[Plugin] ExtrudeTools - Full Set

TIG · 6 Dec 2011, 11:21

Run EEbyEdges with the Ruby Console open and post any error messages.
Are your arcs of a reasonable size etc ?
Why not post the SKP that's not working, or at least a screenshot - you might have made the bits wrongly ?
We can't tell unless we have more information...
Works for me and thousands of others... Are you sure it's the tool you want? If you welded the arcs into curves and the used EEbyRails would that perhaps give the expected result ??

gudio83 · 6 Dec 2011, 23:42

that's on ruby console:
Error: #<TypeError: wrong argument type (expected Sketchup::Entity)>
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:228:in add_group' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:228:in activate'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:384:in select_tool' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:384:in extrudeEdgesByEdges'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:399

TIG · 7 Dec 2011, 10:40

Still doesn't help a lot!
However, I now suspect that it's a clash with another script that's ill-advisedly interfering with the built-in group.copy method. One known culprit is Sketchy-Physics, another is Driving-Dimensions. If you have those install tools please try disabling them - to do that find the relevant .rb or .rbs file[s] in the Plugins folder, that will load the tool[s] and add a '!' to the end of the file-extension [you need your folder options set to let you see the extensions] so they are .rb! or .rbs! files. Restart Sketchup and see if EEbyEdges works now...
I am looking at a workaround for this kind of issue - but it's these rogue tools who's code is wrongly messing with built-in methods though !

It it continues after the disablement, then post the SKP or at the very least a screenshot, with instructions on what you pick, how etc, so we can test it ourselves...

TIG · 7 Dec 2011, 13:06

Here's an updated zipped set.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=217663#p217663
Six of the tools that used the built-in method 'group.copy' have been rewritten to avoid using it [you will now get a warning that 'make-unique-is-deprectaed' in the Ruby Console but that's a glitch with the way Sketchup is written and not an error per se].
This has been forced on us because there are still a few rogue scripts out there where the authors have messed around with some built-in base-class methods like this, and then the expected result is not returned...

gudio83 · 8 Dec 2011, 21:35

It's great. all tools without EXTRUDE EDGES BY EDGES work.
EXTRUDE EDGES BY EDGES still don't work. now every time tells me: select 2 groups of edges. 1st profile 2nd path.
i have no idea why, there is no error message.

TIG · 8 Dec 2011, 22:33

@gudio83 said:

It's great. all tools without EXTRUDE EDGES BY EDGES work.
EXTRUDE EDGES BY EDGES still don't work. now every time tells me: select 2 groups of edges. 1st profile 2nd path.
i have no idea why, there is no error message.

Please post your SKP that's not working so we can see...

sameer_engi · 17 Dec 2011, 17:57

i like it; it so easy to use and save time thinks

lazybones · 5 Jan 2012, 13:05

As it is my first post - hi everyone;)

I've got question about Arc's tutorial.
What plugin do i need to move up this middle arc, like Arc did? I mean, how to control this arc so i can drag ending point up like it is shown on this tutorial...

TIG · 5 Jan 2012, 15:20

@lazybones said:

As it is my first post - hi everyone;)
I've got question about Arc's tutorial.
What plugin do i need to move up this middle arc, like Arc did? I mean, how to control this arc so i can drag ending point up like it is shown on this tutorial...
Sorry lazybones but you're making as much sense as a 'sack full of cornels' [=private-joke!].
This is really about basic Arc drawing and so it probably belongs elsewhere ?
BUT assuming this isn't going to get into a long off-topic ping-pong game... then please read this carefully...
Find and read the Help function for Arc.
Consider using the Instructor window for info on unfamiliar tools - like the Arc one, which has several links off the web-pages for specialized Arc making...
There are specific useful inferencing tips for tangents, half-circle etc
You can snap the ends of the Arc and 'bulge' to anywhere you like; so snap to existing things or make guides to snap to.
You can constrain the direction/plane of an Arc using Shift keys when picking points.
You can also type in precise values for chord and bulge sizes...
Once the Arc is made you can Scale it in one or both axes of its plane.
You can also Move/Rotate it into another orientation.
TIP: to prevent it sticking to other geometry, Group it temporarily do the Move/Rotate, then Explode it when you are done tweaking...

lazybones · 6 Jan 2012, 16:11

@tig said:

Sorry lazybones but you're making as much sense as a 'sack full of cornels' [=private-joke!].(...)

As I'am not SU beginner, i feel quite stupid about my question right now;) I've never used that 'bulge' by point before - and now i'm wondering (and will for o moment) how is that possible genius...
Anyway, thanks a lot for help, cheers!

Dave R · 6 Jan 2012, 17:01

When you use the Arc tool, you set the end points by clicking and drag out the"bulge". Try it and look at the Measurements box. You'll see it is labeled "Bulge". Some of that stuff, because it is always there, is easy to overlook.

yaza · 18 Jan 2012, 08:40

Dear TIG thanks for a wonderful tool.
I was using it for more than a year with no issues with it's siblings in the plugin folder, until yesterday when it started to crash SU.
I have no ... idea what the commpatibility file means. Please advise.
Thank you and have a nice day

TIG · 18 Jan 2012, 09:20

There are a few overlapping issues...

The 'Compatibility Files' button means that you do not have full permissions to the Plugins folder, AND although it might look like you have successfully installed files/subfolders into the 'Plugins' folder, actually the OS [Vista?] has put them into a 'side folder' to protect you from yourself - an annoying feature because it doesn't tell you this except for displaying this unobtrusive button - the missing bits can cause issues when things only half-auto-load when SUp starts.
Click on the 'Compatibility Files' button and see what's up, move things back as needed.
To stop a recurrence ensure that you have full permissions to the 'Plugins' folder [and the Materials/Components/Styles folders too] - select the folder's icon, right-click, properties, security, select user[s], edit etc...

You also have a "tool-bar collection" folder installed - there are warnings about this posted on its download page, it puts old copies of some 'system' files into the 'Plugins' folder, which then load before the newer versions that were made in the 'Tools' folder by the SUp installer, and which SUp MUST find and use !
It then breaks SUp in subtle ways !
The two files that jump out at me, and MUST be removed from your 'Plugins' folder are sketchup.rb and extensions.rb - see the "collection's" download page for more details...

The Ruby Console reports seem OK.
I'm unsure what the '20' lines are - were you perhaps running another tool before this ?
The ' make_unique...deprecated...' message IS expected, as the tools use that API method which IS needed when copying groups in certain ways, but which SUp wrongly advises against, things it's 'deprecated' = 'no longer used'... [IF the API 'safely' made unique copies of groups by default it wouldn't be used]. I reintroduced the make_unique method after it became apparent that some other authors' scripts were ill-advisedly rewriting base-classes/methods and thereby adversely affecting the API's 'group' methods, and causing issues with some users - e.g. cgp=group.copy should return a reference to the newly made [hopefully unique] group, but some third-party scripts mess that up and it returns 'nil', therefore making it impossible to keep track of copied groups, the safest way is to use
cgp=entities.add_instance(group.entities.parent, group.transformation) cgp.make_unique
So that 'cgp' is then properly returned as a reference to the new unique copy of the 'group'...

Incidentally if you are going to display your folders' contents without 'details'. then please have your 'Folder Options' set to display ALL file-types, so we see .rb, .skp etc, it's much easier to grasp what's what in a screenshot...

yaza · 18 Jan 2012, 10:00

Thanks for your immediate!!! answer, don't you ever sleep?
The OS is Windows7.
I don't get it, why does this stupid machine gives me administrator prerogative to install and run from one hand and takes it back from the other by overighting on it's own.

yaza · 18 Jan 2012, 10:12

@unknownuser said:

The two files that jump out at me, and MUST be removed from your 'Plugins' folder are sketchup.rb and extensions.rb - see the "collection's" download page for more details...

can you please direct me to the link?
thank you

TIG · 18 Jan 2012, 10:41

See here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=112024#p112024

rv1974 · 30 Apr 2012, 07:08

Hi TIG,
I could not find the 'ExtrudeAlongPath.rb' thread, so let me spam here.
You know what would make my sketchup life complete?
Being able to ExtrudeAlongPath on multiple\not connectededges.
I use this .rb constantly and it'd save a LOT of time.
Thank you in advance
P.S. yet another wish:
the default alignment: centroid, width\length: 5\5.

TIG · 30 Apr 2012, 08:58

There are three of my older extrusion tools that are not in the zipped set.
Two are still available from Didier's crai Ruby Depot
ExtrudeAlongPath and TubeAlongPath
The other one PipeAlongPath is also available here at SCF http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=7547#p7547

The zipped set's ExtrudeEdgesByFace tool effectively replaces them all: with it you can draw any 'flat' face shape desired and use a cpoint to fine-tune its initial setting-out: it also follows multiple selected paths [unlike most other tools where branching etc stops the operation]...
However, PipeAlongPath does allow circular 'pipe-like' extrusions with variable int/ext.diameters set by dialog, so that tool does still have its own uses...

rv1974 · 30 Apr 2012, 10:17

Indeed 'extrude edges by face' works smoothly.I'll adopt it for sure. Thank you!
though.. the oldie 'ExtrudeAlongPath' is a bit faster to execute in boring rectangular situations
(which are 99% in my practice)

gherkin · 21 May 2012, 21:41

Hi, I'm an architecture student... these tools will really helped me visualise my ideas! They are similar to Rhino's 'Panelling Tools' plugin, but this is not free. I've had a play with extrude tools for an hour or so... I'm addicted! Thanks TIG: