[Plugin] Angular Dimension

[slbaumgartner]

@driven said:

@slbaumgartner said:

Alt key opening a menu is a standard PC shortcut -

thought you were taking mac...

@unknownuser said:

Interestingly, ALT seems to affect just about every tool except move,
it should 'move' a copy [with an added + symbol]

@unknownuser said:

You gotta love consistency and portability!
ohhh yerrr

@unknownuser said:

Regarding the cursors, is there any chance that the problem is with png files? Do you have other tools with custom cursors from png files that work?

All of SU's cursors are png's so that's not the problem.

I want them to work now because I made new ones.... damm
didn't really need the cursor before.

john

I'm on a PC but trying to help get this tool to work for people with Macs...
On a PC, the CTRL key toggles the move tool to copy, not ALT!
Re the cursors, do you have any examples of a tool with custom cursors that do work? I'd like to look at the Ruby to see what it does. I thought I was following the documented code...

steve

[driven]

some progress...

if I use either of these changes, I get the inside cursor and a one-off toggle.

  def onKeyDown(key, rpt, flags, view)
      if key ==  VK_ALT 
    #  @inside=nil         # uncomment this with the original order below i.e. true = false
      !@inside = @inside     # or switch it to false = true     orig.  @inside = !@inside 
       if @inside
        @cursor = IN_CURSOR
        else
        @cursor = OUT_CURSOR
      end

not sure what to look for next... john

[driven]

Chris Fulmars 'shapebender.rb' come easily to mind, in the Plugin section here.

I got one step more with trying versions of this, I can switch from inside to out logos once...

could you split this into 2 separate actions, holding down the Alt is common for SU tools, as apposed to toggling...

      if key ==  VK_ALT 
       @inside = false && @cursor = OUT_CURSOR
        else
        if key ==  !VK_ALT 
         @inside = true
         @cursor = IN_CURSOR
      end

[driven]

here's some I made earlier.

so we have to get them working.... john

[driven]

got it...... could be tidier but it's working

  def onKeyDown(key, rpt, flags, view)
      if key ==  VK_ALT 
       @inside = false
       @cursor = nil
       @cursor = OUT_CURSOR
     # end
      
      # redraw in new mode if appropriate
      if @drawn
        # undo the previous operation before redrawing
        # this avoids buildup of unneeded operations on
        # the undo stack        
        Sketchup.undo if @state==0
        draw_angle_dim
        else
        # make sure the cursor change takes effect immediately
        # without this it doesn't change until the user moves
        # the mouse
        UI.set_cursor(@cursor)
      end
    end
  end
  
def onKeyUp(key, rpt, flags, view)
      if key ==  VK_ALT 
       @inside = true;
       @cursor = nil
       @cursor = IN_CURSOR
       end
end

[slbaumgartner]

How strange! The key feature seems to be the assignment of nil before assignment of the new cursor. I can't imagine why that would be necessary, but if it works...

[driven]

This is something I was looking at today for the other ruby issue, and I just thought I'd play around with the assumption that
having Booleans and conditionals mixed together Can cause issues like false = false ==> true
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3783483/odd-ruby-if-statement-question

john

[driven]

@slbaumgartner said:

I thought I was following the documented code...

hi Steve
I missed this earlier, but that could explain the problem... there are so many gotcha's...

one thing that happens now is the to icon switches on button up but the @inside changes on next mouse click, could a conditional delay the icon?

you should probably move 'cursor bits' of this to the developers forum, tidier for plugin browsers and you might get some answers from people who know what their doing....

I just try and make other peoples scripts work on mac's, and write a few applescript/shell/su type helpers.. and bets test for anyone really...

john

[Michaelv]

Well at this point in regard to the mod keys for scripts, I'm figuring that the easiest way is to have a Mac and a PC version of the script. Not only it's the easiest from the point of view of scripting, but it allows to use different modifiers, which is more within the usual practice of each machine.

I have a version ready for you, including text but there is still the cursor issue.

I worked on the cursor issue yesterday and it's a tough nut. I changed the cursor scripting to make it similar to the API example and to another script I have (in progress) where it works. And it still doesn't work . There is no difference between the two, yet it doesn't work in this script, and there is still the orbit and pan cursor remanence issue. So something else is going on, which I have to figure out. Maybe today.

[driven]

@Michaelv

hi,

the cursors work on OSX 10.5.8 with the script above if inserted into the original. did you try it?

john

[Michaelv]

@driven said:

@Michaelv

hi,

the cursors work on OSX 10.5.8 with the script above if inserted into the original. did you try it?

john

Sent you a PM

[Michaelv]

All Right, done.

So here is my final script for MAC:
Thanks John I used your mod (and changed it a bit, no more onkeyup), cursor works great now. And option toggles everything, text display and cursor, try it!

---

draw_angle_dim.rb

[Michaelv]

OK the plot thickens.

I tried the original icons for the cursor, and it doesn't work. Only John's Icons work, now that's weird, they have the exact same name and extension and location.

Also when the option key is pressed the icon only switches when the mouse moves on my version. I'll see what can be done.

EDIT: Only when I toggle as the dimension is already drawn, if I toggle while it is being drown, icon switches instantly. I thought I didn't dream it before.

[driven]

Hi,

test's fine here, I'm not sure what was up with the original icons, they work when I stuck them in a Toolbar button, but not as a cursor,

I know when I scaled mine down 50% to 16x16 they stopped working, so maybe there's a minimum file size?

john

[ipsketchpi]

Hi

How to switch from inner angle tool, which looks like is defoult, to outside angle tool?

[Dave R]

After activating the tool, read the message line at the bottom of the drawing window.

You can also find the usage instruction at the beginning of the rb file if you open it in a text editor.

@unknownuser said:

• The TAB key toggles between drawing the interior (<180) angle

and drawing the exterior (>180) angle dimension. If you press tab

after an angle dimension is drawn but before picking the first

point of the next angle, the current angle dimension will be

redrawn in the new mode.

[ipsketchpi]

Thank you for "TAB", now al works, I could not find that

[BrooksL]

Uhm, please forgive me if this is a 'duh' question, but I can't seem to get the draw_angle_dim.rb tool to work at all... Running WinXP Pro, SketchUp 8 Pro 8.0.11752.

The icons don't show up, I don't see it on the Plugins menu... how do I activate the tool??

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Ruby, but did try typing DrawAngleDimTool::IN_ICON into the Ruby Console and it does return the correct path and icon file name...and the files are there...
DrawAngleDimTool::IN_CURSOR returns 50001

Help?

[Dave R]

The most common reason that plugins don't work for people is they aren't installed correctly. Make sure you have both a folder called 'draw_angle_dim' and a file called 'draw_angle_dim.rb' in the Plugins folder of SketchUp. The folder contains two image files; interior.png and exterior.png. When you have all those files in place correctly, open SketchUp and look in the tools menu for 'Angular Dimension.' There you have it. There is no toolbar and it doesn't appear in the Plugins menu.

[BrooksL]

Thanks Dave R; I had just found it hiding on the Tools menu. [is there a way to make it (and other ruby's) appear in a certain order on the Tools menu - like next to the native Dimensions item?]

Would help new users if the usage doc were posted and mentioned how/where to activate it...like this:

Name: draw_angle_dim

Description: Create an angle dimension with arc and text in a new group

Adds item "Angular Dimension" to the SketchUp Tools menu

Usage: - Click 3 points, going around an angle in sequence from any point

on one leg, to vertex, to any point on the other leg (clockwise or

counterclockwise doesn't matter). Be careful where you click -

this tool lets the inference engine assist you but doesn't

force you to click on existing model entities!

- The tool will draw two edges along the sides of the angle,

an arc across the angle, and a text with leader showing the

value of the angle. The two edges make it easy to realign

the group with the original angle if the entity containing it is

subsequently moved or rotated.

- The primitive elements of each dimension are gathered into a Group

named Angular Dimension (<angle>), where <angle> is the measured

angle. If you draw multiple angle dimensions, the <angle> value

will help you identify which is which (unless, of course, you have

several with the same value!).

- Each Angular Dimension drawing is packaged in an operation, so that

undo and redo treat all of the elements as a single step.

- The default radius for the arc is half the distance between

the first pick point and the vertex. The user can override

the radius by typing in the VCB at any time. If a new radius is entered

before the first point is picked for the next angle, the prior

dimension is redrawn at the new radius. The user-selected

radius remains in effect for additional angles until the

user enters a new value or selects a different tool.

- The TAB key toggles between drawing the interior (<180) angle

and drawing the exterior (>180) angle dimension. If you press tab

after an angle dimension is drawn but before picking the first

point of the next angle, the current angle dimension will be

redrawn in the new mode.

- Unlike the built-in "smart" linear dimensions in SketchUp, the

entities drawn by this tool are just graphics; they have no tie

to the original angle and will not follow it or scale if it is

modified. You can open the Group for edit, but it is not likely

you will like the results - it is easier to delete the dimension

Group and do it again.

Date: December 23, 2011

Type: Tool