[Plugin] RichSection V0.5.8 UPDATED march 2015

pgarmyn · 17 Nov 2013, 20:37

Here is just another 'Section' plugin

This is a BETA version. I'm still working on this plugin. Backwards compatibility not granted.

To generate a 'RichSection', the model must be composed of Groups or Component(instances).
Elements don't have to be solid, but only closed sections will generate section-materials.

Using nested groups (or components) will speed up calculation if the geometrical limits exclude then from the calculation process. For instance : if the ground-floor (group A) and upper floor (group B) are in separate groups, a horizonal section through the upper floor will exclude all elements of group A, For a horizontal section through A, B will only be controlled for projection.
Exclude hi-poly elements if possible : place them in a separate layer; create a scene in which those layers are 'off'; use 'layers to section/project' by 'scene' to exclude those elements from calculation.

For the french SU: Si la version de SU est française, elle chargera RichSection en français.
For the rest of the world, are there traductors on this forum for other languages

[highlight=#ffff00:ec1c1tn6]Release notes[/highlight:ec1c1tn6]

#Release Notes for RichSection
V0.5.8

bugfix : Textures not visible after RS creation

[highlight=#ffff80:ec1c1tn6]OSX : WORKING BUT NOT STABLE : save your work before using !!!!!![/highlight:ec1c1tn6]

V0.5.6

bugfix : V0.5.4 won't work on SU 2015 if SU 2014 wasn't installed before

bugfix : V0.5.4 and V0.5.5 won't work on 2014 and 2015 if the user folder for materials isn't defined (even if you see the default path in 'preferences') or if it isn't writable.

bugfix : Textures won't switch off after section creation on Mac# new checkbox on option panel : 'close panel after creation'

V0.5.5

bugfix : was not working in SU2015 if SU2014 wasn't also installed

V0.5.4

bugfix : renaming RS after creation

bugfix : changing properties of RS

bugfix : other ...

disabled (not working on this moment) : creating RS from existing section

also tested on Mac : known bug on Mac: RSpanel not working when opening other model, opening 2nd model : Workaround : close panel before (or after) opening new file

V0.5.3

bugs on panel removed (?)

to prevent issues on Mac : don't open multiple models; close and reopen the RS-panel when opening a model

V0.5.2

bugs on panel removed (?)

#V0.5.1 modification

RichSections created with an older plugin version don't need manual update any more (bug in 0.5.0) when changing the sectionplan

#V0.5.0 modification

This plugin uses now SKUI : a GUI framework from Thomas Thomassen; THANKS thomthom !!!

This new panel works on MAC

(except the "RichSection general setting", this panel is still from the RUBI API).

KNOWN ISSUE: RichSections created with older versions must be updated manually.

I will work on it to fix that

#V0.4.6 modification

- statistics

- bug

V0.4.5 modification

- Testing on OSX : issues with Sketchup-API

- prevent creating zero length projection clines : omit 'fix problems'

- activating sectionplane for SU2014

- correct input of value 'Distance RichSection to SectionPlane'

- Known issues : produces an Bugsplat if you make a RS of a model with no faces

- OSX : force showing textures, if fist textures applied by plugin

#V0.4.5 known issues

- Testing on OSX : issues with Sketchup-API input panel : only showing first 27 caracters of prompts

- Bug-splat possible when creating RichSections in almost empty models

- Bug-splat possible when creating RichSections through 0,0,0

[highlight=#ffff00:ec1c1tn6]Known issues :[/highlight:ec1c1tn6]

With SU2013, SU8 and older: you need to have write permission for the ...Sketchup.../materials folder.
Tested with SU8, SU2013 and SU2014 on Windows 8
Tested with SU2014 on MAC
Sketchup 2014 BUG on MAC : Textures not displayed with face style set to 'Shaded with textures' if the first textered materials are applied by a plugin. To show them : toggling the face style to 'Shaded' and again to 'Shaded with textures', SOLVED in (update) Sketchup 2014.1.1281
Large models seems to freeze. Normally they don't. Save before creating the 'RichSection' and wait until the plugin redraws the screen. Do not click … .
Conflict & instability when combined with :

windowizer and maybe other tools of Rick Wilson : Bug splat
wxSU.rb
Artisan (reported by Krisidious, thanks for testing)
EcoScorecard (reported by Krisidious, thanks for testing)
others ?

Undo: Not woking properly. Created layers, and styles are not (can not be) removed after 'Undo' or 'Delete RichSection'. Purge 'layers' and 'styles' if you want to create a new RichSection with the same

How it works. Watch these videos, and try out!

THESE VIDEOS WHERE MADE WITH OLDER VERSIONS OF THE PLUGIN
THE INPUT-PANELS IN THE ACTUAL VERSION ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT

#HOW TO (01) create RichSections in SKETCHUP:

#01: Recorded with Win8.1+SU8 on Intel-I7-4770:

#02: Recorded with Win8.1+SU8 on Intel-I7-4770:

#03: Recorded with Win8.1+SU2013 Make/Demo on Intel-I7-4770:

#04: Recorded with Win8.1+SU2013 Make/Demo on Intel-I7-4770:

#05: Recorded with Win8.1+SU2013 Make/Demo on Intel-I7-4770:

In the last video, I produced a plan with SKETCHUP + RichSection + LAYOUT: plan (PDF) produced in video #05

Installation :
[highlight=#ffff00:ec1c1tn6- RichSection is now in the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' browser...[/highlight:ec1c1tn6]]
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pauthor=pgarmyn

A new plugin must be activated in the menu 'window/preferences',
a panel opens, select 'extensions' and activate 'RichSection'.

V0.4.4 for Sketchup 7,8 2013 and 2014 on Windows, to be tested on MAC
V0.4.5 for Sketchup 8, 2013, 2014 on Windows and Mac (issues on mac, prompt text incomplete)
V0.4.6 downloadcounter at 4816 on the PluginStore
V0.5.0 downloadcounter at 5128 on the Pluginstore
V0.5.3 downloadcounter at 5602 on the Pluginstore
V0.5.4 downloadcounter at 6101 on the Pluginstore
V0.5.6 downloadcounter at 8457 on the Pluginstore at 01/03/2015

Bob James · 17 Nov 2013, 22:19

pgarmyn · 17 Nov 2013, 22:38

@bob james said:

:shock:

Bob, I think your machine has the power to calculate some complex 'RichSections'

solo · 17 Nov 2013, 22:52

Very cool, now if only one could make it solid so that a render engine could acknowledge the cut.

pgarmyn · 17 Nov 2013, 23:11

@solo said:

Very cool, now if only one could make it solid so that a render engine could acknowledge the cut.

The intention was to make fast instant sections with automatic symbolic material indication, without changing the original model. To make it solid ..... hm....in that case, a new model must be produced for each section.
Not impossible, but a completly different approach.

Is there a renderer that 'respects' a pure Sketchup section ?

pilou · 18 Nov 2013, 00:43

A futur hit for sure!
When you say Demo, will be commercial at the end ?

utiler · 18 Nov 2013, 05:07

I agree, future hit for sure!!!!! Well done mate!!

pbacot · 18 Nov 2013, 06:10

Looks great. Like something that should have been part of SU section all along.

Bob James · 18 Nov 2013, 10:06

@pgarmyn said:

Until March 2013, everybody can have the full 'DEMO'

Maybe March 2014?

Rich O Brien · 18 Nov 2013, 10:37

Indigo respect Section Cuts

JQL · 18 Nov 2013, 10:56

Amazing plugin pgarmyn!

I will try it for sure, simply not right now as I'm right in the middle of designing on some of my own SectionCutFaces.

I have a couple of questions though:

I suppose those sections have guides as above section geometry... What happens when I "delete all guides"? Will they show up automatically when I go to section scene?

I can see in the videos your section auto updates, will I be able to draw on the section and my drawing sticks in it or will it disappear? I am used to do it to detail construction docs and generate floor areas. If I'd keep doing that can I lock a specific section?

What if I accidentaly/on purpose delete guides? Will I be able to refresh only the guides on section so I can have the hand drawn section with hidden lines?

Thanks for what seems to be a bombshell!

JQL

pgarmyn · 18 Nov 2013, 11:43

@jql said:

Amazing plugin pgarmyn!

I will try it for sure, simply not right now as I'm right in the middle of designing on some of my own SectionCutFaces.

I have a couple of questions......!

JQL

When you delete all guides, you will have to recalculate (update) the RichSection.

....draw on the section... : If you don't draw in the __section-group or __projection-group; You will also have to exclude your section-data by using a scene for 'layers to section/project'.
....refresh only the guides.... : You could make two RichSections (aligned): one with only 'project' swtitched on, the other with only 'section' switched on; You will have to make yourself a scene to combine the layers of the two RichSections

Thank you for your interest João, and good luck

pgarmyn · 18 Nov 2013, 12:17

@rich o brien said:

Indigo respect Section Cuts

Thanks for the info. That's really a plus for SU-users.

wat · 18 Nov 2013, 13:50

Thanks

doush-007 · 18 Nov 2013, 20:54

god please you

solo · 18 Nov 2013, 23:26

@rich o brien said:

Indigo respect Section Cuts

Rich, can you confirm that Indigo works with this plugin?

Then I guess I'd like to know how Indigo can do it and other cannot.

takesh h · 19 Nov 2013, 00:13

pgarmyn,
Tour de force!
Videos look marvelous too... however, is it working properly for everybody else?
So far I'm getting no result from the plugin.
It makes cuts and shows the dialog box, but never generated sections with materials.
IOW it is working like native SU section tool, although it does generate automatically named scenes.
I'm on Win7, Dell XPS8500, Intel Corei7-3770 3.4GHz, 12GB RAM, SketchUp8.
Any help?

ivreich · 19 Nov 2013, 00:54

Great plugin!

Is it possible for different solids/groups/components to be assigned different hatch properties so that you can show different hatch patterns with the same section cut?? Like Revit's section box?

That would be awesome...

Joel

LionByDesign · 19 Nov 2013, 01:34

This plugin is exactly what I need!

pgarmyn · 19 Nov 2013, 06:45

@takesh h said:

pgarmyn,
Tour de force!
Videos look marvelous too... however, is it working properly for everybody else?
So far I'm getting no result from the plugin.....
Any help?

It should work on SU8. (It works for me)
You are the first after 160 downloads. Are there other people having problems?

Do you use components or groups? Are they closed in the sectionplan?
Test it with a Solid without changing any parameter in the dialog box?

Is there any error on the Ruby panel?