[Plugin] Sketchup Ivy

tomot · 12 May 2012, 22:56

I don't seem to get consistent results. like adhesion doesn't seem to really make the vine adhere as it does make it grow shorter distances with each click.

This Ivy generator is a got attempt at copying Thomas Luft's Ivy generator , but still has some minor problems such as collision detection which the SketchUp API may not not contain.

the.pjt · 9 Jun 2012, 10:37

is it possible to change the SKP files located in the Plugins\LiveIvy\Textures and replace its JPEG textures with PNGs ?
so this plugin could results transparent textured leafs ...
because now we should change textures every time

can I do it ? ...or ... will the plugin make bad results ?? longer time ??

thanks ...

rodrigonotor · 9 Jun 2012, 16:16

Hi Pj, is not problem change the files, only make shure you put the same names for components.

You can use the *.png file inside the leaf component.

Here are the leaf component I use.

ivy_leaf_enavas.rar

Krisidious · 9 Jun 2012, 17:47

@the.pjt said:

is it possible to change the SKP files located in the Plugins\LiveIvy\Textures and replace its JPEG textures with PNGs ?
so this plugin could results transparent textured leafs ...
because now we should change textures every time

can I do it ? ...or ... will the plugin make bad results ?? longer time ??

thanks ...

yes you can... that's what I did to allow transparency.

the.pjt · 9 Jun 2012, 18:56

thanks ..

so I have another question .. why Pierreden (author) have used JPG textures in Plugins\LiveIvy\Textures ? he could use PNGs ... couldn't he ? ...

I'm going to change components in the directory (Plugins\LiveIvy\Textures) ..

bigstick · 10 Jun 2012, 20:19

This still doesn't work on the Mac. In case anyone is tempted to try the updated version in the hope that it will work on the Mac, nope. Not for me, and after all the posts so far, I'm not the only one having trouble with this. This updated version doesn't actually fix anything as far as I can see.

To summarise:-

The dialog works. This latest version has the default values as krisidious shows in his post. I'm grateful for this, it was one of the things I thought that might be the cause of the plugin not working. However, the ivy will still not 'grow'.
Also the problem where this plugin inserts the leaf components into every single model still persists. This is a bug in my opinion.

I'm guessing that it's bad etiquette to modify someone else's plugin, but I really wish someone would fix these issues. It's one I have been itching to use for a long time, and it's still frustrating that it almost works.

I haven't seen anything from Pierreden for some time, but surely he wouldn't mind someone else fixing this...

the.pjt · 14 Jun 2012, 11:42

Hi Dear Sketchucators ..

I have Updated This Nice plugin

all I have done is Making a Toolbar and an Icon For this little Nice Ivy Plugin ..
And I also made it an Extension .. So You can temporary disable it ...and then enable it
I have NOT changed Its codes so it's still vr 1.6.3

but you will see 1.6.3.1 version in SU's preferences panel because of these little changes ...

Have a nice day .. and a nice toolbar

DOWNLOAD IT NOW
LiveIvy.zip

important : it's not an a stand alone plugin because it doesn't cautions TEXTURE folder .. you should extract it to your plugins folder and replace its files with existing rubies

Oxer · 15 Jun 2012, 12:45

Thanks for the toolbar!!

Gus R · 15 Jun 2012, 15:48

Noticed something the other day. When I open a new instance of SU8 it loads all of the "ivyleaf" components into the new model. It also loads these same components if I open a drawing from Windows Explorer or using the File -> Open command. It won't load if I open a drawing from the pull down menu withing SU or if I start a second new drawing.

This is using the latest version of Sketchup Ivy from the first page. Not really a critical issue for me but I thought you might want to be aware of this. Didn't see if this was brought up in the previous discussion.

pololo · 22 Jun 2012, 21:21

@the.pjt said:

Hi Dear Sketchucators ..

I have Updated This Nice plugin

all I have done is Making a Toolbar and an Icon For this little Nice Ivy Plugin ..
And I also made it an Extension .. So You can temporary disable it ...and then enable it
I have NOT changed Its codes so it's still vr 1.6.3

but you will see 1.6.3.1 version in SU's preferences panel because of these little changes ...

Have a nice day .. and a nice toolbar

DOWNLOAD IT NOW
[attachment=0:7h5c99gs]LiveIvy.zip[/attachment:7h5c99gs]

important : it's not an a stand alone plugin because it doesn't cautions TEXTURE folder .. you should extract it to your plugins folder and replace its files with existing rubies

Hello Friend, I have problems with your toolbar, I can't see your toolbar or icons ,Could you show me step by step how to make it work?
I have downloaded your file, but doesnt work. What should I do to fix this?
I have Sketchup 8 on win7 64 bits. Thanks!!

jacimta1 · 4 Jul 2012, 21:30

I have problema installing this. I have attempted to install it both in windows and mac, could you please explain me the installing process on both? Thank you in advance

bulbangs · 16 Jul 2012, 15:39

i am experiencing an error installing this:

Error Loading File C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/LiveIvy/LiveIvy_Base.rb
can't convert nil into StringError Loading File LiveIvy.rb
can't convert nil into String

rodrigonotor · 30 Jul 2012, 00:36

Hi PJT, still not working. Do it in clean install.

Thanks anyway.

Regards

Krisidious · 30 Jul 2012, 03:59

SketchupIvy.0.6.4.beta.zip

repacked with working leaf skp files and transparent png textures also included default setting jpg's.

TIG · 30 Jul 2012, 08:05

This telling you that it can't find a file to load...
../Plugins/LiveIvy/LiveIvy_Base.rb
This almost certainly means that the tool's subfolder of files in not in the 'Plugins' folder where it must be!
Can you post a screen-shot of your 'Plugins' folder showing what you have actually installed...
Also check your security permissions - these should be FULL for all Sketchup's subfolders, like 'Plugins'.

rodrigonotor · 30 Jul 2012, 10:19

Hi TIG, thanks for your support.

He´re the screenshoot of my Plugins folder:

Change security permissions in folder plugins

And still not working, make the same error.

Regards

TIG · 30 Jul 2012, 11:49

Now the real mystery...
I had to install LiveIvy to check this...
There is no file called LiveIvy_Base.rb in any of the three zip archives you can download... Where'd that come from?
BUT there is a Textures folder that should contain 10 files, missing from your LiveIvy folder too...
The file inside the Plugins folder called LiveIvy.rb should make no attempt to ' require' that file. It should read
require "LiveIvy/LiveVector_core" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_branch" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_node" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_leaf" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_tool"
And nothing more...
It seems to be trying to load the LiveIvy_Base.rb file unsuccessfully.
Not surprising, as it doesn't/shouldn't exist...
EDIT: See next post where the issue is clarified

TIG · 30 Jul 2012, 11:57

Now I realize what's up!
Someone*** has been messing on with the zipped set [see a few posts ago] and you have this faulty version installed !!! ***Pejman

The LiveIvy_Base.rb that does exist in that butchered version's subfolder is called from an also changed [auto-loaded] LiveIvy.rb file, and the LiveIvy_Base.rb file now includes the text to try and load the required tools...
require "LiveIvy/LiveVector_core" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_branch" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_node" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_leaf" require "LiveIvy/LiveIvy_tool"
BUT this should work because those files do exist, as the path is relative to the $LOAD_PATH list - and there's a subfolder of that name in Plugins!

BUT it ain't!

However, this way should work too:
load "LiveVector_core.rb" load "LiveIvy_branch.rb" load "LiveIvy_node.rb" load "LiveIvy_leaf.rb" load "LiveIvy_tool.rb"

If you are going to mess with scripts ensure that they work properly afterwards !!
Pejman

thomthom · 30 Jul 2012, 12:26

TIG - require doesn't work relative to the file it's being used it. It's relative to the search paths. Prefixing the folder relative to the plugins folder should be correct.

TIG · 30 Jul 2012, 16:31

Doh!
You are right.
So why isn't it working ?
The files seem to be there - though we can't see the main Plugins contents...
The 'require' can simply get replaced with 'load' and it should work ??
I've edited the post.
The error message says it can't 'load' the file - presumably this is via 'require' ?
I give up!