Pipe-along-path

Dave R

You didn't read TIG's last post? He gave you a way to change the default settings.

If you're always going to want a zero inside diameter and no C points, you could use Tube Along Path instead.

Box

Or Didier's Lines2Tubes which is available from the plugin store.
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=88592#p88592

cotty

@pipingguy said:

Then I accessed TIG via the the author pull-down menu in sketchucation's plugin store and did not see 'pipe-along-path' listed. (I was not provided with the option to scroll to a next page).

You have to change from "recent" to "full list" to see all the plugins from one author...

pipingguy

column lines - xlines - guides.skp
As to Dave R's question, "Why are you using guidelines as "permanent" features in your model? They weren't intended for that." In AutoCAD I create XLINEs and place them in a locked and faded layer and assign them a specific color. This now establishes a secure column line grid upon which the rest of the model is measured and coordinated from. I suppose I could create a grid using intersecting lines in sketchup, erase the resulting faces, and put them in a locked group. But they would blend into the remaining myriad of lines. At least with construction lines, they are dashed so they don't stand out to much, yet are quickly recognizable. (see attached SU partial model) Perhaps you can tell me of a popular plugin that generates dashed lines? BTW - what does 'place inline' mean in the reply editor regarding the attachment of a file?

pipingguy

Sorry. OK - I will look at the script with notepad. But I literally have not dealt with any kind of of computer code since an introductory course into Fortran or whatever it was back in the early seventies. something about flowcharts / if yes, then / if false then....blah blah. And then we put the code into an IBM punchcard machine. (junior high school) LOL!!!!

pipingguy

so after two hours purging malware/bloatware/spyware and every other ware that came along for the ride when I downloaded the fusion installer required to install notepad++, I think I will stay away from fiddling with codes and the like.

TIG

Notepad++ is a respectable product and if installed from their site it should not have other hidden baddies... http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v6.5.4.html
I'll be reissuing PipeAlongPath shortly [edited entirely in Notepad++ !]
I will be adding some optimistation tools...

pipingguy

yeah - that's where I got the infection from (http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v6.5.4.html)

Dave R

So I guess my suggestion of Tube Along Path didn't work for you?

TIG

I use the latest version of Notepad++ everyday.
I have never had problems with it.
All downloaded files are auto-virus-checked.
My whole system is regularly virus-checked/scanned.
Very rarely is anything found untoward - out of millions of files...

To double-check your assertion, I just re-downloaded the latest exe installer version [6.5.4].

I virus-scanned it...
Nothing was found.

I reinstalled it...
Nothing was found.

It works fine.

Strange...

What is this 'fusion installer' you speak of ?
The downloaded .exe received direct from Notepad++ is in its own installer - just run it as an admin...
Why did you think that you need another application to install it ?
You seem to be making the proverbial rod for your own back

pipingguy

I THINK I clicked the incorrect download button on the attached printscreen. And so, I probably did not look at the fineprint to opt out of certain choices in the fusion installer because I was in a hurry to try out the notepad++. I would like to re-trace those steps - but obviously I'm too spooked. So even though Norton allowed it,I ended up with trash like perk prize, security protect, password box, optimizer pro, movie mode, my pc backup, enhance tronic and conduit search. Full scans with Norton and Kaspersky fail to remove the last one which plants itself into the search box when I launch Firefox. And I'm sure there are other fragments of un-purgeable garbage I have yet to discover. But that's my problem. I would like to examine the properties of the installer, but I shift-deleted it. [attachment=0]notepad++ site.

notepad++ site.JPG

TIG

You should click on the download button for Notepad++... NOT the download button for one of its site's advertisers !
So you downloaded a quite unnecessary unconnected third-party application, which the Notepad++ author derives some income from through them advertising...
So that's where all of the guff came from...
Nothing to do with Notepad++...
All to do with you installing something else

Box

Correct me if I wrong Tig, but isn't it possible to make small edits to .rb files just using normal notepad. I've certainly done it in the past but now I'm second guessing myself.

TIG

It probably is OK for a simple edit.

BUT remember that Notepad makes its new files as ANSI, which then mess up v2014.
Whereas Notepad++ can reset any file's encoding to the required UTF8-without-BOM.

Plain Notepad can be used to edit a UTF-without-BOM file and then 'save' keeping the original encoding: even 'save_as' keeps that encoding too...
BUT any new files from Notepad are unlikely to work

Notepad++ is must better as it can display colored syntax and show line-numbers etc making it easy to say find line ~#567 and edit between "" ...

Box

Thanks, that makes sense as I have only ever had to edit something simple like number of segments or a yes to a no and then just saved.

mitcorb

@pipingguy:
Absolutely get rid of Conduit Search, unless, perhaps, you enjoy it.

TIG

An updated version [v1.9] of PipeAlongPath is now available http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=513484#p513484

pipingguy

Good work!! I love the fact that ver 1.9 retains the settings from the previous session!!
And I like the way I can install it directly through the sketchup extensions menu.
But I'm not crazy about the repeated warning that must be acknowledged with a key press.
Just stash that in the read me. And the skin produced is not smooth unless I open the group for editing and click the pipe.
Every click and every key press matters in the world of fast-track sketching.

smooth vs. unsmooth extrusion.JPG

TIG

The warning should only appear if you have a slight 'skew' on the path, with a change of angle, which might cause SketchUp to lockup.
Most of the time users will never see it !
BUT I have discovered a glitch in the frequency of this dialog and I will be issuing v2.0 later today to address the problem !

You seem to like adding 1" falls to your pipe-runs, which have been found to cause these issues, which you initially reported.
These 'skews' do not always cause problems: so you have the choice to 'Cancel' to Abort and then Save before repeating the PipeAlongPath and risking disaster, 'No' to carry on and risk it - probably safe enough if you have done similar diameter pipes with similar paths, or 'Yes' to 'fix it' - the slight slopes get 'flattened' as needed to avoid the problems...
If you want to stop the warning open the PipeAlongPath.rb file with Notepad or Notepad++, go to line #402, find the text:
if skewed
change it to read
if skewed*==911*
Note the double =
Save it.
Restart SketchUp...
Because skewed will never be 911 then the dialog never appears.
BUT of course then you are not warned of impending doom, and lock-ups could occur unexpectedly...
Your choice - your risk...

I do not get that 'unsmoothed' pipe "unless it's edited" effect in v8/v2013 - perhaps it a Graphics-Card issue your end ?
BUT I see that I do get it in v2014 IF there was the 'skewed?' -> No !
So I'm trying to see the differences and ensure it's as good as it gets in v2.0

CRASHWORTHY1

I promise I will try Tube-Along-Path as soon as I'm done evaluating version 9 of Pipe-Along-Path and get out of the hectic sketch I'm trying to complete these days. In fact, there are a lot of plugins I want to try that I've been missing out on for years. such as the dashed line generator.