[Req] Similar groups to Components
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it always annoys me when i create a bunch of stuff then figure out i didnt convert one of the duplicated items into a component so u go about replacing those similar groups with a component... also i often have needed to convert selected component instances into groups is there a way to make a selection and convert component instances to similar groups?
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I've just gotten in the habit of making only components. I almost never make groups and can't see why one would make a group instead of a component.
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it adds to file size if u only work in components unless u purge regularly, for instance if you create a component of a bunch of things then later you delete it because you dont need it anymore that component still exists in that model (in your component window) even though its not in ur model space. but if it was a group the whole thing would be deleted, u wouldnt have to purge ur drawing every time i delete a unique component...
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I know that components remain as part of the file unless purged. That's not a downside compared to the upside of making components in the first place. I use TIG's PurgeAll plugin to take care of that. A simple keystroke purges all unused components, layers, materials and styles. Besides, multiple copies of groups increase file size, too.
You could make one of your groups into a component and then use ApplyTo to make the other copies of the group into instances of that component.
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thats exactly what i want, excuse my ignorance but where is that
sketchup has that purge all built in... model info>statistics
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ok i found it on smustard but i dont think im using it right, made some groups then make one component then right click, component definition... and nothing happens when i click either option
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free agent is right - you can't replace a group with a component automatically (the "replace selected" context command in the component window works solely on comps).
concerning the use of groups instead of components: at first, it may be useful to have a group, when you create a basic shape and copy it several times, knowing, that you will do individual changes to each copy.
especially for temporary grouping components don't make sense at all. by creating a group instead you save a little time (you don't have to hit enter to confirm the component name and you don't have to purge afterwards).
but most important for me is, at the moment the lack of organization options for the component window makes it difficult enough already to find components. if all the groups I create in a model would be added to that list, the comp window was utterly useless!but it would indeed be nice, if groups could adopt some of the component behavior. the option to replace several groups with one component for example.
so basically a group could be an unnamed component, that automatically creates a unique copy when changed (so that if I copied a group around a hundred times and later on want it to be a component, I right click it and choose "convert to component". all altered copies will stay a group...) -
i never name components when making components i first make a group and i have a short key for "make component" saves me the hasle of aiming at ok in the naming components window that pops up.
and yes that would be perfect to select a few of those similar groups and right for convert to components, it seems seems like this option should already exist otherwise whats the point of the entity info window telling me there are so many of those groups similar to the one i have selected
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FreeAgent, the ApplyTo plugin only works on components. You'll have to make all of the groups into components first. Then select the component whose definition you and right click. Get the definition. Then select the components you want to have the same definition, right click and apply the definition. Of course you avoid the need to make all those groups into components by making components on the front end.
Plot-paris: my apologoies if I gave the impressionthat you could replace groups with components. Of course that's not the case and not what I was trying to inisinuate.
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thanks, Dave. I was already afraid, you wanted to take away my beloved groups
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Dave
i would still need to go to each group and convert to group individually, however this would be quicker than placing that component on top of each of those groups, but its still time consuming, was really requesting a script that converted all similar groups into components, and while we're at it i'll throw in a slect all similar groups function
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Well, maybe one of the Ruby geniuses (is that the plural of genius?) will come up with one. Still, you could avoid all that by making components from the "git go".
Separate them with Make unique if needed and purge the unused stuff before saving. -
I'll look into modifying ApplyTo to include replacing multiple groups with a component.
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Awsome thanx Rick!!! and just to push my luck: did u do any "digging on Texture Corector"???
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@unknownuser said:
Awsome thanx Rick!!! and just to push my luck: did u do any "digging on Texture Corector"???
Sorry, not a lot (though I can report that I found one more thing that didn't work) - busy at work with big project, and at home with another big project (10-month-old baby)
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haha thanx Rick i understand i have a similar 2 year old project at home
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the applyto command sounds interesting, but if you have several similar groups that you have just turned into components and need to replace them with the 'good' component, you don't need another tool... when you have the other "bad" components selected, just right-click the 'good' component thumbnail in the components>in model dialog , and choose 'replace'... no need to place them by hand one at a time... they orient correctly this way too... in my experience.
@unknownuser said:
I almost never make groups and can't see why one would make a group instead of a component.
I use groups to group things like 'hi poly furniture' and drop the entire group on a layer to shut off that stuff quickly. I would never make a component of that group!
I use this technique all the time to group phases of a project, put the phases on layers, and control display of phases for clients using Scenes and layer visibility... I wouldn't make components of those phases either... your model size would skyrocket. -
@fletch said:
the applyto command sounds interesting, but if you have several similar groups that you have just turned into components and need to replace them with the 'good' component, you don't need another tool... when you have the other "bad" components selected, just right-click the 'good' component thumbnail in the components>in model dialog , and choose 'replace'.
That's true, but if things are on-screen already, IMO it's easier to have ApplyTo installed rather than try to find the component in the browser (which can be quite a challenge if you have a lot of components and several similar ones at that.
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how to replace the components is irrelevant really because u need to turn those similar groups into components first
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Hi all
What we need ideally is something similar to TIG's explode to groups, which works like a dream. So you'd make one group. Run the script explode to components. All that was within the main group would be converted to a component that then could be instantly replaced.
I suppose the whole point of a specific component is that its uniform..
and doing it this way things more than likely wont start like that.just a thought..
it would be very handy, could be used for instancing trees etc..
many thanks
Matt
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