Component manager

[jukkoo]

is there maybe a plugin for managing component?
for example if I make a component unique and therefore different from the original, is it possible to make the inverse process?
thanx for the help

[Alan Fraser]

You can already do what you ask by using the Component browser. For instance, if you go to Shapes and import the Buckyball, then make a copy of it, then make the copy unique, you can reverse the process quite easily.
Select the copy ...Buckyball#1...then right-click the original version...Buckyball...on the In Model tab of the browser and choose Replace Selected from the context menu. Done

There are far more component/group management functions that you can perform using the Outliner, which was developed specifically for that purpose.

[Jean-Franco]

Hi, yes you can do this using a Ruby script named "ApplyTo.rb" which will copy the definition of a component to another component. When installed you just right clic on the component and chose to copy the definition then go to the other component and apply the definition to it.
Hope to be clear enough

[Jean-Franco]

Thanks Alan, I was not aware of these posssibilities using the Outliner.

[jukkoo]

found it, it'called applyTo.rb, thanks Jean-Franco
http://www.smustard.com/script/ApplyTo
however, it not exactly what I had in mind, event hough it will help.
Here is what I need it for exactly:
I'm working on a model of a whole little town. importing the geometry from a cad file... importing all blocks which sketchup imports like component. i'm importing piece by piece in order to keep my model as clean as possible, so I can hide some of the parts if i need to. Now, for example, lets take trees, sketchup recognises the block tree and it's all good, but when I import another piece of the cad file with the same tree block sketchup does not link this component with the first one... It's not only trees, obviously, the same thing happens with all my blocks; people, cars, trash cans, etc... That's why it would be useful to have a component manager that could instantaneously change all 300 trees#1, 400 trees#2, 200 trees#3, etc, into one unique block "tree" with a single definition, so I can modify it later if I need to...
I hope I've made myself clear
thanks for the help

[jukkoo]

ok, all this talk for nothing
figured it out with the outliner, thank u Alan

[Alan Fraser]

'Twas ever thus, from the day it was introduced...overlooked and unappreciated. The Outliner ought to have a more prominent position in the GUI. I'm sure many people are unaware of its true potential...or even the fact that it exists at all.

[plot-paris]

now you made me really curious!

I use the outliner of course to keep an overview over large models. I am aware of the possibility to group/explode or make component within the outliner. I also know, that you can select a number of entities and hide or lock them.

but are there some other tricks I do not know yet. now I am eager to find out more (to grasp the true potential of that little inconspicuous window)