[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

Jspro · 19 Aug 2012, 21:57

Yes, is there anyone out there that can help me with the plugin Shape Bender by Chris Fullmer ? I believe I loaded it correctly but maybe not I'm getting an load error message , when I go into sketchup. When I downloaded the file I unziped it, I copied the file and pasted it into the plugins folder, restarted windows and when it came back on and i started sketchup with this Load Error ( Error Loading File clf_shape_bender_loader.rb no such file to load -- progressbar.rb ) . Can anyone help me? I tried this twice w/no luck I would like to get this to work. Thank you john

Gaieus · 19 Aug 2012, 22:08

@jspro said:

I believe I loaded it correctly but maybe not I'm getting an load error message , when I go into sketchup. When I downloaded the file I unziped it, I copied the file and pasted it into the plugins folder, restarted windows and when it came back on and i started sketchup with this Load Error ( Error Loading File clf_shape_bender_loader.rb no such file to load -- progressbar.rb ) .

You also need to install progressbar.rb for here: http://www.smustard.com/script/ProgressBar

(The installation instructions clearly say this)

sherwood11 · 20 Aug 2012, 21:21

Well, I found a remedy .. kind of.

I commented out all the lines updating the progress bar with a comment character, #
. . . . #pb.update(i) . . .there are 7 of them.

Unfortunately, I had to do that with clf_color_by_slope, clf_color_by_z and clf_greeble_2

My system doesn't seem to like the progress bar. Even after downloading a fresh copy from smustard
yesterday.

If I find out why (it's a mystery), I'll post it.

Again, it's a great Plug-in. ... hope this helps anyone w/ the same problem.

thomthom · 20 Aug 2012, 21:41

Hasn't that nil error been repeated a few times along in this thread? Might be worth adding a note in the first post about it. No one is going to find it dug into n-number of pages.

sherwood11 · 20 Aug 2012, 21:45

I agree it's not the best .... just a trouble shooting remedy.

I'll try your approach.

TIG has suggested a few things also ... (my post on one of the other plug-ins)

Appreciate your input.

sherwood11 · 20 Aug 2012, 22:03

Plugin looks great . . . but, i'm getting this feedback :
it seems to lock-up at 7% or 20%

any suggestions ?

I posted a temporary trouble shooting remedy, just after this post.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=18210&start=1020#p422479
(is that what you mean ?, TT)

darksoft · 2 Sept 2012, 15:04

Grate one ! THNX

BenBo · 12 Sept 2012, 13:20

Hi all,

Using the plugin with dynamic component it crashes.
Has anyone successfully bent a DC?

Otherwise, it works fine.

TIG · 13 Sept 2012, 00:40

Since the Component [DC] is copied to make the bent version it may well conflict with a DC as there is generally only one instance of each variant.
You can copy the DC off to one side and explode it down to its raw geometry and then make a group of that, and then bend that group - it will have lost all of it's DC-ness, so those issues should be avoided...
It's a good idea to do complex operations, like bending, on an object located in a relatively empty SKP, and recombine things into a combo-model afterwards - so exploding the DC in these circumstances seems quite possible.
You can't expect a DC to retain its DC-ness/properties after bending it, as all of its axes etc will be messed up, even if it were to make it through the processing...

gullfo · 13 Sept 2012, 13:12

grab TIG's "undc" script and run that before doing the bend.

TIG · 13 Sept 2012, 19:23

@gullfo said:

grab TIG's "undc" script and run that before doing the bend.

I'd forgotten I made that
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=382224#p382224

tonkolan · 14 Sept 2012, 03:21

it was awesome plugin tools
thanks for sharing

gullfo · 14 Sept 2012, 11:27

@tig said:

I'd forgotten I made that
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=382224#p382224

it's one of my most important tools now - i can use a huge number of DC in my models then "un-DC" them and ship the model out without worrying that my DC will be distributed...

TIG · 14 Sept 2012, 11:33

It's not even a 'tool'... just a 'code snippet'...
Glad it was useful

maladzien · 6 Oct 2012, 01:36

Hey everyone? How do I run this script? I have no idea how to get this "tool" to show up in Sketchup to use it

thomthom · 6 Oct 2012, 08:52

@maladzien said:

Hey everyone? How do I run this script? I have no idea how to get this "tool" to show up in Sketchup to use it

See if this article helps you: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/installing-plugins-for-google-sketchup/

Geveltje · 7 Oct 2012, 15:09

Hello all,

First I want to say that my english writing is not very good, so sorry for the mistakes.
I have a little help from google

I am very excited about the plugin, I just can not get it working properly.

I select my component.
Select the straight line
Select the curve line
I see that both lines a start and an end appears
but that's all, nothing further happened. I can use the up and down arrow keys to change the start and end.
Also when I press enter then nothing happens.

the straight line is equal to the red axis, the curved line i tried on all axes.
I really do not know what I'm doing wrong

I hope I have explained clearly
Thanks for the response

TIG · 8 Oct 2012, 14:56

Roy

Have you installed the additional helper script progressbar.rb, which is download-able free from Smustard.com.
It's a common issue with less experienced members forgetting about addition helpers like this for the more complex tools - although it is clearly mentioned and linked in the tool's download page.
Also make sure that the 'line' is parallel to the X[red] axis and that it touches no other geometry, also note that the 'curve' must not touch other geometry either.
Also don't try to bend tiny or enormous objects [most day-to-day sized things should be OK, but tiny parts for swiss-watches or entire cities will create issues]...

If you are still getting issues then try running the tool after you've opened the Ruby Console. Post any error messages you get in it, this might give us a better clue as to what you have inadvertently done wrong

Geveltje · 8 Oct 2012, 21:48

Hello TIG,

Sometimes is the solution so simple that you overlook them

I have the plugin and the progressbar removed and reinstalled and now it works perfectly

Thanks you for your answer

pustko · 11 Oct 2012, 09:26

Hello everybody!first time posting.
Yesterday I installed some ruby plugins for sketchup (8)and tried out the Chris Fullmer Shape Bender. After a while, I managed to make it work succesfully, bending the rqmp Im working at (architecture digital model). Everything fine and happy as hell.
Then, this morning, same file, same computer, doing exactly the same steps, the bender tool doest work:
I draw the figure, group it up, draw the line along red axis, same length, and the single curve. select group, open the tool,select the line,select the curve. the signs "start" "end" appear, I can change their position, but thats it! no green shape, no final bended figure.

Maybe the answer is alreqdy somewhere in the forum, but theres a lot of posts, and i have so little time, i got a delivery today and have to finish the model as soon as possible.
thanx in advance