[Plugin] 1001bit Tools - Architectural tools for SketchUp

utiler

you bet!!! It's just a shame there are no toolbars......

remus

Seems there are a few weird one in their, though: linear_array.rb and divide.rb for instance. From the sounds of it they just imitate the SU linear array and divide functions.

thomthom

Very interesting.

Burkhard

But the stairs are really great, in combinition with the profile builder

kwistenbiebel

I am wondering.....How much of those rubies are actually new ones?
Are they free rubies wrapped together and sold as a package? If so, do the original ruby authors know about it?

pilou

That is the question!

gohch

hi Everyone,

Allow me to introduce myself; I'm the author of 1001bit tools. Rest assured, i wrote all the scripts from scratch; and they are original. I can understand that some of the scripts may look similar to something that others have written before; after all, for example a "linear_array" function exists in most CAD program and no program is complete without one. What i'd like to say (in defense of my hours^2 of hardwork), is that if you try out my linear_array, you'll notice important differences in approach;

Option 1 - setting out of entities equally divided in middle or with entities placed at both ends;
this is fundamental approach in setting out for architectural works, like balusters, columns etc.
Option 2 - fixed distance setting out from middle, start point... etc, again is aimed specifically for architectural setting out of balusters, rowed seating, floor joists... and floor tiles setting out in interior works (although i doubt anyone would actually create a 3d tile and array it)
Option 3 - even distribution with max distance - this is specifically meant for balusters, where in some countries, there is a maximum gap control between balusters for safety reasons.

I have put a lot of experience in CAD and architectural practice into this to make it an efficient tool specially meant for architectural works; which i believe no body else have attempted.

Another feature that made this different from others is that most of the tools works with grouped entities from outside the group. (I'm not sure whether other tools have done this before.)

I really appreciate everyone's interest and looking forward to see more feedback on my works.
Thanks & regards

GohCH

haynesc

hi there i have downloaded the trial can you show me where all the files need to be located ...

as i have the 1001bit tools menu in plugins folder but none of the functions do anything

thomthom

@unknownuser said:

Option 1 - setting out of entities equally divided in middle or with entities placed at both ends;
this is fundamental approach in setting out for architectural works, like balusters, columns etc.

Option 2 - fixed distance setting out from middle, start point... etc, again is aimed specifically for architectural setting out of balusters, rowed seating, floor joists... and floor tiles setting out in interior works (although i doubt anyone would actually create a 3d tile and array it)

Still sounds to me that is is the same as what you can do in SketchUp by doing a MoveCopy and then enter *5 or /5 in the VCB. Or is there some extra settings/configurations? If so they'd benefit from a better description.

@unknownuser said:

Option 3 - even distribution with max distance - this is specifically meant for balusters, where in some countries, there is a maximum gap control between balusters for safety reasons.

This one seems to have an edge over the SU's default MoveCopy.

Nice collection of tools though. Signed up for the betas.

notareal

Interesting tool set. Planning to create a toolbar for it?

gohch

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

Option 1 - setting out of entities equally divided in middle or with entities placed at both ends;
this is fundamental approach in setting out for architectural works, like balusters, columns etc.

Option 2 - fixed distance setting out from middle, start point... etc, again is aimed specifically for architectural setting out of balusters, rowed seating, floor joists... and floor tiles setting out in interior works (although i doubt anyone would actually create a 3d tile and array it)

Still sounds to me that is is the same as what you can do in SketchUp by doing a MoveCopy and then enter *5 or /5 in the VCB. Or is there some extra settings/configurations? If so they'd benefit from a better description.

@unknownuser said:

Option 3 - even distribution with max distance - this is specifically meant for balusters, where in some countries, there is a maximum gap control between balusters for safety reasons.

This one seems to have an edge over the SU's default MoveCopy.

Nice collection of tools though. Signed up for the betas.

Thanks Thomas,
Sketchup by itself is already very powerful for most purposes. For some tools, like the edit vertex (which could also be done with SU's Move function) i'm just making it easier and some (like the array tools) are made to facilitate work flow that is closer to an architect's work flow; and those staircase tools are filling in missing gaps.

Cheers

gohch

@notareal said:

Interesting tool set. Planning to create a toolbar for it?

hi notareal,
Haven't really thought about toolbar, probably due to my habbit of closing all toolbars to maximize drawing space when i work....
i'm planning to put in some additional tools soon. After that i'll look into it.
Thanks & regards

notareal

It's just a work flow issue. Personally I do like as clean UI as possible, but if some tools are used frequently I prefer to have them available instantly tough a toolbar.

thomthom

@notareal said:

It's just a work flow issue. Personally I do like as clean UI as possible, but if some tools are used frequently I prefer to have them available instantly tough a toolbar.

Heh, that's opposite of me. I hide all frequent toolbar and only leave the ones I use less.

pilou

@unknownuser said:

Rest assured, i wrote all the scripts from scratch; and they are original.

Ok that is clear now!

thomthom

@takesh h said:

isn't it easier if we can just put "1001bit_tools.rbs" and "1001bit" folder in "Plugin" folder as we do with every other ruby scripts?

I also was puzzled by this unusual install process. I don't really like making new folders in the C root.

gohch

@haynesc said:

hi there i have downloaded the trial can you show me where all the files need to be located ...

as i have the 1001bit tools menu in plugins folder but none of the functions do anything

hi haynesc,
The default location for the files is in c:\1001bit
Then copy the file '1001bit_tools.rbs' from c:\1001bit folder into Sketchup's plugins folder.
Start Sketchup.
Cheers

takesh h

Hi Goh, first of all congratulations on this clever toolset and thanks for your hard work.

Few questions and suggestions from me.

where should the folder "1001bit" be placed in case of Macintosh? There is no on Macs.
isn't it easier if we can just put "1001bit_tools.rbs" and "1001bit" folder in "Plugin" folder as we do with every other ruby scripts?
1001bit has very comprehensive UI, yet it's unbelievable that the toolset doesn't have toolbars. It takes too much time to get to "create door" command following the tree structure. SU's personal shortcut is not very capable either.

gohch

My apologies for the messy and probably not very clever setup and folder locations.
Guess i was lazy and thought that by fixing the folder on "c:\1001bit" folder, it would be simpler to manage.
Thanks for all the feedbacks. I agree, the idea of creating folders in c:\ is really quite "stone age"
and "Thousands apologies (anyone old enough to remember where this phrase comes from? )" for the Mac users, i really haven't tested this on Mac before.
Appreciate if anyone could offer some help on this.
Note: creating a text file 1001bit_path.rb with the following text
$GH1001bit_path="C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/1001bit"
and place it in Sketchup's plugins folder should reassign the path of the scripts to whatever location.

Again, my apologies, didn't really expect this to catch much attention this fast; I was taking my sweet time in my slow and easy phase testing and debugging and i believe there's much room to improve still. Really appreciate all the feedbacks and assistance.
Thanks

gohch

hi Mac users,
Tried out the following setup with Takesh and seems to be working for his Mac now, although seems to have problem with the staircase scripts. I'll continue to hunt the bug; meanwhile, setting up for Mac OSX please follow the steps below:

Step 1
Place the folder in the following location:
/Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/Sketchup/plugins/1001bit

Step 2
Move the file 1001bit_tools.rbs from the 1001bit folder to the plugins folder
/Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/SketchUp/plugins/1001bit_tools.rbs

Step 3
Create a simple text file 1001bit_path.rb in the plugins folder
/Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/SketchUp/plugins/1001bit_path.rb

Step 4
paste the following text into the 1001bit_path.rb file
$GH1001bit_path="/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 6/SketchUp/plugins/1001bit"
or
$GH1001bit_path="/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/SketchUp/plugins/1001bit"

Thanks Takesh-san