Best way to return a value from a tool ?

[Didier Bur]

Hi all,
After several searches here and there, I'm searching for the most simpler and clever way to code a tool that will return a value after it ends.
For instance: I've made a tool which measures the total distance as the user clicks points on his model.
When he selects another tool, I want my code to get the 'distance' property (instance variable) of that tool)

Thanks for your help,

[TIG]

Make it a class, that's a Tool.
As well as activate have deactivate(), which runs when the user selects another tool etc.
If the total length is remembered as an @ you can use that in an exiting dialog...

def deactivate(view)
    UI.messagebox("Total Length = #{@length}") if @length
    Sketchup;;set_status_text("")
    return nil
end

This is a basic solution... Remember to [pre]format @length in appropriate units etc as needed...
For pressing ESC etc could invoke 'onCancel()' similarly, BUT you'd probably not want to have the output then.

[thomthom]

@tig said:

Remember to [pre]format @length in appropriate units etc as needed

Ensuring @length is a Length class will ensure SketchUp formats the length in the model's current unit. There is rarely any need to perform any unit formatting.

[Didier Bur]

Thanks guys,

@unknownuser said:

Make it a class, that's a Tool.
That was still the case (I don't know how to create a tool without making it a class )

I tested various solutions to retrieve the @distance property... except deactivate(), so thanks a lot TIG !

[Dan Rathbun]

Inside the Tool class use:

attr_reader( :distance )

so you have a getter method

[Didier Bur]

Thanks Dan,
I still had an attr_accessor :distance in that class