Looking for a plugin to quantify and catalog selected data
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Hello,
I am wondering if anyone knows of a plugin that can quantify and catalog selected edges or faces.
This would be especially useful for roofers, and I am sure for just about anyone using sketch up to not only produce models but to collect data from them afterwards. My example below shows how it would work for roofers.
Essentially:
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selecting a set of edges that when combined represent all valleys on a roof would result in a spreadsheet wherein column 1 row 1 said "Valleys" , column 2 row 1 gave you the total length
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selecting a set of faces would give total area next to a cell labeled "area".
The best format for the tool would be one where you can
- label the defining cells in column 1 yourself. Mine would say valleys, eaves, rakes, hips, total area, eaves and rakes, etc.
- cells could be combinations of previously established categories, for instance eaves and rakes would add together the values in each respectively. Simple spreadsheet rules would need to apply.
- line types could be color coded as well as areas based on user defined variable, say pitch. The result would be that when "valley" was selected, and then valley lines were clicked in the model, they could turn red if red is the color chosen for them by the user, and 3/12 pitch areas might turn say blue as defined by the user.
The end result in summary would be a model wherein all lines were colored according to their type, all areas according to their pitch, and the spreadsheet provides the end result.
This spreadsheet would then represent exactly what the user wanted as regards computable data drawn from the created model, and in the instance above, a material list ready for purchase.
If someone has not made this plugin, I am amazed. From what I can tell, half of what the software is useful for lays essentially dormant, and this plugin would be its waking from slumber.
The data is there already, and I have to assume that most modelers don't just want to model, but want to data extract as well so as to bring their model in to the real world.
I know of a program that compared to sketch up, falls flat on its face as far as modeling is concerned, but does the above if you can get the model created, and costs $5,400.
The above, if non existent, is in my opinion, "the missing plugin".
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You wouldn't have to necessarily pick/label each part manually...
Select the roof faces/edges [inside a component/group].
Run the script.
It first we find all faces [selection.grep(Sketchup::Face)].
These are categorized by their properties:
All faces with a normal that is 'up' are potential roof surfaces.
All faces with a normal that is down are potential soffits [z==-1 in flat downwards]
All those that are vertical are potential eaves/fascias/verges - the verges differ from the rest as their top bounding edge is not horizontal.
The slope is the roof is easily got from the angle between the Z_AXIS and the face.normal converted from radians to degrees [or A:B if that's preferred].
Each can be given an attribute containing the data.
Each of theses faces can be written to hash and eventually into a CSV file with type, slope, area, material etc.Now we'll look at all edges [selection.grep(Sketchup::Edge)].
Again these are categorized by their properties:
If a line is horizontal then it's either a ridge, an eaves or a soffit-edge: if it's at its faces' bounds.max it's a ridge, an eaves's faces will either be just 1 or if 2 include a vertical face [the fascia] etc.
If a line slopes then its either a hip-ridge, a valley or a verge: again some rules can work out which type - a verge's faces will include one vertical face, the angle between the hip/valley faces' normals can indicate a convex [hip] or concave [valley] form.Again these can be an attribute containing the data.
Each of theses edges can be written to hash and eventually into a CSV file with type, slope, area, material etc.This would be a good Ruby project to cut-your-teeth on... why not try it yourself...
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