP?