Beginner Ruby Problmes

[Arkman]

Awesome! I have one more request. How could I get a list of layers in the model to define what layer it lives in. I can get a list but I can't get it to show the layers in the model or place that newly created group on the layer.

Thanks!!!!

[thomthom]

@arkman said:

Awesome! I have one more request. How could I get a list of layers in the model to define what layer it lives in. I can get a list but I can't get it to show the layers in the model or place that newly created group on the layer.

Thanks!!!!

You can get a list? But you can't get it to show the layers in the model...
I'm not quite following you. What list are you "getting"? You mean a list in the inputbox?

All the layers are under Skethcup.active_model.layers
http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/layers.html

[thomthom]

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
require 'sketchup.rb'
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

module AM_Named_Group
	
	unless file_loaded?('am_named_group.rb')
		# Add menu items.
		plugins_menu = UI.menu('Edit')
		plugins_menu.add_item('Make Named Group')	{ self.named_group }
	end
	
	def self.named_group
		model = Sketchup.active_model
		sel = model.selection

		# Don't do anything if the selection is empty.
		return if sel.empty?

		# Build an array of the layer names.
		layers = model.layers.to_a.collect { |l| l.name }
		# Ask user for group name.
		list = ['', layers.join('|')]
		prompts = ['Group Name; ', 'Layer; ']
		defaults = [model.definitions.unique_name('Group#1'), model.active_layer.name]
		input = UI.inputbox(prompts, defaults, list, 'New Group')

		# Check if the user cancelled.
		return if input == false
		
		# Get data from result array into variables
		group_name, group_layer = input
		
		# Make it into one Undoable action
		model.start_operation('Make Named Group')
		
		# The add_group method can be buggy when you pass on entities to it's argument. But there's
		# no real options.
		group = model.active_entities.add_group(sel)
		name = model.definitions.unique_name(group_name)
		# We set the name we will see in the Entities window.
		group.name = name
		# We set the definition name as well. If you convert the group to a component, this is the
		# name it will get.
		group.entities.parent.name = name
		# Set group layer
		group.layer = model.layers[group_layer]
		
		# Select the new group
		sel.clear
		sel.add(group)
		
		model.commit_operation
	end
end

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
file_loaded('am_named_group.rb')
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Arkman]

Ok, sorry that was unclear.

I can add a list to the inputbox but I cant get that list to show the layers in the model. I can make a list with just random terms that I picked. Like below.

list = ["item1|item2"]

So I guess my question is "How do I get a list in the inputbox that shows all the layers in the model?" I found that help file you showed me but I dont know how to use that. I tried:

list = [Sketchup.active_model.layers]

That didn't work. I'm not really sure how to get the list to use that Skethcup.active_model.layers

Once the list displays the layers in the model, how do I make the object go onto the layer selected in the inputbox?

Thanks for all your help. Sorry for all the questions.

[thomthom]

@arkman said:

list = [Skethcup.active_model.layers]

That didn't work. I'm not really sure how to get the list to use that Skethcup.active_model.layers

That's because Skethcup.active_model.layers is a collection of Layer objects. You need to collect all the layer names from each object. You see an example in the code I posted.

(And Skethcup was mis-spelled)

[Arkman]

Incredible! Thank you so much. You just made my life a lot easier!

[thomthom]

Maybe I should post it as a downloadable plugin?

[Arkman]

That would probably be extremely helpful. I know a lot of people that could use something like this.

Thanks again!!

Josh

[thomthom]

Posted it in a separate plugin for easy searching: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=23582

[Scott M]

Ththomthom I am Just starting out learning Ruby I made a plugin to create a simple rectangle based on the tutorial and would like to insert the name group module you posted could you give me some pointers?

[thomthom]

There are some sticky thread in the Developer section where links to various best-practices is posted.