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    [Plugin] Xref Manager

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    • TIGT Offline
      TIG Moderator
      last edited by

      I've moved this recent post into the tool's main thread, where it belongs.
      The final errors appear because the DWG isn't auto-loaded and so it has no definition to use when it tries to add 'xref' attributes to it.

      The file-name/path getting '-++' added onto the end is clearly what's breaking it.
      The tool uses +/- key presses to navigate the dialog [this will be avoided in a future version...]
      The -++ pattern shows that you have 'chosen' options:
      No to merge
      Yes to orient
      Yes to use origin [this is fixed 'on']

      Because you obscured the earlier path it's unclear... does the path look right otherwise -e.g. does it have a drive letter like 'C:...' ?
      Is suspect that something is happening with the 'key-stroke' mimicker... I find that I can break it so the drive letter is missed off ! Then it reports the file can't be found and the thing fails as the keys then write in the file-name panel incorrectly...

      This tool needs a major overhaul - it's two versions [or more] behind...
      I'll look at replacing parts of the code that need key-stroke mimicking [as an interim fix] and get back to you soonest... πŸ˜•

      TIG

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      • TIGT Offline
        TIG Moderator
        last edited by

        Here's v6.0 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=46367#p46367
        It's not the full update that is still in the very long pipe-line [web-dialogs etc], but it is issued to address reported problems with using PC DWG/DXF xrefs... AND now it allows these on MAC too... πŸ˜„

        TIG

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        • ElibjrE Offline
          Elibjr
          last edited by

          @tig said:

          Here's v6.0 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=46367#p46367
          It's not the full update that is still in the very long pipe-line [web-dialogs etc], but it is issued to address reported problems with using PC DWG/DXF xrefs... AND now it allows these on MAC too... πŸ˜„

          Wow! Thank you TIG! You are awesome! I will try this later! Thanks !!!

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          • EarthMoverE Offline
            EarthMover
            last edited by

            πŸ‘ Thanks TIG! Not sure how I missed this. Really could've used this on my latest project. Can't wait for the revamp.

            3D Artist at Clearstory 3D Imaging
            Guide Tool at Winning With Sketchup
            Content Creator at Skapeup

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            • R Offline
              ravinhuxley
              last edited by

              TIG-

              I neglected to come back and let you know that you are awesome. Thanks for the updated plugin!

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              • M Offline
                Mohsin_Mazhar
                last edited by

                Can any one please tell me about how to install it in google sketchup 8 pro? I have copied the XrefManager.rb to my google sketchup plugin folder. But i am unable so see Xref tools while i open my plugin menu in Google Sketchup.

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                • TIGT Offline
                  TIG Moderator
                  last edited by

                  @mohsin_mazhar said:

                  Can any one please tell me about how to install it in google sketchup 8 pro? I have copied the XrefManager.rb to my google sketchup plugin folder. But i am unable so see Xref tools while i open my plugin menu in Google Sketchup.
                  This tool is the simplest sort you will come across - a single .rb file that you place in the Plugins folder. There is no unzipping, extraction, subfolders of helper files, Libs, other files that you need [the one additional .so file for PC users was discontinued some years ago] etc. Once installed, after a restart of SketchUp, it should add a submenu to the Plugins menu, with sub-items relating to the tool; this is the only slightly complex matter, as some even simpler tools might add their item directly into the Plugins menu itself. Also it is not an Extension, so it doesn't need activating and it has not got a toolbar to activate either...

                  I assume you are not getting any error messages as SketchUp starts...

                  So, assuming that it appears to you that you have installed the .rb file in the Plugins folder and you are not seeing the menu items then I suspect you have not got your security permissions set properly...
                  Look at the Plugins folder in Windows Explorer - is there a link/button in one of the top-bars saying something like 'Compatibility Files...' - this is indicative of this. If you click on it you should find that the .rb file [and perhaps other things too] have been put into a 'Virtual Store' with a path that mimics the Sketchup..Plugins folder structure. This is 'Windows' protecting you from yourself, over zealously. SketchUp cannot auto-load files from this folder, although they can be seen in the main folder's list they are actually elsewhere !
                  Being an Admin is not sufficient to allow you to add files to 'program files' subfolders, without issues...
                  So to fix this... as an Admin, select the Plugins folder's icon and right-click context-menu > Properties > Security > Edit... Set the access-rights to that folder to 'FULL' [all ticked] for 'yourself' and then OK to save the changes...
                  From now on when you add a file to the Plugins folder, then that's where it goes...
                  So they should all work as expected...
                  You might wish to tidy up the 'Compatibility Files...' - either by deleting them after you reinstall things, or Edit/Cut+Paste back into the proper Plugins folder otherwise...

                  Incidentally you should set the permissions for the Components, Materials and Styles folder to FULL too as from time to time you will want to add files to those as well...

                  Please confirm if this was the issue and it's fixed: it might help others having similar problems...

                  TIG

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                  • M Offline
                    Mohsin_Mazhar
                    last edited by

                    Thank you so much for helping me, i have followed all steps you have written for me. but the problem is not fixed yet.

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                    • TIGT Offline
                      TIG Moderator
                      last edited by

                      Have you checked everything as I said ?
                      How about 'security permissions' ??
                      'Compatibility Files...' ???
                      Can you take a screen-shot of your Plugins folder showing the whole window, and the files [especially the xrefmanager.rb one].
                      Also a screen-shot of the Plugins folder's Properties > Security > Edit dialog might help...

                      TIG

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                      • B Offline
                        Backstyler
                        last edited by

                        Hi. Thanks for the great plugin.

                        "Pick Type of XREF Checking On Opening: Open XREF Manager if needed" is selected, but the dialog does not show up when opening a file. What's wrong?

                        Thanks

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                        • TIGT Offline
                          TIG Moderator
                          last edited by

                          @backstyler said:

                          Hi. Thanks for the great plugin.

                          "Pick Type of XREF Checking On Opening: Open XREF Manager if needed" is selected, but the dialog does not show up when opening a file. What's wrong?

                          Thanks
                          What is your OS?
                          This is a "PC only" [experimental] feature to auto-check for a needed update of any xrefs when you open a SKP.
                          You can easily use the tool 'manually'... πŸ˜•

                          TIG

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                          • B Offline
                            Backstyler
                            last edited by

                            @tig said:

                            @backstyler said:

                            Hi. Thanks for the great plugin.

                            "Pick Type of XREF Checking On Opening: Open XREF Manager if needed" is selected, but the dialog does not show up when opening a file. What's wrong?

                            Thanks
                            What is your OS?
                            This is a "PC only" [experimental] feature to auto-check for a needed update of any xrefs when you open a SKP.
                            You can easily use the tool 'manually'... πŸ˜•

                            Windows 7

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                            • TIGT Offline
                              TIG Moderator
                              last edited by

                              I suggest you 'switch it off', pending an update... πŸ˜‰

                              TIG

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                              • B Offline
                                Backstyler
                                last edited by

                                Ok.

                                A few more feature requests:

                                • The definition name of the "outer" XREF component seems to be derived from the "source" file's name. Could this component name please refresh as well when I re-bind a file and the file name has changed? (maybe as an option in the XREF settings)
                                • When I insert the same source object twice (e.g. by an oversight), your plugin makes two different components with different definition names (#xx). In the manager they are listed as separate components.
                                  There could be an option in the settings what to do if an object is already in the project:
                                • create a separate component
                                • copy the former one
                                • ask again
                                  (if that's not possible, there could be at least an popup message saying that this object was already inserted)

                                Thanks for the great work,
                                Best regards
                                Felix

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                                • B Offline
                                  Backstyler
                                  last edited by

                                  @backstyler said:

                                  Ok.

                                  A few more feature requests:

                                  • The definition name of the "outer" XREF component seems to be derived from the "source" file's name. Could this component name please refresh as well when I re-bind a file and the file name has changed? (maybe as an option in the XREF settings)
                                  • When I insert the same source object twice (e.g. by an oversight), your plugin makes two different components with different definition names (#xx). In the manager they are listed as separate components.
                                    There could be an option in the settings what to do if an object is already in the project:
                                  • create a separate component
                                  • copy the former one
                                  • ask again
                                    (if that's not possible, there could be at least an popup message saying that this object was already inserted)

                                  Thanks for the great work,
                                  Best regards
                                  Felix

                                  It would also be nice to have an option to have a prefix for the xref component's name. So that when I set e.g. 'XREF: ' as prefix, all components created by xref get the name 'XREF: <filename of ref'd file>'. This way I can avoid that if I have a component in my "source" file already with a name the same as the file name, one of the nested components gets '#1' added to it's name (avoids confusion and makes my parts list created by the Cutlist plugin prettier).

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                                  • B Offline
                                    Backstyler
                                    last edited by

                                    Hi TIG,

                                    what do you think of my suggestions?

                                    Best,
                                    Felix

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                                    • M Offline
                                      matt.gordon320
                                      last edited by

                                      Thanks a million TIG! This is brilliant! Can't wait to see what you come up with next, you're a scripting machine!

                                      ADDENDUM - Hey TIG, I've been using the heck out of this plugin since I discovered it, and in fact I wanted to see if I could make a request or two? I've got a model with probably 25 XREF SKP components, and it's super stable. The only thing is that because my monitor resolution is somewhat lacking at work, I'm about 2 XRef's away from the Manager window not fitting the screen any more. I think a re-sizable or scroll-able XRef Manager window would be amazing if it isn't already in the works. Knowing you it'll be posted before I hit submit πŸ˜„

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                                      • masoM Offline
                                        maso
                                        last edited by

                                        TIG You are the best. This plugin really upgrades sketchup to another level:) Thanks again.

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                                        • Q Offline
                                          qazokm
                                          last edited by

                                          Hi, just update you that this plugin doesn't supply Autocad 2013 format.

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                                          • TIGT Offline
                                            TIG Moderator
                                            last edited by

                                            It's Sketchup that doesn't support that ACAD version format !
                                            The plugin simply does what Sketchup can do...

                                            So either set your ACAD options always to save as an earlier version - which as well as suiting Sketchup, is kind to other recipients who might be running earlier ACAD versions.
                                            If you have received CAD files from a third party and they won't make them as an earlier version for you, then get/use 'DWG Trueview' from AutoDesk [free] - that will convert most DWG/DXF files into other versions, that would be compatible with Sketchup and other CAD programs too.
                                            A DWG/DXF file for import into Sketchup needs to be only the very earliest of versions [r12?]... because Sketchup only brings in its 'geometry'; so any newer versions' sophistication will be ignored anyway... that is except for the newer versions' 'unit settings' - but then these are always misinterpreted by Sketchup's importer as being inches, even when clearly set to something else... so r12 is again best...

                                            TIG

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