[Plugin] SketchyFFD (Classic)

Rich O Brien · 18 Apr 2012, 20:48

No, it should appear when you right click a group.

Hogwarts · 18 Apr 2012, 20:48

@hogwarts said:

I can't get this plugin to work and I need to use it desperately for some artificial snow I'm making for a building roof top.

I put it into plugins folder and then I tried tools but no luck.

An Install guide would be helpful.
Thank you

Install by putting the script in your plugins directory.

As it says on the first post

Edit, I see it's on right click menu FFD now but I only have 3 commands?
Lock, unlock and make patch. None of them seem to do anything?

Could someone direct me to a guide to using this plugin. Thank you.

Rich O Brien · 18 Apr 2012, 20:56

FFD won't allow you to create a N x N cage if it's raw geometry or a component

Hogwarts · 18 Apr 2012, 21:05

@unknownuser said:

FFD won't allow you to create a N x N cage if it's raw geometry or a component

So how do you create the cage? I am just starting at Sketchup.
I've been using it for 1-2 months now.

Here is what I'm trying to make.
The snow cap on top of this window.

I already made a cylinder. Radial bended it around the top. Now i need to deform it like snow

How do you suggest I do this. Thank you.

Rich O Brien · 18 Apr 2012, 21:40

Have you read the description in the first post?

Make your cylinder a group. Right click and choose N x N. Input values for height, depth and width. These will be the points that weight your cylinder.

Edit the point group and adjust points accordingly.

It's best if you attempt to do this then ask when things become difficult.

Hogwarts · 18 Apr 2012, 22:04

@unknownuser said:

Have you read the description in the first post?

Make your cylinder a group. Right click and choose N x N. Input values for height, depth and width. These will be the points that weight your cylinder.

Edit the point group and adjust points accordingly.

It's best if you attempt to do this then ask when things become difficult.

Ok I've completed your steps up to "edit point group"

I'm not quite sure how, could you explain it? Thanks for the patience.

Rich O Brien · 18 Apr 2012, 22:42

Now you've 2 groups. The cylinder and the points.

Edit the points group the manipulate the cylinder group. The points can be moved individually or in multiples. Pick a row and move them. The mesh should update when the move is committed.

Just practice

Hogwarts · 19 Apr 2012, 02:18

@unknownuser said:

Now you've 2 groups. The cylinder and the points.

Edit the points group the manipulate the cylinder group. The points can be moved individually or in multiples. Pick a row and move them. The mesh should update when the move is committed.

Just practice

Thanks for the help. I'm starting to make it look like the image.
It's going to take practice you're right. This is cool!

chadlharris2000 · 2 Oct 2012, 11:45

I have a very novice question. I'm trying to download the SketchyFFD plug in but I can't see where the link is to download it. please tell me how to find it on this website. Thanks

Tobobo · 6 Oct 2012, 10:17

@chadlharris2000 said:

I have a very novice question. I'm trying to download the SketchyFFD plug in but I can't see where the link is to download it. please tell me how to find it on this website. Thanks

it is at the bottom of the first post, just click on it and save it to your plugins folder.

shri · 30 Nov 2012, 11:46

very cool stuff..thanks alot..makes very easier working with organic shapes
FFD..rocks...

Lana · 8 Dec 2012, 06:36

just have the best here . thank you .

itscabbage · 19 Dec 2012, 13:45

Erm, i'm new here. i have sketchup 8 and i've put this ruby into the plugins folder with all the other rubys, but i can't find out how to use this in sketchup?

mitcorb · 19 Dec 2012, 19:37

Hi, itscabbage:
I would highly recommend reading through the entire series of pages in this thread. Among the pages are animations, visuals etc. that can provide information on how to use the tool. If you are unable to activate it, perhaps you should check to see if it is in the proper folder. This is dependent on whether you are using Windows or Mac.
FFD does take a little practice.
And, if you haven't already done so, update your profile. This will enable helpers to determine specific solutions, especially with regard to operating systems.

gilles · 3 Feb 2013, 11:25

For some reason, only the first version works for me.

I set NxN
width=11
depth=11
height=1
subdivise=false

First version everything is OK, scale move rotate...

Second version, nothing moves (see ruby report)

Tig's version, trying to move the original group just disappear? no console report.

Any idea?

WARNING: make_unique is a deprecated methodof Sketchup:Group Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method*' for nil:NilClass>
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:453:in calcBernstein' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:214:in initFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:213:in upto' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:213:in initFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:211:in upto' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:211:in initFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:209:in upto' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:209:in initFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:200:in each' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:200:in initFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:151:in startFFD' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:20 Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method []' for nil:NilClass>
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:253:in applyMultipleFFD' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:252:in each'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:252:in applyMultipleFFD' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:242:in each'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:242:in applyMultipleFFD' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:423:in analizeLattice'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:163:in updateFFD' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:84:in onChangeEntity'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:453
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method []' for nil:NilClass> /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:253:in applyMultipleFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:252:in each' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:252:in applyMultipleFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:242:in each' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:242:in applyMultipleFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:423:in analizeLattice' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:163:in updateFFD'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:84:in onChangeEntity' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:253

Sans titre.skp

TIG · 3 Feb 2013, 11:48

I made the adjusted version because the older versions were all causing issues, clashes with other scripts etc, the observer was very flaky...
My version works fine for me when tested using your settings, although I don't fully understand the 'moving the group...disappear' issue what disappears ? If you move the group away from the guides it will deform differently...
You can only have one set of FFD guide-points at a time, so is this your issue ?
The 'second' version had the most fails so I'd expect the litany of error messages...

gilles · 3 Feb 2013, 12:36

I set NxN parameters and clicking ok the group disappears, it is still in the outliner but nowhere in the model.

gilles · 3 Feb 2013, 12:50

I also try with only SketchyFFD.rb in plugins folder, same result.

SU 8.0.14345

TIG · 3 Feb 2013, 12:53

It works fine for me with z=1 set, provided that the geometry has some 3d-ness.
If I draw a grid 10x10 as a flat 2d group it does then fail !?
Not having written the original code [I just fixed some known issues] I am unclear why...

Adding a short vertical line to the grouped mesh fixes it... I'll check though the code and see if I can trap for this...

gilles · 3 Feb 2013, 13:06

If I add a vertical line in the group it works.
Good to know.