[Plugin] Dimension management tools

slbaumgartner · 30 Dec 2013, 13:27

Very useful plugin, would be perfect if the tool "Dimensions to Layer", creating a new layer, write on the "Name for the New Layer" window a default name, for example "DIM-TEXT", so, if I wont I can change it, but I don't have to write it every time.
Please, can you take me the rb file text modification to obtain this?

Thank you very much anyway for the plugin.

You are welcome!

To make the change you describe, you need to modify line 147 of the Ruby to be


      new_layer_name_arr = UI.inputbox ["Name for New Layer"], ["DIM-TEXT"]

That is, add the part ',["DIM-TEXT"]' to the end of the existing line. That makes "DIM_TEXT" the default value for the input.

Steve

rombout · 13 Jul 2015, 01:12

It doesnt seem to work properly if you use dimensions within groups and components. I selects only the dimension in the 'main' model. What workflow should i use to make dimensions inside groups and components

slbaumgartner · 13 Jul 2015, 01:17

As written, the plugin does not search for dimensions inside groups or components.

The main justification is that when a dimension is nested inside a group or component it, like other nested geometry, should be left on layer0. Putting nested entities onto other layers can lead to confusing conflicts between the visibility of the layer of the nested entity and the visibility of the layer of the container. So, my plugin isn't really suited or necessary in a workflow that nests dimensions inside groups or components. Make the group or component's layer not visible, and its contents will disappear with it.

But, in addition, it is not necessary to nest dimensions inside a group or component to make them work. SketchUp dimensions will associate with entities inside a group or component without themselves being in that group or component. Used that way, my plugin lets you put all the dimensions of a particular scene onto their own layer, which is hidden on all except that scene. You can make the dimensions of multiple entities not visible without having to put all those entities onto the same layer themselves.

All that aside, if there is enough demand to support a different workflow I would consider reworking the plugin.

JClements · 16 Jul 2015, 15:18

Sometimes, workflow could involve modeling different parts as separate models then inserting them or copying-and-pasting them into a new file. In this situation if the separate models have dimensions then the dimensions would become nested. I would think this not to be an uncommon practice, particularly when more than one person is contributing geometry to a project.

I think a checkbox option to act on all nested dimensions inside a component or group or, if not in a nested element, the entire model would be a good thing.

slbaumgartner · 16 Jul 2015, 15:23

John,

I see your point. Let me ponder a while how best to deal with it!

Thanks
Steve

slbaumgartner · 16 Jul 2015, 18:13

Some followup questions about the desired functionality:

Since the dimensions are nested inside a component as a side-effect of importing the submodel, should they be exported back to the model context as well as placed on a layer? Couldn't you just explode the new component since it wasn't really that way in the submodel (or was it)? I'm worrying about the classic confusion over nested contents on layers other than layer0.

JClements · 16 Jul 2015, 18:51

My first impulse is to manage the dimensions just via layer manager that way if you export the component or cut and paste, the layer goes with it.

Placing the dimension outside of their context could result in all sort of unwanted issues.

slbaumgartner · 16 Jul 2015, 20:38

Please give the attached a try and see if (a) it does what you need, and (b) there are bugs.

Thanks
Steve

dimension_utilities.rbz

chrisik · 11 Aug 2015, 11:07

Thank you very much for this plugin, I use it very often.
Is it possible to set the current scene name automatically as the default layer name when you create a new layser? Which modifications to the rb file have to be made?

chrisik · 11 Aug 2015, 18:16

Sorry but i can't install the plugin. After i select "install extension..." in the system preferences menu and select the plugin, a window pops up: "Unable to install this Extension. Sketchup was unable to install the Extension you have chosen for some unknown reason. Consult your Extension's documentation for additional help." ?

TIG · 11 Aug 2015, 18:28

@chrisik said:

Sorry but i can't install the plugin. After i select "install extension..." in the system preferences menu and select the plugin, a window pops up: "Unable to install this Extension. Sketchup was unable to install the Extension you have chosen for some unknown reason. Consult your Extension's documentation for additional help." ?
Which version of the RBZ are you trying to install ?
The one one post ago ??
Or another ???

For me that RBZ downloads fine, and installs, and it works...

slbaumgartner · 11 Aug 2015, 18:30

I may have botched the zip! Will look into it and get back shortly. Sorry about that...

slbaumgartner · 11 Aug 2015, 18:34

Not sure what I did wrong before, but this new one works on my system:

dimension_utilities.rbz

slbaumgartner · 11 Aug 2015, 18:37

Give the following a try and let me know if there are problems. This version combines the nested logic requested previously with this change to the default new layer naming. To avoid confusion, it appends " dims" to the name of the current scene. If there are no scenes or the current scene is not named, it will revert to the previous default of "DIM_TEXT".

One issue I know about is that the UI.inputbox may truncate the strings it displays - they are correct but the dialog doesn't expand to show them. This is a known bug in inputbox that I can't fix except with a rewrite to use a different input technique.

[edit] The rbz I uploaded earlier was somehow damaged. Please use the one in my later post.

chrisik · 11 Aug 2015, 18:59

ok. it works. While installing the windows "Unable to install this Extension..." still pops up but the plugin works anyway. Many thanks for your changes.

tinttable · 3 Oct 2015, 10:40

I have downloaded your plugin for handling dimensions and it works beautifully. Its Exactly what I needed. Thank you very, very much!

tdoolittle · 7 Jan 2016, 00:27

How do I remove this extension from Sketchup2016?

TIG · 7 Jan 2016, 15:01

@tdoolittle said:

How do I remove this extension from Sketchup2016?
Since it's a simple Plugin [rather than an Extension which would also have its own subfolder], you can simply find its RB file ' dimension_utilities.rb' and delete it.
Look in your Plugins folder...
This one-liner copy+pasted into the Ruby Console +<enter> will open your Plugins folder for you [it is in a folder-path that is hidden by default]:
UI.openURL("file:///#{Sketchup.find_support_file('Plugins')}")
Alternatively if you have the SketchUcation Toolset installed you can use its Plugins-Manager dialog to Disable any listed plugin-file that is being Loaded/Enabled - when SketchUp restarts it won't load, but you could always reinstate it if you so desired, OR in the same toolset - use its submenu item to 'Uninstall' that plugin in which case, thereafter it won't load or even appear in any of its Manager dialogs, but it could still be Reinstalled later, if desired - by using the same dialog...