[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

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

pustko · 11 Oct 2012, 09:57

I got the progressbar installed, etc
Yesterday it was working neatly!! that's what buggin me the most.

found this:

n draw' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671 Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass>
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671 Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass>
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in `draw'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671

TIG · 12 Oct 2012, 08:35

Pustko.

The important part of any error message is the beginning...
Please don't trim them.
OK let's assume that the progressbar.rb is installed and called by this tool.
After which step does this error appear?
After picking the line, the curve or other ?
Are you doing the other steps correctly ?

axis?

Is it freestanding and not touching any other geometry - faces, edges, curves etc?
Is the 'curve' freestanding and not touching any other geometry - faces, edges, curves etc?
If you still have issues try attaching a simple SKP you are having issues with...
Or even some images...
A picture paints a thousand words.

pustko · 12 Oct 2012, 09:40

Hello TIG, thanx for the feed back:

The error appears after selecting the curve. The process bar freezes at 2% or 5%
The object is a "group", the line is in the red axis and doesnt touche anything, the curve doesn't either

first time it worked perfectly next dqy stopped working
the model is the simplest possible; I attach it.

Yesterday I read the first 20 pages in this forum I think it might be a problem with compspray.rb or maybe SketchyFFD. At the office I have no "administrator acces" to remove them, but I will ask and try to remove them as soon as possible.

Thank you.

here' the beggining of the error message:

Error: #<ArgumentError: comparison of Float with nil failed>
(eval):44:in >' (eval):44:in update'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:533:in exploder' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:526:in each'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:526:in exploder' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:244:in onLButtonUp'
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
(eval):44
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671

Sans titre.skp

TIG · 12 Oct 2012, 10:40

I have no issues except the 'bent object' is somewhat weird because of the chosen line and curve's relationship to the original, but it's a bit better if I toggle the shape 'direction'...
However, I recommend that "everything" - i.e. the group, line and curve - is relocated in the 'positive' quadrant - i.e. where red/green/blue [x/y/z] are all 'positive values' [== solid axes lines]...
It might be that your progressbar is not installed properly too ?
Please double-check that its .rb file is definitely in the Plugins folder, as directed... and that you don't have any 'Compatibility Files' issues [link button showing in the Explorer Window's top bars...]. This can happen if you don't have FULL security permissions to folders like Plugins - Windows protects you from yourself by not fully installing items... To fix right-click context-menu on the Plugins folder icon and Properties > Security > Edit - even being an 'Admin' is not always sufficient to automatically get the right permissions... See thomthom's new helper too ... http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=434453#p434453 this checks if everything is installed OK...

pustko · 12 Oct 2012, 12:41

Eureka!
It works again. Finally I got one of the admin's to erase the compspray.rb plugin and shape bender works neatly again!
Couldnt figure it out earlier; as I don't have access to make any change in the plugin folder...

Thanks again for the help. This plugin is great!!! Its helping me so much with my architecture models!
Thanks Chris!! thanks TIG!!