[Plugin] Xref Manager

Mohsin_Mazhar · 12 Dec 2012, 10:44

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

TIG · 12 Dec 2012, 11:20

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...

Backstyler · 16 Dec 2012, 22:00

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

TIG · 16 Dec 2012, 22:38

@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'...

Backstyler · 16 Dec 2012, 22:42

@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'...

Windows 7

TIG · 17 Dec 2012, 20:45

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

Backstyler · 17 Dec 2012, 22:29

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

Backstyler · 19 Dec 2012, 12:45

@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).

Backstyler · 2 Jan 2013, 14:19

Hi TIG,

what do you think of my suggestions?

Best,
Felix

matt.gordon320 · 5 Feb 2013, 21:26

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

maso · 21 Feb 2013, 15:40

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

qazokm · 17 Mar 2013, 08:28

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

TIG · 17 Mar 2013, 10:23

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...

Manijeh · 30 May 2013, 23:06

@tig said:

[attachment=0:a3p4jurl]XrefManagerHelpNotes.pdf[/attachment:a3p4jurl]

Dear Tig,
I just downloaded your xref manager tool.
One of the benefits of xref's in autocad is that you can insert an xref and not add to the size of the host file.
with sketchup making file sizes so huge this would be an awesome option, but your Xref manager does not seem to work this way. am I correct in assuming this? also will an inserted xref update within the host file when I revise the original?

Thank you so much for your reply.

Manijeh

TIG · 31 May 2013, 09:08

@manijeh said:

@tig said:

[attachment=0:ik81ktpq]XrefManagerHelpNotes.pdf[/attachment:ik81ktpq]

Dear Tig,
I just downloaded your xref manager tool.
One of the benefits of xref's in autocad is that you can insert an xref and not add to the size of the host file.
with sketchup making file sizes so huge this would be an awesome option, but your Xref manager does not seem to work this way. am I correct in assuming this? also will an inserted xref update within the host file when I revise the original?

Thank you so much for your reply.

Manijeh
You can't have Xref's like AutoCAD's. A full version of the Xref-SKP is inserted as a component. It has a date-stamp. If the external SKP is changed it is newer so the option is to 'Reload'... You can do this manually with SKP components in your model. All this [old] tool does is automate the management of these. It uses the term 'Xref' because most users with a CAD background understand the concept of having several files combined into a single 'project'... Unfortunately SketchUp has no ability to make a 'reference' - the full SKP's geometry has to be inserted as a component - like a CAD 'Block' [an 'Xref' in CAD is just a special kind of 'Block' where the geometry is left in its original host...]

Venom008 · 20 Jun 2013, 13:07

Can you also install this on mac? Or only import referenced mac sketchup files? Can only find the windows file. Great program though!

TIG · 20 Jun 2013, 15:07

What makes you think this doesn't work on a MAC

A few aspects - like DXF import WERE initially 'for PC only' - but that was several versions ago.
The current tool is completely cross-platform.
Depending on the SketchUp version then the import of certain file-types other than SKP might be available on Pro installations only.

There is essentially no difference between SKP files made on PC or MAC.
They should open on any other machine.
The only thing to remember is that a v2013 file won't import into a model that is open in SketchUp <=v8, but a SKP <=v8 will open in SketchUp v2013 etc...

Venom008 · 20 Jun 2013, 16:29

My bad, I placed the file in the wrong plugins folder on mac! Needed to go to it via the library. Thanks alot for this program. It will safe us alot of (waiting) time!

MKumar · 21 Jun 2013, 16:34

Hi Tig, Your tool xref tool is very helpfull, But if you can include an option to unload xrefs temporary and reload when necessary would be a great. Cheers

atelierpaar · 21 Jun 2013, 19:03

Hello Tig,
I would like to try xrefManager in SU 2013 but it doesn`t appear in SU Pluginstore.
Is there a reason ?

thanks for looking in to it
Uli