[Plugin] Zorro2 (beta)

TIG · 8 May 2012, 09:44

does anyone know how to download the given .rb, I went to Window > Preferences > Extensions, and checked all the boxes; but I'm still not sure how to download the plugin. thanks
Please see thomthom's recent post in this thread for a helpful link... [he has also made a 'simple-installer' that lets you 'auto' install many kinds of downloaded files/archives more easily...]

The Preferences Extension installer only works on 'archives'*** [that is .rbz files which are a kind of .zip file].
Once you have downloaded such a file then you can run the installer on it.
Also if a downloaded file is a .zip, then you can rename it as a.rbz and it'll work that way too...
Complex toolset usually com as 'archives'.
A rbz/zip archive is a collection of files and subfolders, which need to be extracted and put into the Sketchup Plugins folder in the same relative relationship - the v8M2 installer assists you, but in all prior versions you has to do this installation 'by hand'...

B U T - now read this carefully - ***the Zorro tool is relatively simple and it comes in a single .rb file; this is easy to install: simply download it by clicking its link and specifying its destination folder on your computer... and then move that .rb file into the Sketchup Plugins folder, then restart Sketchup to auto-load the tool - it should then appear in the the specified menu - follow the tool's usage instructions...

fcbschwein · 28 May 2012, 08:02

superb!

masum_nobi · 8 Jun 2012, 08:27

Thanks.......

bobpineo · 14 Sept 2012, 13:38

Whaat!
thank you so much for making this plugin!
I been using SU for about 8 years now, and I do projects in a variety of scales and for different project types...
Zorro is one of the most useful plugins I have (and I have alot!).
Very simple, but very very powerful.
Thank you for thinking of it.
Bob

volatile_ant · 21 Oct 2012, 05:55

This is a great plugin, thanks for sharing!

Now for a question: Maxwell render has the ability to hide groups from the camera, essentially allowing a real-light section perspective to be rendered (instead of holes in the model letting light in at the section cut).
Is it possible to keep the 'trash' geometry (what will eventually be 'hidden' in a rendering) and have the two halves of the model in two separate groups?

Being that I know enough about programming to get myself into trouble, but not enough to get myself out, I was able to modify your script so the 'Slice Model at Section' tool no longer deletes any geometry, but am completely lost when trying to end up with two groups at the end.

Keastone · 30 Oct 2012, 06:53

I'm trying to install Zorro2 on my mac. When I read the write ups on how to install it says a .rbz file is needed for SU8. Well I have SU8 but the only zorro2 file I can manage to find is the .rb file which is mentioned for SU7. I've tried both ways to install the plugin and neither seems to work. Any ideas?

TIG · 30 Oct 2012, 10:20

@keastone said:

I'm trying to install Zorro2 on my mac. When I read the write ups on how to install it says a .rbz file is needed for SU8. Well I have SU8 but the only zorro2 file I can manage to find is the .rb file which is mentioned for SU7. I've tried both ways to install the plugin and neither seems to work. Any ideas?
You are misconstruing things.
I have never seen anywhere saying you HAVE to have a RBZ archive to install a script in v8 - rather it says that with v8 there is an additional format of archive [RBZ] devised to assist in a simple automated installation... obviously this has only confused some of you

Version 8 CAN automate the installation of toolsets that are packaged as RBZ archives.
BUT this in no way precludes you from manually installing RB/RBS, or any files or subfolders of files that have been properly extracted from a ZIP archive [an RBZ is simply a ZIP file with its filetype suffix changed!] Thomthom has made a v8 'Simple Plugins Installer' that automates the installation of all such file/archive types - get it from the Resources > Plugins Index. It'll stop you over thinking things.

Since this tool here comes as a simple RB file [i.e. there are no complications of support files in subfolders - additional helper files, toolbar/webdialog files and the like] - thomthom's tool can easily auto-install it for you. Alternatively you can simply drop this lone RB file into your MAC's 'plugins' folder, and restart SketchUp... However, I still recommend thomthom's solution as it applies to all types with little effort/though on your part... This method will also avoid some MAC issue where a user installs a plugin manually into the 'plugins' folder and it doesn't work - because he's not used the correct folder in the HD Lib path, rather using the wrong folder in the 'User' Lib path.

Incidentally ensure that you have FULL access-rights permissions to that 'plugins' folder, because you need it to install files but some tools need to write log-files or make/write to their own subfolders etc with that folder - and limited access-rights can cause issues...

kevo · 30 Oct 2012, 16:20

I'm going to try this when I get chance, many thanks.

Can I use a curved sandbox plane as shaped cutting plane? Either with this, or some other plugin, btw?

Gaieus · 30 Oct 2012, 17:05

No, Zorro2 will use the section plane as a cutting plane and that is always flat by nature. I cannot think of another plugin that would perform such a cutting operation now (this does not mean it does not exist) and of course, a manual intersection may be extremely tedious with complex geometry and/or lots of nested elements in groups/components.

Some boolean tools may make it easier but still, nested things can be an obstacle.

vanderbijlps · 30 Nov 2012, 08:09

Firstly - Awesome plugin!!! Well done and thank you very much for sharing

I get a bugsplat every time I've tried to use Zoro2. Then went through the exercise of disabling all my plugins one at a time. The problem is caused by the SU Podium plugin - the moment I disable it, Zoro2 works!

Any way around this?

Kind regards
PvdB

pilou · 30 Nov 2012, 09:01

@unknownuser said:

Any way around this?

Make 2 folders "Plugins" one with Podium, and one without it
And rename them when you want use Zorro2

DesertRaven · 7 Dec 2012, 18:27

@gaieus said:

No, Zorro2 will use the section plane as a cutting plane and that is always flat by nature. I cannot think of another plugin that would perform such a cutting operation now (this does not mean it does not exist) and of course, a manual intersection may be extremely tedious with complex geometry and/or lots of nested elements in groups/components.

Some boolean tools may make it easier but still, nested things can be an obstacle.

Maybe it is a good idea to create SU models with cleaned up geometry in general as a code of good conduct. That way you can, via boolean subtract, make any section of any shape you wish.
Also I don't understand why in SU version 8 they have not gotten it together to fix the section tool so that it makes filled up solid section or sections with a hatch pattern??
Why we need another plug in for this basic function, which already exists, is beyond me!

Skwatz · 30 Dec 2012, 19:04

@desertraven said:

@gaieus said:

No, Zorro2 will use the section plane as a cutting plane and that is always flat by nature. I cannot think of another plugin that would perform such a cutting operation now (this does not mean it does not exist) and of course, a manual intersection may be extremely tedious with complex geometry and/or lots of nested elements in groups/components.

Some boolean tools may make it easier but still, nested things can be an obstacle.

Maybe it is a good idea to create SU models with cleaned up geometry in general as a code of good conduct. That way you can, via boolean subtract, make any section of any shape you wish.
Also I don't understand why in SU version 8 they have not gotten it together to fix the section tool so that it makes filled up solid section or sections with a hatch pattern??
Why we need another plug in for this basic function, which already exists, is beyond me!

the reason why sketchup doesn't fil in the solids is because is doesn't is is a solid!
not even when you work with the boolean substract.

you draw lines and sketchup conect them with planes.
i can't be solved to my opinion, otherwise you need to change the fundaments of sketchup.

if you want a progame that works with volumetric and 'real ' boolean use 3ds max or autocad.

keeping your model clean is true but not easy at al, and when you use groups (like me) slicesing them is a hell of a job.

so...
Thx for this great plugin !!

cotty · 30 Dec 2012, 21:30

@skwatz said:

the reason why sketchup doesn't fil in the solids is because is doesn't is is a solid!
not even when you work with the boolean substract.

There are solid tools, so there have to be solids too

DesertRaven · 31 Dec 2012, 23:11

@skwatz said:

@desertraven said:

@gaieus said:

No, Zorro2 will use the section plane as a cutting plane and that is always flat by nature. I cannot think of another plugin that would perform such a cutting operation now (this does not mean it does not exist) and of course, a manual intersection may be extremely tedious with complex geometry and/or lots of nested elements in groups/components.

Some boolean tools may make it easier but still, nested things can be an obstacle.

Maybe it is a good idea to create SU models with cleaned up geometry in general as a code of good conduct. That way you can, via boolean subtract, make any section of any shape you wish.
Also I don't understand why in SU version 8 they have not gotten it together to fix the section tool so that it makes filled up solid section or sections with a hatch pattern??
Why we need another plug in for this basic function, which already exists, is beyond me!

the reason why sketchup doesn't fil in the solids is because is doesn't is is a solid!
not even when you work with the boolean substract.

you draw lines and sketchup conect them with planes.
i can't be solved to my opinion, otherwise you need to change the fundaments of sketchup.

if you want a progame that works with volumetric and 'real ' boolean use 3ds max or autocad.

keeping your model clean is true but not easy at al, and when you use groups (like me) slicesing them is a hell of a job.

so...
Thx for this great plugin !!

Dude, you are completely wrong or you are just not doing it right, the last time I did a section with boolean subtract, there were faces in the section!
Also it is very easy to keep your geometry clean by just paying attention to what you are doing and not being sloppy and lazy. (I constantly get models from other companies especially architects, that are just F>U>B>A>R> because they don't even care to learn their S*@t.
And No sir I'm not going to buy 3D MAX or any other tool just because sketchup is a "half assed" software that just needs some fixing.
Sketchup has all it needs to be an outstanding tool, there are just some things that never got fixed and I'm not talking about adding more commands and buttons, just fixing what there is already would be a leap into the right direction.

svadilfari · 1 Feb 2013, 11:46

Hey guys,

I am trying to cut my model, everytime there is a bug and SU crashes down?
Any solutions, advices?

It is quite complicated model with a lot of components and materials, could it be that?

pilou · 1 Feb 2013, 12:22

Without post your model (save as V6) it's impossible to say something

TIG · 1 Feb 2013, 12:24

You answer is in your question.
Zorro isn't magic.
If there are zillions of 'containers' contents to cut it only needs to trip up once for a splat!
Because the process is destructive you are presumably working on a copy of the original SKP and you probably have little use for its 'structure' of groups/instances...
So, in that copy, why not explode all containers in the active model [iterating until there are none in the Outliner - that's an easy way to select them...]
Also erase all hidden layers and their contents etc... and all hidden objects too [if any]/
Also purge the model of unused things... this will speed up what it has to look through when 'cutting'...
Now retry on the slimline group-free version of the SKP.
It should be much quicker and less prone to failure...

qianyi · 11 Mar 2013, 09:53

my schoolmate recommend me this plugin,seems useful ,looking forward!

Ronnie · 17 Mar 2013, 19:59

Would be pretty cool if you could also split at section plane, but without deleting anything, like inserting a 10mm gab or whatever at the intersection of the section plane.

Very useful for cutting a model up for 3d printing.