Engineering Toolbox Stopped Working **SOLUTION**

Dave R · 13 Apr 2015, 16:57

No matter what you have selected as your default browser, SketchUp and any plugins using web dialogs only uses IE. There should be no need to uninstall/reinstall SU because a plugin stops working.

When the plugin does stop working, open the Ruby Console (Window menu) and try activating the plugin. Do you get any messages in the console? If so, copy and paste them here.

driven · 13 Apr 2015, 17:12

make surejavascriptin enabled for IE...
test if 3D warehouse is working from inside SU, to see ifjavascript works...

javascript has nothing to do with Java [it's a different language]...

I can't find any mention of Java being needed in the code or at the site, why do you think it's used?

john

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 17:51

@driven said:

make surejavascriptin enabled for IE...
test if 3D warehouse is working from inside SU, to see ifjavascript works...

javascript has nothing to do with Java [it's a different language]...

I can't find any mention of Java being needed in the code or at the site, why do you think it's used?

john

Yes, you are correct javascript, not java.
3d warehouse models load fine.
I wasn't aware that java and javascript are unrelated, I get my exercise jumping to conclusions.
The "insert" is a javascript function. A right click and properties shows the script.

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 17:58

@dave r said:

No matter what you have selected as your default browser, SketchUp and any plugins using web dialogs only uses IE. There should be no need to uninstall/reinstall SU because a plugin stops working.

When the plugin does stop working, open the Ruby Console (Window menu) and try activating the plugin. Do you get any messages in the console? If so, copy and paste them here.

The plugin doesn't technically STOP working it just doesn't do a function that it should. I browse all the way to my desired object that I want to insert and when I click on "Insert" nothing Inserts.

I am not Ruby savy so I am not sure what to do with the empty consol.

But I have done another experiment and I find it bizzare but maybe this will help....

I install SU2014 Pro.
I install the Engineering Toolbox Plugin
I can insert items from the plugin no problem.
I go back into my SU2015 and save my job in a SU2014 format.
I open my job in SU2014.
The plugin refuses to work.
I close SU and restart the program to just a blank template.
The plugin doesn't work.
now no matter what I do it will no longer work in SU2014 which was fine until I loaded my SU job.

It's like my simple little job file does something to SU that kills its ability to work with the plugin.

Unit 1 pump room.skp

Dave R · 13 Apr 2015, 18:01

But do you get any messages in the Ruby Console when you try to run the operation with the plugin and it doesn't work?

Why are you switching back and forth between SU2015 and SU2014?

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 18:07

@dave r said:

But do you get any messages in the console when you try to run the operation with the plugin and it doesn't work?

Why are you switching back and forth between SU2015 and SU2014?

I only switched to SU2014, as an experiment, to see if it (the plugin) would work in 2014. Which it did. Until I loaded that model. Now it will no longer work in 2014. Even when I start SU to a blank default template

No I do not get any messages in the Ruby Window when I run the plugin. or at any time while the plugin is being asked to Insert an object but doesn't.

I am sorry if I am missing something basic. I have been using this for a long time and now something has gone haywire.

Thank you for your time. I REALLY appreciate it.

TIG · 13 Apr 2015, 18:48

Find the RB file in the Plugins folder which loads this tool...
I'm not sure what it's called, because this Plugin is NOT hosted on the SCF PluginStore...
Then use this in the Ruby Console:
load "name_of_that_file.rb"
Any error messages ?

driven · 13 Apr 2015, 18:52

ok...

removed the pg_Marker_Field that was a fair distance from origin, and then I could 'insert' a 6"" tube against a flange...

seems to be the drawing, although I get lots of js errors from the plugin looking for advertisements...

they may be contributing...
john

TIG · 13 Apr 2015, 18:55

@driven said:

ok...

removed the pg_Marker_Field that was a fair distance from origin, and then I could 'insert' a 6"" tube against a flange...

seems to be the drawing, although I get lots of js errors from the plugin looking for advertisements...

they may be contributing...
john
Yer wot ?

driven · 13 Apr 2015, 19:05

@tig said:

Yer wot ?
:?

sorry, I loaded his model, and ran the plugin and it would notinsert the selected item at my preselected location...
I tried some basic objects with 'Outliner' open, and found them 'inserted' at a position ocupied by a locked maker, after deleting that, I could insert the item in my chosen position...

having said that, I get 60 > 80 js errors

Blocked a frame with origin "http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net" from accessing a frame with origin "http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com". Protocols, domains, and ports must match.

for every item I navigate to...

john

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 19:30

@tig said:

Find the RB file in the Plugins folder which loads this tool...
I'm not sure what it's called, because this Plugin is NOT hosted on the SCF PluginStore...
Then use this in the Ruby Console:
load "name_of_that_file.rb"
Any error messages ?

No error message. Just returned True

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 19:36

@driven said:

@tig said:

Yer wot ?

sorry, I loaded his model, and ran the plugin and it would notinsert the selected item at my preselected location...
I tried some basic objects with 'Outliner' open, and found them 'inserted' at a position ocupied by a locked maker, after deleting that, I could insert the item in my chosen position...

having said that, I get 60 > 80 js errors

Blocked a frame with origin "http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net" from accessing a frame with origin "http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com". Protocols, domains, and ports must match.

for every item I navigate to...

john

The locked marker is created by the point gadget plugin which imports points via CSV. That plugin is made by Chris Dizon from Trimble. The marker is at the original Origin of 0,0,0 which is the default location for inserted objects using the Engineering toolbox plugin.

If you have an object selected the tool box plugin normally inserts at that location and orienatation.

The axes you see in that model was moved to match the straight line that was generated by the shots from the Trimble Total Station I use at work.

I got the plugin from http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/ I've been using it for nearly two years.

Thanks!

Blastfurnace · 13 Apr 2015, 19:42

Yes it is something in the drawing causing the issue but why after it causes the issue does the plugin refuse to work in ANY SU drawing? no amount of shutting down or opening blank drawings will make it work after it fails in that drawing.
And Ruby sits there quiet as can be.

gotta be something blocking the javascript command from getting out. I dunno. Maybe I'm crazy.

driven · 13 Apr 2015, 20:01

if you pull the dialog wider to expose the right colum it has an item...

@unknownuser said:

Occasionally Problems in Windows
Due to the way Internet Explorer (used by Sketchup in the Web Dialoges) handles its cache there may be occasionally scripting problems in Windows.
Just reload the window - use F5 - to refresh the cache.

have you tried that?
john

driven · 13 Apr 2015, 20:23

another option is to try and find where it's failing...

the copyright on the script allows us to modify it, so we can add some detection...

# Copyright 2008, Engineering ToolBox

# This software is provided as a part of the Engineering Toolbox Google Sketchup
# application.

# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for
# any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
# copyright notice appear in all copies.

# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
# IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
# WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

require 'sketchup.rb'

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
module EngineeringtoolboxToolsDialog
  def EngineeringtoolboxToolsDialog.create_dialog
    dlg = UI;;WebDialog.new("Engineering ToolBox", true, "", 1000, 800, 150, 150, true);
    dlg.allow_actions_from_host "engineeringtoolbox.com"
    dlg.set_url "http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/"
    dlg.show

    dlg.add_action_callback("insert") {|d,p|
    p p  # this is all I'm adding... open 'Ruby Panel' then EngToolbox...
	  eval(p)
    }
  end
end



if( not file_loaded?("engineeringtoolbox.rb") )
    add_separator_to_menu("Plugins")
    UI.menu("Plugin").add_item("Engineering ToolBox") { EngineeringtoolboxToolsDialog.create_dialog }

end

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
file_loaded("engineeringtoolbox.rb")

either add the line or swap in the ruby file replace existing one with this...

then open 'Ruby Console' before testing, and the insert commands should be listed...

john

Blastfurnace · 14 Apr 2015, 12:11

Thanks for your effort sir. You have gone above and beyond.
I have removed SU2014 its installation was an experiment.
I have removed the plugin and installed it with your modifications.
I open Ruby Console and then try the plug in.
Ruby Console shows nothing and plug in still refuses to "Insert"

I have meetings all morning. So I am going to let the IT guys continue at it from the aspect of javascript command being blocked..

Very Frustrated but thanks again for everything.

M

driven · 29 Apr 2015, 12:24

Mark, did you get this sorted out?
others are having similar issues and a known solution would be handy...
john

Blastfurnace · 30 Apr 2015, 17:41

When I try to "insert" and it refuses to insert I hit F5 right then, and then click "insert" again and it seems to work. It was weird. It seemed like it would do OK until I tried to insert a flange from the site. After a Flange was attempted it would quit working. At least that is how it seemed to me.

My advice would be try the F5 then click "Insert" again.

Aerilius · 3 May 2015, 10:29

Although it appears to be a problem with odd browser behavior (caching, reload?), potential issues in the Ruby code are undetectable and therefore undebuggable because a SketchUp action_callback does not throw errors.
Therefore the execution of Ruby code should be wrapped in something like:


begin
  # execution of ruby code
rescue Exception => e
  puts e.message
  puts e.backtrace
end

Also it adds every elementary operation to the undo stack. When clicking once "insert!", it would be more user friendly to only add one command to the undo stack. This can be achieved by wrapping everything in an operation (either on client side in the action_callback, or in the executed Ruby code):


begin
  model.start_operation("operation name")
  # execution of ruby code
  model.commit_operation
rescue Exception => e
  model.abort_operation
  puts e.message
  puts e.backtrace
end

One can also catch potential JavaScript errors in the webdialog and make them visible/debuggable in the Ruby Console.

Edit: Debuggable version attached. It seems to be a JavaScript error caused by the Prototype library or the usage of it.
[pre:2zs9no9b]Object required [http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/static/lib/scripts/prototype_1_6_0_2.js:3517](http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/static/lib/scripts/prototype_1_6_0_2.js:3517): in JavaScript function[/pre:2zs9no9b]

engineeringtoolbox.rb

Aerilius · 6 May 2015, 14:35

This error is related to the use of the Prototype library's Form.Element.Methods.getValue (= $F) which takes an element id string and returns the element's value (under the condition the element exists). The engineering toolbox generates element id strings from parameters (correctly to my view), but the corresponding elements seem not to exist. To find out more, one would need a stack trace and check the element ids at runtime.