[Plugin] Slicer5

rod bender

I am running( on a Mac) the latest version of Trimble SketchUp Pro, and have just installed the latest version of Slicer 5.19
I am having difficulties exporting flattened slices to DXF format. Have done this before with previous versions of Slicer but don't seem to be having any luck with this updated version. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?

Dave R

What's the trouble? Be more specific. Do you get the flattened slices in the SketchUp model space after the plugin runs? Is it just the export to DXF that is causing the problem? Can you export other lines to DXF?

rod bender

I get the flattened slices ok, select one group to Export. Choose export from Slicer and get the dialog box asking
For which format, select, then nothing happens

Dave R

I just tried it on SU2013 with OSX10.8.5 and it worked just fine. What OS are you using? (Please complete your profile). In what location is the SKP file saved?

rod bender

I am running OS 10.7.5 and the SKP is in Applications folder.

Dave R

You saved the model in the Applications folder? Try saving it in the Documents folder instead and see what happens.

rod bender

Apologies, I saved the SKP on the desktop, but now have moved to the Document Folder. Alas no better luck with that. But thanks for your assistance.

Dave R

OK. So, are you still working on this tonight?

TIG

A new version is now available.
This should resolve some recently reported issues...
http://sketchucation.com/resources/pluginstore?pln=TIG_Slicer

TIG

DXF exporting...
Please get the latest version of the Toolset and retry...

Please remember that you need to preset the DXF export options in SketchUp as these are not scriptable and the current settings are used...

If you export with the Ruby Console open does it show errors ?

rod bender

That all seems to be working well. No error messages with the Ruby Console.
Excellent

Thanks

Dave R

So it's working now, Rod? I was going to suggest we try a DXF export last night through File>Export but I got sidetracked. If it works, now, that's excellent.

rod bender

Dave, thanks for your help. Everything seems to be working just fine now.
Cheers

TIG

There's a new version available - v5.22...
See its 'Documentation' tab - the main change is an additional option added to the dialogs - 'Centralization' - the default is 'Slice' - as before, the fixed-spacing slices are set-off from the object's center - giving an 'odd' number of slices [3, 5, 7 etc]: the new alternative is 'Gap', this shunts the initial slicing, so that then the gap between the slices is centered - giving an 'even' number of slices [4, 6, 8 etc]. It keeps the fixed-spacing entered.

This new option could be used instead of entering Spacing = 0 - which would have then called an additional dialog to get a fixed number of 'Spaces' [ignoring 'centralization'], and then rather than using a fixed-spacing it would have generated an adjusted-spacing to suit the number of 'spaces' specified [i.e. the 'gaps'] - thus allowing odd & even slice counts].

The two methods should provide flexibility of slicing formats to cover most of your needs...
http://sketchucation.com/plugin/781-tig_slicer

jkasten

Hello! I just installed Slicer v5.22 and I get the following error:

Error; #<TypeError; reference to deleted DrawingElement>
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1829;in `bounds'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1829;in `block in ref'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1813;in `each'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1813;in `ref'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1115;in `run'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;279;in `initialize'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;134;in `new'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;134;in `block in <module;TIG>'

I have tried running the plugin on various simple solid components or groups, and it fails every time.
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

TIG

You are on MAC.
If you have NOT downloaded and installed the ttf Font 'txt' then your MAC crash will out...
Whereas a PC will use a fall-back font...
Please get that Font from the link on the Plugin's Documentation, or its thread's first page.
UnZIP it and make sure it is installed in your Fonts...

Please read the Plugin's notes before trying to use it...

I might add a trap for it in an update, along the lines of: "MAC users MUST have txt.ttf installed !"

jkasten

Thanks TIG

I had actually downloaded the font, but it turns out that it was incorrectly installed.
Everything seems to work correctly now.
Cheers!

TIG

Here's v5.23 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_Slicer in the PluginStore...

If a MAC user has not downloaded and installed the txt.ttf Font... then instead of a crash, the Slices are now completed but without Refs and there is an error-dialog telling the User that the Font is probably not installed etc and how to get its ZIP archive from the Plugin's thread first-page or the link in the Documents page...
PC users also need this Font but if it missing Windows substitutes an alternative, so a crash is avoided...

There is also a behind the scenes tweak to try and overcome a rare v2013 OpenGl, fast-feedback graphics-card glitch - where on a first run of Slicer as the processing completes the slices' faces are not displayed [but they are properly made - SketchUp just does not display them], but they will appear if the SKP is reopened or the slice edited...
If this occurs it may be due to have OpenGL fast-feedback set 'on' in v2014

rv1974

TIG,
Could you (in one of the future updates) enable slicing from the bottom upward (so upper face of the entrance 'floor' will stay at z=0.00?
In this mode it'd be easy to create 'floors' from initial mass object.
Thank you.

alexandre sk

fantastic plugin TIG! really helpful thx

but sometimes it crashed. everything disappears until a crtl+z.

excellent anyway.