[Plugin] Component/group tools

[brookefox]

The utility of this script is beyond me. I will keep my head down in hopes that someone will post some uses.

[mac1]

@brookefox said:

The utility of this script is beyond me. I will keep my head down in hopes that someone will post some uses.

Very simple at least for me. A post in the Sketchup help forum having problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.( An example is shown in the ref test file I included with my post.) has a file size of ~930KB. If one converts to components, then uses the browser "replace selected" capability that goes down to around ~70KB. A significant reduction in my mind. If one looks at the model info stats report the edges and faces don't change that much. It was my feeble attempt to understand the imapct of max use of components which is often stated but not quantified. BTW I will on occasion place a very simple component in my model(s), have even used a line ( not a good idea), then recognizing a components definition is invariant under move, scale and rotation one can latter replace with a complex model which gets added to the model at the scale, location and rotation of the simple model( need to pay attention to your component axis)

[brookefox]

Thanks for yor response. This use I get but for it I don't need this plugin:
@unknownuser said:

problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.
One can make components out of groups and instances of groups this with native SU.

It's the making of components out of lines that I don't get much of.

So for your 'simple' best use you would have a lot of lines in your models which are not parts of components, and making them components with this would reduce your file size. OK. I do have a lot of groups which are not components, but next to no lines which are not parts of groups or components. For me the crux is when and what groups to componetize, just because it take time, even if it saves file space. Certainly if I have many of said group or I want component behavior from a group it would be best componentized, I don't need a plugin to do that. Rereading the thread I see the use implied of maybe wanting to populate a model with lines, componetize them and then subsequently edit the component which would then be in place wherever the lines were. If I can do this now with two lines instead of one, that is sufficient for me.

[mac1]

@brookefox said:

Thanks for yor response. This use I get but for it I don't need this plugin:
@unknownuser said:

problems with file size had numerous groups with the same geo.
One can make components out of groups and instances of groups this with native SU.

It's the making of components out of lines that I don't get much of.

So for your 'simple' best use you would have a lot of lines in your models which are not parts of components, and making them components with this would reduce your file size. OK. I do have a lot of groups which are not components, but next to no lines which are not parts of groups or components. For me the crux is when and what groups to componetize, just because it take time, even if it saves file space. Certainly if I have many of said group or I want component behavior from a group it would be best componentized, I don't need a plugin to do that. Rereading the thread I see the use implied of maybe wanting to populate a model with lines, componetize them and then subsequently edit the component which would then be in place wherever the lines were. If I can do this now with two lines instead of one, that is sufficient for me.

Glad you are happy with what you have that is what is important. The plugin is just another wrench in the tool box.
You are correct SU has that native capability but what are you going to do if you have say a 100 groups and identical. The native tool will make a component out of all of them but the reduction of file size doing that will be nil.
My test case was not suppose to be a global analysis of a model having a mix of various entities and was meant to show what poor modeling practice can cost one. The model has 33 groups and nested in each of those is three groups( all identical) and some other simple entities a really a simple model. If you examine one of those and expolde the component the change in file size is nil so the the message is use components but having a bunch of nested groups in the components does not help much
Gday

[artmusicstudio]

hello,
i went thru all topics dealing with component naming,
but i cannot find a solution.

i would like to give a name to a created component by this code:

######## start code

model = Sketchup.active_model
entities = model.active_entities
rl1 = [0, y1, 0]
rl2 = [0, y2, z]
group = entities.add_group
entities2 = group.entities
new_line = entities2.add_line rl1, rl2
length = new_line.length

       centerpoint = rl1
                                  # Create a circle perpendicular to the normal or Z axis
       vector = rl2
       vector2 = vector.normalize!
   
       edges = entities2.add_circle centerpoint, vector2, $thradius
    
       kreis = entities2.add_face edges
       kreis.pushpull -(5/$faktor)/100
    
   $masterrailingtms = group.to_component      
   # HERE I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINE A NAME FOR THIS NEW COMPONENT, WHICH I CAN SEE IN IN SKP ENTITY-INORMATION-WINDOW. this name also hopefully appears in the copied instances of this component, but most important is the name for component [0]

######## end code

can somebody help me?
thanx
stan

[TIG]

Your
xxxx = group.to_component
refers to an component-instance NOT a component-definition: so to find the instance's definition use:
defn = xxx.definition
then rename it thus:
defn.name = "foo_fighter"
Be aware if there is already a 'foo_fighter' definition it'll become 'foo_fighter#1' etc

PS: don't use global $var variables which will potentially clash with others tools - wrap your code in your own module and use @var instead.

[artmusicstudio]

hi tig, thanx,
this work well, one step further for me, now i can identify the "children" of the masters exactly. that's perfect.
just to understand exactly:
a name of component instance defined by this method appears in the field "description"

a group named by group.name = "xxx" appears in the filed "name"

is there also a way to NAME a component or its instance besides a description?

thanx
stan

[TIG]

Both components and groups [and also images for that matter] that you see placed inside a model are instances of their 'definition'.

Every 'definition' has a unique definition.name - this can be reset provided it is unique - if 'xxx' is already used SketchUp auto-increments the name as 'xxx#1' etc.
For a component that is the 'Definition Name' displayed in Entity Info, the Component-Browser's top-most field, and in the Outliner as <defname>.
A component-instance can also have a instance.name this the 'Name' displayed in Entity Info, and in the Outliner as name<defname>. This need not be assigned and it does not need to be unique.
You can find defn = instance.definition etc.

A group also has a unique definition.name that is usually hidden from the user - something like ' Group#99'. You can change this through the API to another unique definition.name - but for what purpose?
There is also group.name - akin to the instance.name. This need not be assigned and it does not need to be unique. This is the 'Name' displayed in Entity Info and in the Outliner [if the Name=='' then the Outliner says 'Group']
You cannot directly find a group.definition in the API, BUT defn = group.entities.parent should return its definition.

The definition.description can be assigned and for a component appears this in the second-from-top field in the Component-Browser.
Although you can assign a definition.description to a group it is not seen anywhere by a user - it is only accessible through the API.

When you convert a group to a component the name of the component definition is taken as the group's definition.name [e.g. ' Group#666'] NOT the group.name.
What is returned by the group's conversion to a component is an instance NOT a definition, so to find the definition itself use the code given in the earlier reply. Then you can use defn.name='xxxx' as desired...

[plot-paris]

is there a Version that works with SketchUp 2016?

Bulk conversion of components to groups doesn't seem to be working (and is sorely needed when importing a 3ds-model, where every object is a component)

[Mooeee]

Is there any news as to whether this plugin will be updated to SketchUp 2017 as it looks a really useful plugin, or is there a similar plugin out there to use.

[sdmitch]

@plot-paris said:

Bulk conversion of components to groups doesn't seem to be working (and is sorely needed when importing a 3ds-model, where every object is a component)

Here is a code snippet you can try. Paste it into the Ruby Console and press Enter. It will convert all Component instances in the selection to a group.

@mod = Sketchup.active_model
@ent = @mod.active_entities
@sel = @mod.selection
@vue = @mod.active_view
cmps = @sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance)
cmps.each{|ci|
 grp = @ent.add_group(ci)
 grp.name = ci.definition.name
 ci.explode
}
@mod.definitions.purge_unused

[Box]

Hopefully Plot will enjoy your post even though it is 1 year later.

[sdmitch]

@box said:

Hopefully Plot will enjoy your post even though it is 1 year later.

DOH!!!

[faust07]

Thanks sdmitch, used your code snippet to convert components to groups for MSPhysics. The reason is that MSP does not accept components for coupling with joints. The conversion of about 200 components with subcomponents into groups would have taken a long time...