[Plugin] SectionCutFace

JQL · 9 Aug 2016, 15:38

If I have done a lot of work on a SectionCutFace (like healing SCF that doesn't fill walls due to model complexity or, most commonly, a SCF where I've drawn 2D details and area groups on) I simply draw a rectangle on the area that has changed, erase every line inside and intersect it with model.

It's a very fast way to remake a section cut face and you don't loose the work you've done.

However, I'd greatly appreciate if sectioncutfaces were Components instead of Groups as I could export them directly or even, if Tig would develop an incremental SCF component (Section#1, Section#2, Section#3 from the same section plane), I could restore an older section from the component browser.

danx82 · 22 Sept 2016, 08:07

It works with Mac?

TIG · 22 Sept 2016, 15:20

@danx82 said:

It works with Mac?
Yes.
But read up on how to use it...
It only appears in the context-menu if one Section Cut Plane is selected.
There are no menu or toolbar entries.
It works on both OSs, and with Pro or Make too...

Note: Most extensions / plugins work on both PC and MAC.
The author will usual state quite clearly if they do not work on a particular OS.
Also many will work with both Pro and Make - although some need Pro functions like 'solid-tools', but then this is clearly stated in the usage notes.

sirtet · 5 Nov 2016, 20:39

Today, my model started to crash (bug splat) when i try to redo a section cut, or add a new one...
In a blank file, it still works.
But in two copies of my model, it crashes...
could there be some remains of an old section cut, that i deleted by hand?
Any idea how to investigate/get rid of this crashing?

TIG · 7 Nov 2016, 12:29

Without seeing the model this must be guesswork...

A few ideas...

Have you run Model Info > Statistics > Fix problems [and Purge unused] ?

Do you get any error messages in the Ruby Console before the crash ?

If you use the Outliner can you see if the named SCF group is still hanging around.
e.g.
Have you hidden it ?
Have you moved it to an off layer ?
Was it locked ?
Have you somehow moved it inside another group or component ?

If you delete the Section-Plane and then immediately recreate it in the same place, then any associated SCF will no longer be linked, and you can then make a brand new SCF - this workaround might avoid the crash - whatever the cause...

sirtet · 8 Nov 2016, 21:57

Thanks TIG.
So, my model had stopped crashing for a while, but now it does it again...
I'm on SU2017 now, and the only difference is, that the crash does not bring up a bugsplat window, but just closes SU.

@unknownuser said:

Have you run Model Info > Statistics > Fix problems [and Purge unused] ?

No, Model info had no errors reported.

@unknownuser said:

Do you get any error messages in the Ruby Console before the crash ?

No, I opened the console first, then my skp, then redo SCF, >> CRASH

@unknownuser said:

If you use the Outliner can you see if the named SCF group is still hanging around.

Yes

@unknownuser said:

Have you hidden it ?

No

@unknownuser said:

Have you moved it to an off layer ?

No

@unknownuser said:

Was it locked ?

No

@unknownuser said:

Have you somehow moved it inside another group or component ?

Hmm, the whole house was newly grouped as a whole, sometime before each level (where the SCF is in) was a top-level group.

@unknownuser said:

If you delete the Section-Plane and then immediately recreate it in the same place, then any associated SCF will no longer be linked, and you can then make a brand new SCF - this workaround might avoid the crash - whatever the cause...

No, still crashing...

Here's the skp (7MB):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/twhe7pvrl7hdora/Kirchweg-55_Ideen.skp?dl=0

TIG · 8 Nov 2016, 23:15

I have your SKP BUT it's relatively useless.
What are you trying to do ?
Where is the problem ?

If I select the SectionPlane in the last Scene-Tab I can Add OR ReMake it.
Although I see it is not 'named' ?

Can you explain your steps to the crash.
I have no issues...

sirtet · 9 Nov 2016, 12:25

TIG, sorry, very dumb of me.
Thanks a lot for your patience and quick replies!
And for all your tools anyways.

The Section cut in that last scene works for me too.

What crashes:
I open the sketch.
Hatch EG is the open tab.
(See the EG Tab, the hatch is out of date.)
Turn on section planes
Click the section plane in Group EG
Redo Section Cut face
Immediate crash

TIG · 9 Nov 2016, 13:47

I assume you mean this one ?
It remade the SCF with no issues...

The Section Plane with its overlaps etc was somewhat difficult to select before I could use the right-click context-menu, but using a select > fence did it...
Later I also realized the remade SCF was named "EG wallCut" in the Outliner - doh!
But it only appears after it's remade - was it previously deleted manually ?
I can also Add a new SCF and give it any name I choose...

I switched of other containers so you can see the result more clearly...

sirtet · 10 Nov 2016, 00:30

Yes, this is the one.
Well, it crashes for me:

Also all the other hatches (Scenes Hatch UG|OG|DG) crash too, Same as the purple hatch in Scene Hatch EG. In that Scene, the hatches of the chimney do work to update.
Any idea how i could remove these offending (or all) hatches in a way, so there's no remake- contex menu entry anymore? I think something is messed up somehow.

Your questions about it being moved/renamed/manually deleted:
What would be illegal operations, that could create the crashing?
I think i did quite some renaming and stuff with the section cuts until i understood them more or less, but i think they were more or less in the state they are now, when they still worked.

PS:
I don't find it hard to select the section cut...

vico44 · 10 Nov 2016, 08:13

I've done a Plugin with the core of section Cut Face withe some of new things:

A Layer organisation : Section is only done in few layer and keep the layer organisation
All face done with section Cut face'll go to the correct layer
A Automatic view creation : it create multiple view with specific layer and Style
The first view is for heavy line (Structure of Building)
The second is for middle line (2nd Oeuvre of Building)
The third view is for fine line (Object, doors, etc...) large scale
The fourth view is for fine line (Object, doors, etc...) small scale
The fifth view is for Hatch (with the layer color)

I've done some Scrapbook for layout to bring this view in a simple way...

The plugin : Vico-Section.rb
A Skp example with the layer organisation Orga.skp

You can access to the plugin with the right click on a Sketchup section (Plan is for top view / coupe is for section...)
You can update all the section with "Mise à jour des sections" in the extension menu...

Some exemple of drawing in layout : http://www.vico.lautre.net/portfolio/plan-sur-sketchup/

I've planed to do it more customized, but i need more time for that, and it 'll not be done soon

TIG · 10 Nov 2016, 11:30

You don't appear to get a BugSplat dialog ?

Can you check that your Graphics Card Drivers are up to date...
I cannot replicate the problem at all, so I am starting to suspect it's your system configuration.

The various permutations for manual deletion etc should not cause issues... they don't for me...

sirtet · 10 Nov 2016, 22:48

@tig said:

You don't appear to get a BugSplat dialog ?

No... Plain crash...

@unknownuser said:

Can you check that your Graphics Card Drivers are up to date...

Well... That's a sore point.
I have a Dell Precision 7510 with 4K Int. Display + Ext. 1920x1200 and 2560x1440, driven by Intel HDGraphics 530 plus Quadro M2000M...
The Windows device manager just updated the Quadro drivers, so from Window's view i'm up to date.

I DO have graphics problems, but around Displays (mostly the 4K) after boot/wakeup being black, but windows can be moved to that screen...
The dell site offers me a confusing amount of drivers, Talking to Dell hotline eats endless time...
I need to fix that sometime, but for now i need to work on work and not the PC.
But if i get input on a good approach to sanitize the system, i'm in, for sure.

@unknownuser said:

I cannot replicate the problem at all, so I am starting to suspect it's your system configuration.

Did you try EXACTLY as in the video?
I now found out, that the crash is not happening if i redo not in the Scene Hatch EG, but in the scene "Haus" (switching from Hatch EG to Haus).
But there's a few things why i think it's not (only?) the system config:
The fact that deleting a section still leaves the Redo section cut Option in the context menu (even after saving, closing, reopening the file), tells me that some remains are left after deleting the section. Also, it will come up again with the same custom name as before, if i redo a section that does not crash.
Where's that info coming from?

@unknownuser said:

The various permutations for manual deletion etc should not cause issues... they don't for me...

But, why does the context-menu entry for remake persist, if the cut is seemingly completely deleted?

TIG · 11 Nov 2016, 12:15

I can't replicate the issue...

The SCF's settings are remembered with the Section Plane, as attributes.
When you select a Section Plane the context-menu shows appropriate options.
A Section Plane that has never had a SCF gets 'Add...' - and using that takes your entered settings and then it makes the SCF based on those - if you choose to allow it to be 'Re-made', it then links it to the Section Plane, and adds the settings to the Section Plane as attributes,
If the Section Plane has a SCF or it once had one that perhaps you deleted, and it is set to be Remake-able, you get the 'Re-Make...' option as well.
If you choose that, then a replacement SCF is created using the previously used settings [read from the attributes], any preexisting linked SCF is delete, and a new linked SCF is added.
If you choose 'Add...' then the settings dialog pops up with the last used SCF settings - any preexisting linked 'Re-make-able' SCF is delete, and a new one is added.

bmike · 30 Nov 2016, 17:50

Getting crashes in 2017 Mac with the latest update. Might copy back in my older version and see if I get the same behavior. It didn't crash yesterday at all.

bmike · 30 Nov 2016, 17:53

Working just fine, same model in 2016.
Will see if I have the latest SU2017 installed.

bmike · 30 Nov 2016, 18:09

Nothing to report, sporadic crashes in 2017 Mac with certain models, solid in 2015 and 2016 with same model.

ifresia · 9 Dec 2016, 19:59

Hi TIG,

Great plugin, but I have a question. I'm trying to couple sectioncutface with the keyframe animation plugin, essentially to animate a section cut in perspective through a building model, except by animating the building to move through the section plane, keeping the plane and camera in the same spot. Is it possible to have sectioncutface update real-time as the animation is played?

Isaac

bmike · 13 Jan 2017, 19:48

TIG -

When I create a scene with the SCF plugin the layer I have added the section to is now on in the current scene as well as the new scene... is this a bug or a feature? I would expect that the current scene would not be affected by anything happening when I choose 'New Scene'

I'm also getting bug splats every couple of times I run the plugin. I have sent off the bug slats, not sure where I can access them to show you what is going on.

Last bugs plat submitted was Crash Report #7925

bmike · 13 Jan 2017, 20:01

Video of layer activating on existing scene: