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    [Plugin] Component/group tools

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    • M Offline
      mac1
      last edited by

      Update
      Noted during my post the ruby console error report is different ( in the ref. help forum) that what was obtained in the last attempt to covert the groups. Line number ref are different by one and the entity octal number is different. Removed script, download from Matt's link above and reloaded with same result. 😞

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      • Chris FullmerC Offline
        Chris Fullmer
        last edited by

        I looked over his code and there seems to be an error that pops up when you only have groups selected. Try running the script with always a non-group in the selection - like just draw a line and then select it along with the groups, then run the script. I think that will by pass the problems.

        Chris

        Lately you've been tan, suspicious for the winter.
        All my Plugins I've written

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        • M Offline
          mac1
          last edited by

          @chris fullmer said:

          I looked over his code and there seems to be an error that pops up whn you only have groups selected. Try running the script wil always a non-group in the selection - like just draw a line and then select it along with the groups, then run the script. I think that will by pass the problems.

          Chris

          Thanks, nothing to it when you know what you are doing β˜€
          BTW the line gets converted to component also ❓

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          • brookefoxB Offline
            brookefox
            last edited by

            The utility of this script is beyond me. I will keep my head down in hopes that someone will post some uses.

            ~ Brooke

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            • M Offline
              mac1
              last edited by

              @brookefox said:

              The utility of this script is beyond me. I will keep my head down in hopes that someone will post some uses.

              Very simple at least for me. A post in the Sketchup help forum having problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.( An example is shown in the ref test file I included with my post.) has a file size of ~930KB. If one converts to components, then uses the browser "replace selected" capability that goes down to around ~70KB. A significant reduction in my mind. If one looks at the model info stats report the edges and faces don't change that much. It was my feeble attempt to understand the imapct of max use of components which is often stated but not quantified. ❓ BTW I will on occasion place a very simple component in my model(s), have even used a line ( not a good idea), then recognizing a components definition is invariant under move, scale and rotation one can latter replace with a complex model which gets added to the model at the scale, location and rotation of the simple model( need to pay attention to your component axis)

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              • brookefoxB Offline
                brookefox
                last edited by

                Thanks for yor response. This use I get but for it I don't need this plugin:
                @unknownuser said:

                problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.
                One can make components out of groups and instances of groups this with native SU.

                It's the making of components out of lines that I don't get much of.

                So for your 'simple' best use you would have a lot of lines in your models which are not parts of components, and making them components with this would reduce your file size. OK. I do have a lot of groups which are not components, but next to no lines which are not parts of groups or components. For me the crux is when and what groups to componetize, just because it take time, even if it saves file space. Certainly if I have many of said group or I want component behavior from a group it would be best componentized, I don't need a plugin to do that. Rereading the thread I see the use implied of maybe wanting to populate a model with lines, componetize them and then subsequently edit the component which would then be in place wherever the lines were. If I can do this now with two lines instead of one, that is sufficient for me.

                ~ Brooke

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                • M Offline
                  mac1
                  last edited by

                  @brookefox said:

                  Thanks for yor response. This use I get but for it I don't need this plugin:
                  @unknownuser said:

                  problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.
                  One can make components out of groups and instances of groups this with native SU.

                  It's the making of components out of lines that I don't get much of.

                  So for your 'simple' best use you would have a lot of lines in your models which are not parts of components, and making them components with this would reduce your file size. OK. I do have a lot of groups which are not components, but next to no lines which are not parts of groups or components. For me the crux is when and what groups to componetize, just because it take time, even if it saves file space. Certainly if I have many of said group or I want component behavior from a group it would be best componentized, I don't need a plugin to do that. Rereading the thread I see the use implied of maybe wanting to populate a model with lines, componetize them and then subsequently edit the component which would then be in place wherever the lines were. If I can do this now with two lines instead of one, that is sufficient for me.

                  Glad you are happy with what you have that is what is important. The plugin is just another wrench in the tool box.
                  You are correct SU has that native capability but what are you going to do if you have say a 100 groups and identical. The native tool will make a component out of all of them but the reduction of file size doing that will be nil.
                  My test case was not suppose to be a global analysis of a model having a mix of various entities and was meant to show what poor modeling practice can cost one. The model has 33 groups and nested in each of those is three groups( all identical) and some other simple entities a really a simple model. If you examine one of those and expolde the component the change in file size is nil so the the message is use components but having a bunch of nested groups in the components does not help much
                  Gday

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                  • artmusicstudioA Offline
                    artmusicstudio
                    last edited by

                    hello,
                    i went thru all topics dealing with component naming,
                    but i cannot find a solution.

                    i would like to give a name to a created component by this code:

                    ######## start code

                    model = Sketchup.active_model
                    entities = model.active_entities
                    rl1 = [0, y1, 0]
                    rl2 = [0, y2, z]
                    group = entities.add_group
                    entities2 = group.entities
                    new_line = entities2.add_line rl1, rl2
                    length = new_line.length

                           centerpoint = rl1
                                                      # Create a circle perpendicular to the normal or Z axis
                           vector = rl2
                           vector2 = vector.normalize!
                       
                           edges = entities2.add_circle centerpoint, vector2, $thradius
                        
                           kreis = entities2.add_face edges
                           kreis.pushpull -(5/$faktor)/100
                        
                       $masterrailingtms = group.to_component      
                       # HERE I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINE A NAME FOR THIS NEW COMPONENT, WHICH I CAN SEE IN IN SKP ENTITY-INORMATION-WINDOW. this name also hopefully appears in the copied instances of this component, but most important is the name for component [0]
                    

                    ######## end code

                    can somebody help me?
                    thanx
                    stan

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                    • TIGT Offline
                      TIG Moderator
                      last edited by

                      Your
                      xxxx = group.to_component
                      refers to an component-instance NOT a component-definition: so to find the instance's definition use:
                      defn = xxx.definition
                      then rename it thus:
                      defn.name = "foo_fighter"
                      Be aware if there is already a 'foo_fighter' definition it'll become 'foo_fighter#1' etc

                      PS: don't use global $var variables which will potentially clash with others tools - wrap your code in your own module and use @var instead.

                      TIG

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                      • artmusicstudioA Offline
                        artmusicstudio
                        last edited by

                        hi tig, thanx,
                        this work well, one step further for me, now i can identify the "children" of the masters exactly. that's perfect.
                        just to understand exactly:
                        a name of component instance defined by this method appears in the field "description"

                        a group named by group.name = "xxx" appears in the filed "name"

                        is there also a way to NAME a component or its instance besides a description?

                        thanx
                        stan

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                        • TIGT Offline
                          TIG Moderator
                          last edited by

                          Both components and groups [and also images for that matter] that you see placed inside a model are instances of their 'definition'.

                          Every 'definition' has a unique definition.name - this can be reset provided it is unique - if 'xxx' is already used SketchUp auto-increments the name as 'xxx#1' etc.
                          For a component that is the 'Definition Name' displayed in Entity Info, the Component-Browser's top-most field, and in the Outliner as <defname>.
                          A component-instance can also have a instance.name this the 'Name' displayed in Entity Info, and in the Outliner as name<defname>. This need not be assigned and it does not need to be unique.
                          You can find defn = instance.definition etc.

                          A group also has a unique definition.name that is usually hidden from the user - something like ' Group#99'. You can change this through the API to another unique definition.name - but for what purpose?
                          There is also group.name - akin to the instance.name. This need not be assigned and it does not need to be unique. This is the 'Name' displayed in Entity Info and in the Outliner [if the Name=='' then the Outliner says 'Group']
                          You cannot directly find a group.definition in the API, BUT defn = group.entities.parent should return its definition.

                          The definition.description can be assigned and for a component appears this in the second-from-top field in the Component-Browser.
                          Although you can assign a definition.description to a group it is not seen anywhere by a user - it is only accessible through the API.

                          When you convert a group to a component the name of the component definition is taken as the group's definition.name [e.g. ' Group#666'] NOT the group.name.
                          What is returned by the group's conversion to a component is an instance NOT a definition, so to find the definition itself use the code given in the earlier reply. Then you can use defn.name='xxxx' as desired...

                          TIG

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                          • plot-parisP Offline
                            plot-paris
                            last edited by

                            is there a Version that works with SketchUp 2016?

                            Bulk conversion of components to groups doesn't seem to be working (and is sorely needed when importing a 3ds-model, where every object is a component)

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                            • M Offline
                              Mooeee
                              last edited by

                              Is there any news as to whether this plugin will be updated to SketchUp 2017 as it looks a really useful plugin, or is there a similar plugin out there to use.

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                              • sdmitchS Offline
                                sdmitch
                                last edited by

                                @plot-paris said:

                                Bulk conversion of components to groups doesn't seem to be working (and is sorely needed when importing a 3ds-model, where every object is a component)

                                Here is a code snippet you can try. Paste it into the Ruby Console and press Enter. It will convert all Component instances in the selection to a group.

                                @mod = Sketchup.active_model
                                @ent = @mod.active_entities
                                @sel = @mod.selection
                                @vue = @mod.active_view
                                cmps = @sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance)
                                cmps.each{|ci|
                                 grp = @ent.add_group(ci)
                                 grp.name = ci.definition.name
                                 ci.explode
                                }
                                @mod.definitions.purge_unused
                                
                                

                                Nothing is worthless, it can always be used as a bad example.

                                http://sdmitch.blogspot.com/

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                                • BoxB Offline
                                  Box
                                  last edited by

                                  Hopefully Plot will enjoy your post even though it is 1 year later.

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                                  • sdmitchS Offline
                                    sdmitch
                                    last edited by

                                    @box said:

                                    Hopefully Plot will enjoy your post even though it is 1 year later.

                                    DOH!!!

                                    Nothing is worthless, it can always be used as a bad example.

                                    http://sdmitch.blogspot.com/

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                                    • F Offline
                                      faust07
                                      last edited by

                                      Thanks sdmitch, used your code snippet to convert components to groups for MSPhysics. The reason is that MSP does not accept components for coupling with joints. The conversion of about 200 components with subcomponents into groups would have taken a long time...

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