[Plugin] Component Stringer UPDATED May 23, 2013

Lobster

Hi chris,

Great plugin, however i have this on a model.

Error: #<ArgumentError: Cannot convert argument to Sketchup::Point3d>
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:80:in add_text' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:80:in curve_labeler'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:70:in curve_ordering' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:105:in main'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:190
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:80:in `call'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_component_stringer.rb:80

Here is a link for it http://www.mediafire.com/?aesv4fd1ccv1cvn

It does not get to the reverse option. The plugin works fine on a simple box and a curve.

SU8, OSX 10.6.7

It seems to write 'start' but not 'end'.

I hope it is useful, if you have time to have a quick look.

Regards

Sam

raineysky

I am trying to make a chain like in the video in the first post. Must be doing something wrong because I'm getting what's in the picture below when I set the component rotation to 90°. Any advice? SU8 Free M2

Thank You

Chris Fullmer

It all has to do with where the component axis is set. It looks like its oriented correctly, its just not centered right. Then once the chain is made, you need to edit the component and extend one end of it so that it overlaps into the other components, which I think I did in the video.

But first, spend some time figuring out how to center the component axis better.

Chris

raineysky

OK. Thank You very much Chris. I'll let you know how it turns out this weekend. Thanks again for your help and for the plugin.

raineysky

I did it!!! Centered the axis like in the picture below and it works like a charm. Thank You very much Chris for your help and for a wonderful plugin.

Chain Axis.png

panpanndundu

Awesome tool, thank you chris fullmer ...
Component Stringer + Maxwell Render

thegoodguy

Brilliant plugin Just what I need. Thanks.

ivreich

Any chance there could be a "stretch" modifier (like the stretch tool in FredoScale) when stringing components? Although i guess this would destroy the component definitions.

joel

kingsi

Many thanks for the excellent pluggin

kingsi

Wonderful plugin. Many Thanks Chris

Chris Fullmer

You're welcome and you're welcome!

aaulestia

Chris,

I've been trying to use this amazing tool to place a Tree component along some streets, but can't them to be separated as I need them to be(distance between each component). Do you have any ideas to fix this? I would really appreciated it!
Ana

Cisne

This is what happens when I select the line with the component and choose the uniform. When I choose the mode none, the plugin puts only one component at the beginning of the line.

herrschnitzel

Great Plugin I was searching for it.
I moved the plugin in my plugins folder but I cant find it in sketchup.

aurisgauris

i cant install this plugin:( windows 8, sketchup 8

TIG

@unknownuser said:

i cant install this plugin:( windows 8, sketchup 8
You'll need to give us a bit of help here
Help us to help you.
Fill in your User-Profile details so we can immediately know your OS, SketchUp version etc without having to read a post that might be several steps earlier by the time we resolve this issue...

This kind of problem has almost certainly been covered endlessly in other posts at SCF...

Here are a few ideas...
Do you install, and then always run SketchUp as an admin? [properties>compatibility check-box setting]
Do you have FULL permissions to the Plugins folder? [properties>security>edit] It should be set to FULL for every entry in the list.
Do you have a 'Compatibility Files' button/link on the Plugins folder's Windows Explorer window upper bars? This suggests a VirtualStore issue resulting from you having limited permissions when trying to install files into a folder.
Do you understand how to install a plugin from an RBZ archive?
Do you have the current version of v8? [you need >= v8M2] You need that to get the 'Install...' button in the Preferences > Extensions dialog. This allows you to auto-install files/subfolders of helper from an RBZ archive.
Do you understand that if you don't want to upgrade your earlier version then you can add .ZIP to the end of the .RBZ archive and extract its contents; then manually install the file[s] and subfolder[s] of files 'intact' into the Plugins folder... If in doubt about manually installing plugins then please read the help/tutorial section at SCF...
I assume you are getting the tool's RBZ file from the PluginStore? http://sketchucation.com/resources/pluginstore ?
If you have a suitable version v8 or v2013 that allows 'auto-install' then can I suggest you get and install the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' tool which then allows you to browse all of the SCF plugins and Auto-Install them immediately, with no manual download etc on your side... http://sketchucation.com/resources/plugin-store-download

Hopefully one [or more] of the above will start you off in the right direction.
If you are still flummoxed ask again.

syonker

Hi there...Has anyone else had the issue where you highlight your component and path, and hit the "Component Stringer" menu item, the path gets "Start/End", but nothing else happens? No dialog to continue?

-S

*UPDATE: This is 100% a function of rights. Ran SketchUp with Admin rights and it worked like it should! Thanks Chris - this is really nice to have!

-S*

syonker

Ok, this is a truly awesome plugin...nicely done.

Now to solicit any hints and tips...for my application, what I am designing is an Asian pagoda with "ceramic tile roofing". The roof is a traditional shape with curves along the peaks, eaves, etc...there is a wire frame of curved lines that I was able to get the center tiles to span along nicely (see image below), but as I approach the sides, there is the start of a twist in the geometry. The problem comes in that when setting the axes in the tile component (which is actually four tiles, two-by-two) and spanning along the curve, it seems to apply the "turn along curve axis" starting at the wrong end of the disprove (so that the bottom side of the shingle chain lifts off rather than the top tapers toward the peak as it should). Tried switching the axes (just flips the shingles upside down) and drawing the curved line from the other end (no impact). Wondering if there would be a way to tell it at which end to start the zero rotation point...or if there would be a way to write it for a wireframe or surface propagation? Or honestly any recommendations or tutorial videos that might help with this or any general comments are all appreciated.

Shot of the top pagoda roof...one line of shingles...

Shot of the shingles themselves, and the component shingle...

Render of three rows of the shingles...

pilou

Maybe Panelization by Sdmitch?
Components onto faces by Chris Fullmer?

syonker

I checked out those two plugins and by all rights they are awesome (Chris's was a little easier to get working and was more, code solid - awesome work Chris). I realized while working with them that based on the architecture I am working with I really needed to go back to the component stringer. For any normal staggered shingles like slate, etc. the objects on surface plugins would work great, but in pagodas they follow a traditional linear format based on original builds being ceramic laced to bamboo...it's the "bamboo" that each of the rows follow. So a LOT of playing with axes, the weld plugin, object orientations, and curved lines, I got part of the roofing laid out (see images below). I have a long way to go for the tipped-up points and other curves but hey it's a labor of love this one...

Similar shot to above with shingles leading to peak:

Tilted shot showing the yin and yang symbols at the tips of the "bamboo" trusses: