[Concept]PDF Viewer

Rich O Brien

I typically have to read from PDFs and I hate swapping between SU and PDF Viewer so I have this little tool.

It basically loads a javascript based PDF viewer that allows you to load any PDF into the dialog.

The dialog stays on top of the workspace but you are free to continue to use SU.

I find it useful...

A few thumbs or comments and I'll presume you'd like to see it on the PluginStore.

Aerilius

Cool! Can you tell more about the difference/advantage whether the window border and window chrome belongs to SketchUp or another application?
It's still a window and if I didn't want it to occlude SketchUp I would put it side-by-side, no matter whether its SU-owned or another program. Or is it about a pdf viewer with minimal UI?

And a question that could be of interest: How is the workflow, does it read local pdfs or does it need uploading?

Rich O Brien

It is a SketchUp Web Dialog. Nothing groundbreaking I'm afraid.

It is just a PDF viewer using PDF.js by Mozilla

http://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/

It allows local file loading from your computer. No uploading.

I was hunting for something regards making a better local component browser that allowed local file access with thumbnails etc...

I stumbled on this and hacked it a bit for my own use. Forgot I had it to be honest.

Box

Is it something that could perhaps work with Inteloide's Comment Plugin, so you could store the PDF's with the .skp?

Rich O Brien

I have no idea as I have not used that plugin yet.

But anything is possible.

Box

Just adding a concept to you concept, and if we both keep one foot on either side of the world we could end up with an immaculate conception.

Rich O Brien

Let's not butt heads

JQL

And what about linking stuff in model to pdf files and then opening those pdfs with your pdf viewer?

This would be useful to get info on special parts of projects that need that extra description.

Faces, groups, components...

Maybe a tag would appear on that component with a link to the pdf. Turn off the pdf tags layer and you hide them, turn on and you see them.

I'm thinking of furniture catalogs, equipment specification, window details, construction documents exported from layout or autocad plotted pdfs, pdfs with rendered images, or reference images from other projects, assembly schemes, you name it!

I bet you could also do a nice toolbar with a tag tool and, a tags on and off icon (like for google maps) and the pdf viewer toggle tool.

Am I asking too much?

It's just because it looks damn nice Rich!

João

Sorry for such complicated suggestion it's just that I think it would be great...

Rich O Brien

Yes. Yes you are.

But asking is good.

Dan Rathbun

I and others just used UI.openpanel("*.pdf")
and opened a valid return path in the WebDialog.
Most users already have AdobeReader installed, so it opens within the WebDialog (unless perhaps the user has the AR properties set to always open outside the browser?)

So what would we gain ?
The file open UI handling via Js FileSystemObject, instead of SketchUp's Ruby ?

glro

@dan rathbun said:

I and others just used UI.openpanel("*.pdf")
and opened a valid return path in the WebDialog.
Most users already have AdobeReader installed, so it opens within the WebDialog (unless perhaps the user has the AR properties set to always open outside the browser?)

So what would we gain ?
The file open UI handling via Js FileSystemObject, instead of SketchUp's Ruby ?

if the pdf could be embedded into the skp file, the gain wold be big: a model could contain a textual description, for example

Jim

@dan rathbun said:

So what would we gain ?

Cross-platform maybe. There are many "always on top" programs for Windows - is there for Mac also?

Dan Rathbun

@glro said:

... a model could contain a textual description, for example

We can already do that. Every model has a "description" attribute that can be entered via the File tab of the Model Info dialog.

It is what is listed in the templates picklist.

glro

@dan rathbun said:

@glro said:

... a model could contain a textual description, for example

We can already do that. Every model has a "description" attribute that can be entered via the File tab of the Model Info dialog.

It is what is listed in the templates picklist.

yes
i never noticed that feature
might be useful

but very few informations

what i meant is adding a calculation note to a scaffolding model, for example; this is typically what i do all the time

instead of sending 2 documents, i would send one, te SU model, and the calculation note would be embedded

JClements

Rich, nice going!

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I do like the idea of having links associated with objects in a model which could open any file related to that object (a map, manufacturer's spec, emails, etc.) by any viewer or app already installed on the user's PC. It would be useful in organizing information when reviewing a project with collaborators or when making presentations. The SU file and associated documents could all be stored in a common folder in dropbox, Google drive, etc.

Box

John, Inteloide's Comments plugin will pretty much do what you want.
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=56899