[Plugin][$] Tools On Surface - v2.6a - 01 Apr 24

Dave R · 31 Jan 2016, 15:53

Hi, may I just ask which version should I use. I have sketchup 2015 right now. THanks a lot

Use the version offered in the Plugin Store. It is also linked to in the first post of this thread. Pay attention to the details and make sure you also install the LibFredo files.

blackdogsketch · 18 Feb 2016, 22:09

Maybe I'm missing something, but for a tool that's supposed to stay On Surface, this seems to have a tendency to pop onto the z-axis constantly.
I sue this tool to trace jpegs of site maps, and trace contour lines, for example. the plane I'm working on is solid, with nothing underneath. The vast majority of the linework I want to create is non-orthogonal (the contours)...but the tool is constantly snapping to x or y axis...which is merely annoying... but all of a sudden it will pop way out on the z axis and I'll discover it maybe 6-12 segments after.

Is there any way to turn off orthogonal and produce ALL linework on a plane?
Also, it's sort of annoying that every time the line command is interrupted, the tool reverts to dashed line and I have to manually hit the icon for line to get it back to solid again.

It's still a useful tool, and maybe I'm missing some user parameters. All constructive crit...thanks for all your efforts for us!

Dave R · 18 Feb 2016, 22:23

You don't need Tools on Surface to trace site plans. This extension was intended for drawing on 3d surfaces which the native tools won't do easily. For tracing a JPG or a site plan, though, the native tools will work just fine. If you feel the need, set the camera to Parallel Projection and select the Top view to look down on the image. I frequently trace images and leave the camera in Perspective mode.

Dave R · 12 Mar 2016, 21:20

There must be a place where the edges you drew across the surface don't touch the curved surface. Can you share that part of your model , at least?

fredo6 · 12 Mar 2016, 21:43

For the start and end point, with the FreeHand tool, make sure you activate the inferencing so that they are on the border edges.

Fredo

jgb · 13 Mar 2016, 18:03

Here's how I transfer flat shapes onto a curved surface. I do this on my airplane designs to place a very strict outline onto a curved fairing surface. It is far more accurate to draw a curve on a flat face than try to draw that curve on a curve, Fredo Tools on Surface notwithstanding.

The following set of screen caps should explain it. Ask me if you need more info.

Hope that helps.

stulutions · 13 Mar 2016, 19:43

Fredo, How do I activate inferencing on the freehand tool? I only see it as a "without inferencing" option.

DAve R - How do i share that part of my model? It's far from top secret or elaborate, as I am a complete novice, so I'm not concerned with sharing the whole original file if that will help. But in the future that might be handy to know, how to share just a portion of the file?

jgb - I just saw your reply, so am literally just about to read through it.

THanks guys!

stulutions · 13 Mar 2016, 20:04

Hello,

I signed up just to get this plugin (which is my first!). Thank you.

Pretty novice user.

I have a contoured surface that I wish to break up into segments of freehand divisions so that I can colour them individually. I can do it on flat surfaces quite easily but have no idea how to do it on this curved surface.

Hopefully my sequence of attached images will make it clear what I am trying to accomplish.

Thanks for any assistance. It is appreciated!
s

![this is my "finished" wall](/uploads/imported_attachments/tpND_2.png "this is my "finished" wall")

![but when i go to select just the bottom or top "chunk" of what i would like to think is my new divisions, it selects the entire face so i can't colour them individually](/uploads/imported_attachments/8U1c_5.png "but when i go to select just the bottom or top "chunk" of what i would like to think is my new divisions, it selects the entire face so i can't colour them individually")

Dave R · 13 Mar 2016, 20:32

@stulutions said:

DAve R - How do i share that part of my model? It's far from top secret or elaborate, as I am a complete novice, so I'm not concerned with sharing the whole original file if that will help. But in the future that might be handy to know, how to share just a portion of the file?

To share just part of the file, you could select that part and copy it to the clipboard (Edit>Copy) and then open a fresh SketchUp session and use Edit>Paste or better, Edit>Paste in place. Then save that file.

Or maybe in this case you can just upload the whole thing.

stulutions · 13 Mar 2016, 20:37

jgb, i was able to accomplish that with your method, thanks!

its good enough for what i need really, but why are my lines all crude looking compared to the nice smooth ones that your example shows?

thanks again!

cotty · 13 Mar 2016, 20:40

You can disable the endpoints in the style settings.

Dave R · 13 Mar 2016, 20:43

@stulutions said:

but why are my lines all crude looking compared to the nice smooth ones that your example shows?

thanks again!

The style you have selected with the template has endpoints and extensions turned on. You can edit those out in the Edit tab of the Styles window.

stulutions · 13 Mar 2016, 20:46

you guys are awesome...thanks....

thats good for now, but im sure ill be back soon! haha

loving sketchup...got a 3d connexion and i borrowed/stole my wife's cintiq 13hd tablet, what an amazing combo of tools!

jgb · 14 Mar 2016, 18:30

The difference is that you have "Display endpoints" turned on, and mine are off.

Now the weird part.
I set my line styles by a toolbar addin that has several types of line styles to select from.
It is supposed to replicate the menu items standard in SU. In this case, VIEW - EDGE STYLES.

But my SU menu does NOT have "Display Endpoints" which is very surprising.

Mind you, I have been using SU for many years and with a lot of addons, to the extent that now I really don't know what many functions are native SU or part of an addon.

![Toolbar "Display Endpoints" not in SU menu](/uploads/imported_attachments/G1ze_Scrn-Cap474.jpg "Toolbar "Display Endpoints" not in SU menu")

Maybe someone else can explain this, but I cannot find "Display Endpoints" in any SU menu.

Dave R · 14 Mar 2016, 18:35

Endpoints and Extensions are controlled in the Styles window which you can get to via the Window menu or in the Default Tray in SU2016 for PC.

there are many more style setting options available in the Styles window than you can access through the View menu.

jgb · 14 Mar 2016, 18:54

Thank you Dave.

I looked quickly at Styles, but not at that level below.

AsiaStarArt · 9 Sept 2016, 02:05

谢谢！

Hannessy · 10 Oct 2016, 20:28

Hello,

I was excited finally to use this wonderful tool, but then this:

ToolsOnSurface 2.2a: Error starting up plugin (creating menus and icons)
undefined method declare_topmenu' for #<Traductor::Plugin:0x007fe1c8dcf6e8> [in bootstrap_OnSurface.rb: - #startup(): line 324]

/Users/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/Fredo6_!LibFredo6/Lib6Core.rb:959:in `rescue in block in effective_load_part2'

can someone help me? Thank you!

Greetz

Hannessy

TIG · 13 Oct 2016, 17:29

Did you install it from the latest downloaded RBZ using the Preferences > Extensions > Install Extensions... button ?

Did you also install the latest LibFredo ?

This Library is needed by almost all of Fredo's tools...

Install and restart SketchUp to see what happens...

TIG · 13 Oct 2016, 17:33

If you have copied older files over from another SketchUp version you might have some old files ?
I suggest you open your Plugins folder and manually delete any subfolders and loader RB files that clearly relate to Fredo's tools/lib and reinstall them all.

Fredo will probably chip in when he reads this...