How can I access the layer name in a DC via Ruby?

erkan

I want to access to the layer name of the DC as a part of the formula, the closest I can get is via the use of class DCFunctionsV1 mentioned in the post, which I couldn't repurpose for this case; http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=37083

I'm wondering if there's an easier way, many thanks in advance.

Jim

Hi erkan,

There isn't a built-in DC function to get the Layer. If you want to do it, you will need to write your own function for it. Follow the examples in the topic you linked to.

This can also be done with a stand-alone Ruby script in SketchUp, but outside the DC framework. It could go through the model, identify DC's, then assign the DC's Layer to an attribute.

erkan

thanks Jim, just as I thought

so here's how I try to tinker with that example, basically I've taken out the volume and tried to replace it with the Layer Name of the DC as per below;

if defined?($dc_observers)
  # Open SketchUp's Dynamic Component Functions (V1) class.
  # only if DC extension is active
  
class DCFunctionsV1

  protected
  # return layername
  # Usage; =layername()
  def layername(a)
    return @source_entity.layer.name
  end
  protected;layername
  
end#class

end#if

And I've found that @source_entity.layer.name is not correct, and couldn't make much of meaning from the existing resources unless I start understanding the Ruby. Can anybody show me how to access the Layer Name of the DC (@source_entity?)

many thanks

TIG

That line of code should return the selected component-instance's layer's name ?
However, once the DC code has assigned the name you might need to refresh [apply] the DC code again to show the correct layer-name if you have changed the instance's layer since it was last interrogated.

erkan

In theory yes, it should return the Layer Name that the DC lies on, so that I can use it for conditional calculations. In the planned workflow there will be no Layer changes, so that should be fine.

TIG

I have used it on a DC and it worked for me ??

require('sketchup')
require('dynamiccomponents.rb')

if defined?($dc_observers)
  # Open SketchUp's Dynamic Component Functions (V1) class.
  # only if DC extension is active
  
class DCFunctionsV1

  protected

  # Usage; =layername()
  if not DCFunctionsV1.method_defined?(;layername)
    def layername(a)
      ###puts @source_entity.layer.name
      return @source_entity.layer.name
    end
    protected;layername
  end
  
end#class

end#if

erkan

ehem worked for me too , apparently I missed the first two lines.

thanks TIG!