[New scripter] Will need help on my project (now and then)

Dan Rathbun

This raises a new question:
If my project exists out of multiple scripts, with one main script that requires the other scripts. If I reload the main script, does it also reload the other scripts?

You are asking basic Ruby questions that are covered in most Ruby books.

You need to learn Ruby, before you can use an API that extends Ruby (like the SketchUp API.)

At the very least read the files (except the "rake" files,) at the top of this page:
http://ruby-doc.org/core-2.0.0/index.html

You will save yourself hours of frustration if you read this book:
[doc] Programming Ruby (The "Pick-Axe" Book)

The answer is that your main loader file (in your plugin sub-folder,) uses require statements to load the other files that make up your extension.
http://ruby-doc.org/core-2.0.0/Kernel.html#method-i-require

Ruts

@unknownuser said:

You need to learn Ruby, before you can use an API that extends Ruby (like the SketchUp API.)

I'm aware that my knowledge is very little and I'm sorry that I don't take the time to properly learn ruby. But on the other hand, I have a deathline to keep in mind. With what I've been able to code right now it seems I can finish the code which I need to move on to the next part of my thesis.

When I have completed the other parts of the thesis I can come back to the programming part to expand it with new functions and adjust it so it looks like the code of an experienced programmer. But for now I want to move on as fast as possible. If I had no deathline I'd love to spend time learning ruby, I've been enjoying it so far.

If you think I don't deserve an answer because I didn't take the time to learn ruby properly, then just ignore me.

PS: Thank you for the links to the learning material, I will look in to it when I have time.

slbaumgartner

@ruts said:

If you think I don't deserve an answer because I didn't take the time to learn ruby properly, then just ignore me.

Please forgive all of us. It's not a matter of deserving. It can just be very frustrating answering questions that boil down to "do it for me" because the writer doesn't know even basic Ruby. It is hard to explain a question about the SketchUp Ruby API when the question comes down to "I don't know what that expression means". Sometimes the frustration leaks out...

Ruts

In my calculations I have to do a matrix multiplication. Instead of doing this calculation of every element I want to use the base ruby class Matrix which is made for such operations. I found out that it's not just adding require 'matrix' to your code.

I did copy the matrix.rb and e2mmap.rb (which is required by matrix.rb) from the ruby2.2.2 folder to the plugin folder from SketchUp where also my main script is located. Next thing I did is add this line require File.join(File.dirname(FILE), 'matrix.rb') to my main script and this line require File.join(File.dirname(FILE), 'e2mmap.rb') in matrix.rb. I believe this is the right way to require 'matrix'.

The thing is, when I load my main script in SketchUp I get a bunch of error messages and my script still won't do any matrix calculations. Here's the list of errors:

Error Loading File matrix.rb
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; odd number list for Hash
  SELECTORS = {all; true, diagonal; true, off_dia...
                   ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '}'
  SELECTORS = {all; true, diagonal; true, off_dia...
                   ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
  SELECTORS = {all; true, diagonal; true, off_diagonal;...
                         ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
...ECTORS = {all; true, diagonal; true, off_diagonal; true, low...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
... = {all; true, diagonal; true, off_diagonal; true, lower; tr...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
... diagonal; true, off_diagonal; true, lower; true, strict_low...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
...nal; true, off_diagonal; true, lower; true, strict_lower; tr...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
...ue, off_diagonal; true, lower; true, strict_lower; true, str...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
...f_diagonal; true, lower; true, strict_lower; true, strict_up...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
...ue, lower; true, strict_lower; true, strict_upper; true, upp...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
...wer; true, strict_lower; true, strict_upper; true, upper; tr...
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
...ict_lower; true, strict_upper; true, upper; true}.freeze
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; Can't assign to true
...wer; true, strict_upper; true, upper; true}.freeze
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;573; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
...ue, strict_upper; true, upper; true}.freeze
                              ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;717; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting ')'
  def laplace_expansion(row; nil, column; nil)
                            ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;717; Can't assign to nil
  def laplace_expansion(row; nil, column; nil)
                                 ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;717; syntax error, unexpected ';', expecting '='
  def laplace_expansion(row; nil, column; nil)
                                         ^
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;1535; module definition in method body
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;1561; module definition in method body
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;1603; class definition in method body
C;/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/matrix.rb;1673; syntax error, unexpected kEND, expecting $end

I think I already have a solution for my problem. I'm only going to use the multiplication class method. So I can maybe delete all the rest from matrix.rb, so the lines where the errors occur are gone. I can also code the calculation of a 3x3 matrix * 3x1 matrix by myself. But I just want to know why I can use the Matrix class in powershell and not in SketchUp. I'm think it has someting to do with my older version of SketchUp (8)?

slbaumgartner

@ruts said:

But I just want to know why I can use the Matrix class in powershell and not in SketchUp. I'm think it has someting to do with my older version of SketchUp (8)?

That is highly likely, as the Ruby interpreter is complaining about incorrect syntax in the matrix.rb file. SketchUp 8 uses an obsolete version of Ruby (1.8) and does not include the standard Ruby libraries. Depending on where you copied the matrix.rb file from, that could lead to incompatibilities. This begs the question: why not upgrade to the latest SketchUp Make 2015, which uses Ruby 2.0 and includes standard libraries such as matrix?

Ruts

When I create shapes in Sketchup and start rotating and moving them my code is perfectly able to calculate the new position of the shape. The calulations are made by using the dimensions of the original bounding box and the transformation matrix.

Everything goes fine, until I start scaling the shape. In order to understand what goes wrong when I scale an object I did some scaling on easy shapes. The matching transformation matrices with the shapes gave results that did not make any sense for me. Here's one of the tests I did:

First I did create a box with begin coordinates (0,0,0) and width(X)/length(Y)/height(Z) (20,20,20). Next I scaled the box with value 2 in negative x-direction. This gave me a box with begin coordinates (-20,0,0) and W/L/H (40,20,20). This is the matching transformation matrix

[2.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, -20, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]

The matrix makes perfect sense for this example.

For my next example I did create a box with begin coordinates (40,40,40) and W/L/H (20,20,20). Once again I scaled the shape with value 2 in negative x-direction. This gives a box with begin coordinates (20,40,40) and W/L/H (40,20,20). This is the matching transformation matrix

[2.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, -60, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]

I can't find any reasonable explanation for the -60. I think it would be -20 as the other box.

Can someone explain me how this is possible?

Ruts

@slbaumgartner said:

This begs the question: why not upgrade to the latest SketchUp Make 2015, which uses Ruby 2.0 and includes standard libraries such as matrix?

I use the software provided by the company I work for. I can ask if they don't have any keys for a more recent version, but I doubt it.

sdmitch

You are scaling from the ORIGIN in both cases?

Ruts

@sdmitch said:

You are scaling from the ORIGIN in both cases?

My excuses if it's a common thing to know, but I don't know exactly what you mean by 'scaling from the origin'.

I did create both boxes which are created as groups. Next I scaled them 'Red Scale about Opposite Point' with the Scale tool in negative x-direction (scaling factor 2).

TIG

There are several potential arguments to a scaling transformation.
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/transformation#scaling
If you simply give the 'scale-factor[s]' it assumes the ORIGIN.
The first argument is taken as a point if 2 or 4 arguments are passed.
t = Geom::Transformation.scaling(scale) t = Geom::Transformation.scaling(xscale, yscale, zscale) t = Geom::Transformation.scaling(point, scale) t = Geom::Transformation.scaling(point, xscale, yscale, zscale)

Ruts

How do I avoid rounding when using the Point3d.[] or Point3d.x/y/z methods?

Here's an example where I experience the problem. I have 3 Point3d's that are part of a line:

edge_start = (-29,389263mm, 0mm, -40,45085mm)* edge_end = (-40,45085mm, 0mm, -29,389263mm) * intersection = (-40,458747mm, 0mm, -29,381365mm)

I want to run a piece of code if the intersection is on the edge. I have an if-statement that should work, but it fails when two points are close by because of the rounding of the Point3d.[] and Point3d.x/y/z methods.

edge_end.x should be greater then intersection.x, but it rounds edge_end.x to ~-40.5mm and also intersection.x to ~-40.5mm. This makes the variables equal to eachother.

How do I compare the x values of a Point3d without losing the precision?

jolran

Sketchup uses an internal precision of 0.001 or so. So any time you create a Point3d object values gets rounded to that.

So Ive seen some workarounds:

An idea is to use arrays instead of Point3d objects and do the bulk calculation in Ruby or C/C++.

Should you need Point3d objects for display, create them lastly before adding entities to the model. You can still get the x values from Point3D by pt[0] for ex. So no need to rewrite arguments.

Obviously you can't use Sketchup API methods that need Point3d objects during the calculations then, but it sounds like you are using your own intersection algorithm(?).

If not then an alternative is to scale up the whole piece you are working with. And when done scale down to original size.

Ruts

@unknownuser said:

It sounds like you are using your own intersection algorithm(?)

The intersection of the lines is calculated with the Geom.intersect_line_line method. Next I use my own calculations to see if the edges on these lines also intersect.

The problem is solved by using arrays, thanks for your help.

Dan Rathbun

@ruts said:

In my calculations ... I want to use the base ruby class Matrix which is made for such operations. I found out that it's not just adding require 'matrix' to your code.

Because SketchUp was not distributed with the Ruby Standard Library until version 2014.

@ruts said:

I did copy the matrix.rb and e2mmap.rb (which is required by matrix.rb) from the ruby2.2.2 folder ...

This will not work, as you need to use the library compiled and distributed with the Ruby version that SketchUp uses. The constants RUBY_VERSION and RUBY_PATCHLEVEL typed at the console tell you what SketchUp embedded Ruby is.

@ruts said:

... I believe this is the right way to require 'matrix'.

Nope (when the standard library is properly installed,) just a simple require 'matrix' will do (because it will load it's own dependencies as it is evaluated.)

@ruts said:

I think I already have a solution for my problem.

NO you don't, because you "don't have time to read the book," all this basic Ruby 101 knowledge is escaping you.

So just go to my GitHub repo and get the Standard Ruby 1.8.6-p287 Library packaged for SketchUp 2013 and earlier on Windows ONLY.
https://github.com/DanRathbun/sketchup-ruby186-stdlib-extension/releases/tag/2

With SketchUp closed:
(1) Put the RBZ archive someplace where you can navigate easily to it.
(2) Delete any manually copied library files (such as those you mentioned copying above.)
(3) Then start SketchUp 8 and use the manual "Install Extension ..." button from
Window > Preferences > Extensions
(3a) Navigate to where you saved the RBZ archive, and select it, click OK.

(4) Open the console and test that the paths are correctly set in $LOAD_PATH (aka $:) by typing:
puts $: and ENTER
You should see a listing similar to:
puts $:%(green)[C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Plugins C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Tools C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Plugins/Ruby186/lib/ruby/1.8 C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Plugins/Ruby186/lib/ruby/1.8/i386-mswin32 C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Plugins/Ruby186/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8 C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 8/Plugins/Ruby186/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8/i386-msvcrt]nil

The actual program files path might also look like:
%(green)[C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/...]

(5) Then further test the loading of "matrix.rb" via:
require "matrix"
You should see true returned.