Modifying or extending SU native tools

[ArunYoganandan]

Is there a way to extend/modify SU's native tools? like access the native tool's callbacks or methods. Or even inherit them to override or add to their behavior?

like

<span class="syntaxdefault"></span><span class="syntaxkeyword">class&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">MySelectionTool&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">SelectionTool<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;initialize</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">super</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;draw</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">view</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxcomment">#&nbsp;Do&nbsp;my&nbsp;own&nbsp;thing&nbsp;here..<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />end</span>

Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks
Arun

[TIG]

Most times you must make a mimic of a native tool - see the linetool example script...
There is limited access to premade tools - e.g. running them.
However, the API does allow many aspects of the premade tools to be aped...

PS: Please don't double post - as new member you must be patient... while you are processed and recognized as not being a spambot...

[Dan Rathbun]

NO, sorry,.. at least not directly. The native tools are coded on the C++ side, and are not exposed as Ruby classes.

However.. the API does have observers, including a Sketchup::ToolsObserver (so you can do something when a native tool changes, ie, becomes active, or it's state changes;) and the Sketchup::SelectionObserver (so you can do something when the model's selection set changes, ie, is cleared, has items removed or added.)

Many authors have both a tool and a series of observers that make up a plugin.

[ArunYoganandan]

Sorry guys about the double post. After my first post, I wasn't sure if it went through. Now I understand.

I'm going to play around with the toolsobserver to see if it can help me and get back. Thanks for your help!

[Dan Rathbun]

Most of the native tool ids are defined as global constants, that begin with "CMD_"

List them, at the Ruby Console:
Object.constants.grep(/CMD/).sort

The tool state integers vary from tool to tool, and some tools do not use them at all.