[Plugin][$] Curviloft 2.0a - 31 Mar 24 (Loft & Skinning)

jgb · 4 Jun 2013, 14:42

@dave r said:

It's a good idea Ralph. In my experience, though, most people won't take the time to read that sort of thing anyway. It's just easier to ask the question even in cases where it's been asked dozens of time before.

When I was working an on-line/phone tech-help site, we got so many "asked & answered many times" we setup a list of "FAQs" and their answers as a set of clippable notes.

Then it was just cut&paste for about 65% of the time. Anything "new" was added to the list at the end of the call or email answer.

When I was monitoring the old Google Sketchup (before SketchUcation) I found myself doing a quick search, cut&paste for many of the same FAQs as well, especially the near field clipping solution.

Even providing an extensive published and promoted list of FAQ's, almost nobody would take the time to look up their problem first. Like Dave R said, easier to ask..........

But, part of the problem are folks that have difficulty forming the question/problem so that they can best use a FAQ's list. We see that here many times where the post "I got a problem......" sometimes does not say what the problem is on first go-round. Language barriers are only a small part of it.

hygicell · 8 Jul 2013, 14:36

Hi Fredo,
I am working on a project for an aquaponics farm of which the building consists of shipping containers, with a greenhiouse on the south side
this building then has to be covered by a moat on the north side which includes two terrasses
to draw the moat landscape,
I drew the outlines, then tried to use Curviloft skinning
it didn't work in one piece
I then added some lines, tried again, no success
then I tried in segments, that worked for some, not for all
I had to further split them up
finally I succeeded, exploded all groups, smoothed the edges, painted all surfaces with grass
you can see my trials in the file attached
ooops, that didn't work: file too large
compressed it with 7-zip, more than halved the file size
http://download.cnet.com/7-Zip-64-bit/3000-2250_4-75133313.html?tag=dre

hope you appreciate the feedback
greetings
Frank

container farmhouse with moat.7z

fredo6 · 8 Jul 2013, 23:09

Franck,

I cannot open the file, even if I replace the extension .7z by .zip

Fredo

hygicell · 9 Jul 2013, 05:39

container farmhouse with moat.zip

fredo6 · 9 Jul 2013, 19:31

@hygicell,

Looking at your model, I found many unconnected contours.
I think there is a plugin to connect segments which have their extre,ities very close.

This explains why you have problems with the Skinning.

Also, in some portions of the shapes, the contours look very shaky, with sharp angles. I am afraid that Curviloft won't give a very good result on these ones.

Fredo

Kanastrous · 31 Jul 2013, 23:05

This plugin looks like just the thing for what I need to do in Sketchup Pro 8 (version 8.0.11752, running under Windows XP Pro ) but when I install it and then start sketchup I get the following message:

Error Loading File bootstrap_Curviloft.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6

Sketchup then opens and appears to run normally, but the curviloft plugin does not appear.

Any thoughts on how to get this install to work? Curviloft looks like a real life-saver, if only I can get it working...

thanks,
karl

Kanastrous · 31 Jul 2013, 23:11

So what happened above was the result of installing the Curviloft_Dir_12 with all files contained in it, in the 'plugins' folder.

Extracting the files contained in the Curviloft_Dir_12 to the plugins folder resulted in -this- error message on starting sketchup:

Error Loading File bootstrap_Curviloft.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftAlgo.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftCurveMover.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftPalette.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftTool.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6

So...that's different. But still not helpful.

TIG · 1 Aug 2013, 08:32

@Karl

Please remove all of the files you have incorrectly installed and start again.
Having files in the wrong place will break SketchUp and prevent tools from working as intended...

The first post in this thread clearly explains what is needed.
C:\Program Files\...SketchUp...\Plugins\CURVILOFT_Dir_12 [folder of files]

NEVER [re]move files from the folders that they come in inside their 'archive' [ZIP/RBZ] !

You also need to have the latest LibFredo... with:
...\Plugins\LibFredo6.rb [file]
and its
...\Plugins\LIBFREDO6_Dir_xx [folder of files]

If you get tools as their RBZ version from the 'SCF PluginStore' [linked in the Resources menu above] you can automatically install their files/subfolders into Plugins, keeping all of the correct relationships etc - just use the menu item Window > Preferences > Extensions > Install from Archive button [this needs v8M2 or newer].

An even easier way is to install the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' toolset [download link in the Resources menu above]: this tool then AutoInstalls everything properly from a dialog within SketchUp itself - a single button click does everything for you... It also has some very useful Manager tools...

Kanastrous · 1 Aug 2013, 16:43

Thanks TIG - I'll have another go at it with careful attention to those instructions...

Kanastrous · 1 Aug 2013, 17:10

Placed the Sketchucation Tool rbz in my plugins folder and it doesn't seem to appear anywhere when I start sketchup. This is not my week. Maybe my being on version 8.0.11752 is the trouble.

Dave R · 1 Aug 2013, 17:15

This has been explained repeatedly here. TIG explained it clearly, above, but it sounds like you didn't follow his instructions.

At this point you need to go to Preferences>Extensions and click on Install Extension. Navigate to where you saved the file, choose it and click Open. Click Yes to install.

gilles · 1 Aug 2013, 17:16

@unknownuser said:

if you get tools as their RBZ version from the 'SCF PluginStore' [linked in the Resources menu above] you can automatically install their files/subfolders into Plugins, keeping all of the correct relationships etc - just use the menu item Window > Preferences > Extensions > Install from Archive button [this needs v8M2 or newer].

An even easier way is to install the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' toolset [download link in the Resources menu above]: this tool then AutoInstalls everything properly from a dialog within SketchUp itself - a single button click does everything for you... It also has some very useful Manager tools...

Kanastrous · 1 Aug 2013, 17:22

thanks Dave R - most of the rbzs I've installed didn't require that step to work, and I missed it. Thanks for your patience and help, it's much appreciated.

Dave R · 1 Aug 2013, 17:28

All rbz files require installation via Install Extension or through the Sketchucation Plugin Store's installer or Extension Warehouse in V2013. You cannot simply drop an rbz file into the Plugins folder and have it load. There are some plugins here on SCF which download as .rb files. Note there is a difference. Files with the .rb extension will load when SketchUp opens.

Kanastrous · 1 Aug 2013, 17:45

Ah. It's that whole paying-attention-to-what's-directly-in-front-of-me thing...

Dave R · 1 Aug 2013, 17:51

It's sure to bite you on the nose one day.

tomboston27 · 24 Aug 2013, 13:18

HI! Could anyone please help me work out how to download this onto sketchup? ive been unable to find 'CURVILOFT_Dir_12' and I am not sure if this is why I haven't been able to get the plugin to work... if anyone knows what I am doing wrong your comments would be really appreciated!!! thanks

TIG · 24 Aug 2013, 19:54

@Tom

To install Plugins, including those that are the contents of RBZ archives...

Check you have FULL permissions to your Plugins folder...

As an Admin...

Select its icon and right-click
Context-menu
Properties
Security
Edit
FULL for every user / group listed
Apply/OK

Also set the SketchUp.exe icon...
Properties
Compatibility
'Always Run as Administrator...'

Now use The installer button under Preferences > Extensions... OR use the SketchUcation Plugin Store tool to AutoInstall the files for you...

albertjees · 25 Aug 2013, 09:06

Hi i couldnt use the plugin,can someone please help me.

Cheers
AJ

[img]file:///C:/Users/Tansformational/Desktop/Curviloft%20Error.jpg[/img]

TIG · 25 Aug 2013, 13:27

@albertjees said:

Hi i couldnt use the plugin,can someone please help me.

Cheers
AJ

[img]file:///C:/Users/Tansformational/Desktop/Curviloft%20Error.jpg[/img]
@AJ
Please upload the file to SCF, adding a link to your drive won't work for anyone but you!
Can you also explain what this problem is...
It's installation?
It's execution?
It's results?
etc

Perhaps the missing image would help us help you, but a few words of explanation could also assist...

Many hundreds of users have no problems with this tool, so once we know what your intention/issue is it will be resolvable