[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

Gaieus

...Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?...

I simply rename the rb extension to rbb (but anything will do just do not use rbs) and it does not load. When I occasionally need it, rename it again. I do this with all my rarely used plugins even just because they clutter my Plugins menu list.

thomthom

@chris fullmer said:

@Thom - that is a very wise idea. The componnent spray thing is the #1 headahce with this script. Maybe I'll find some time tonight to update it. I might just make iut not use progressbar if the user has any version of component spray installed.

Yes - you could revert to just simple % in the statusbar.

So - are you saying the latest still has this problem?

thomthom

Is progressbar bundled with Component Spray?
How is it distributed?

Your plugin use it? But it works unless a faulty version of CompSpray is installed? Installed after your plugin - or does that not matter?

Chris Fullmer

What happened is that Didier put the progressbar code into his script and added some new functions to it. But he did not protect his new version from overwriting any versions that a user might have installed (not correctly wrapped in its own new class I think). So if you component spray installed, it interferes with progressbar and ANY script that runs progressbar will fail.

August

@huckrorick said:

... Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?

Also, I'm wondering if having lots of plugins installed slows sketchup? (I have quite a few and some I use infrequently). ...

Chris has set up Shape Bender to use the Window > Preferences > Extensions checkbox list. I presume that Component Spray does not.

If you have ever done any programming at all, of any kind, it's not too hard to follow how the Extensions are set up. It's a little obscure because there's an extra layer in all the Google Extensions to set the language file. But you "could" set up Component Spray to have the same kind of checkbox setup. Changing the file name is definitely easier.

FWIW,
August

huckrorick

Where would I find the updated version?
And, looking at the other posts, is it worth doing now? (I'm happy to give it a try, but couldn't find how to download the latest version).

Huck

@thomthom said:

@huckrorick said:

Since I like to use component spray occassionally, is there a solution to using both?

Download the updated version of Component Spray.

habisys

Its Really an amazing tool...!!
Can you please let us know the procedure of uploading this in Sketchup..!!Since there is no exe file. We have tried to copy and paste in plugin folder but it says..unable to load.

Please help

Thanks
Ash

pilou

You must unzipp (uncompress) it before put it in the Plugins folder!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_%28file_format%29

In general Right click on the file / Extract to a name of folder

pilou

Seems latest version of component Spray is here

keithver

Hi
Shape bender looks like the answer to a prayer. I've downloaded a "file.php". perhaps I'm being stupid. What do I do now
Keith

pilou

That is verious because when you unzip the file of the first post "clf_shape_bender_v055.zip" you must obtain one folder and one file rb
Past all in the Plugins folder

PS Don't forgott the progress bar.rb file from Smustard if you have not yet! : direct link

TIG

@keithver said:

Hi
Shape bender looks like the answer to a prayer. I've downloaded a "file.php". perhaps I'm being stupid. What do I do now
Keith

That's the 'link' file - not the zip file you need!
If you click on the link for the zip file your browser should ask you what you want to do with it - I'd save it to the Desktop.
Then extract the files from the zip [don't drop-drop etc] - then as Pilou says, there should be a '.rb' file and a folder [which contains some other files]... put the .rb file and that folder into your SUp ../Plugins/ folder and restart SUP...

huckrorick

@unknownuser said:

Seems latest version of component Spray is here

Thanks. Tried it. This version has no conflict with shape bender.

Huck

Chris Fullmer

AWESOME!!! A HUGE thanks to Didier for looking into it again and posting the updated version. I will make sure to point everyone to the new version now. Thanks for looking into it,

Chris

TIG

It's the same with almost anything you are 'practiced at'.
Professional tennis players don't think about making that winning shot - they just 'do it'.
You click this, that and the other and something happens on your PC - you can't remember what you just did...
You drive to the shops and later when you think about it you can't remember doing it !
Years ago I lived in a suburb, accessed of a junction on an urban motorway. I moved away for over four years, then came back, but I bought a house in the next suburb off the M'way...
One day returning from work along the M'way, and deep in thought about the day, I found myself at my old front-door, having turned off one junction too soon and on auto-pilot I just 'drove home' - it happed to be the wrong home when I got outside - years later the hard-wired auto-response was still there !!!

We are great at switching on to 'automatic pilot'...

August

@tig said:

@keithver said:

... I've downloaded a "file.php". ... What do I do now?

That's the 'link' file - not the zip file you need! ...

Every once in a while I get hit with the reality of how many layers and layers and layers of this stuff are all nested together and we who use it every day jump between levels without thinking.

Applying the same thought to cars -- there was a time when it took two people to most easily start a car, one with a strong arm to crank the engine at the front, hoping to not break their arm if the engine kicks back, and one to operate the manual choke to cut back on the air as soon as the engine catches. Fast forward to today and automatic starters, automatic chokes, automatic transmissions, automatic seat adjustments and power mirrors. Now pick up a manual for a gasoline powered lawn mower and read the line, "The choke on the mower operates just like the choke on an automobile." And then pause to wonder who wrote that and how many of their readers ever drove an automobile with a manual choke. Did that line help or confuse?

This is just my long-way-around-the-barn way of saying to Keith, don't worry, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Just ask. You did. Somebody answered. If the answer is not complete enough, ask again.

This is all ad-hoc conversation, no formal manuals, no marketing departments writing Getting Started guides. Just folks sharing something they love doing. And generally happy to help newbies find their way around.

To push the automobile metaphor, Plugins are like after-market kits. Yeah, they just pop into place, mostly, but it helps to have a clue how to use a wrench, or a buddy who can give advice, and it definitely helps to have an overview of how a car goes together so you have a clue what's what when you're shopping. Sometimes there's two of these add-on kits that you have trouble with because they both want to use the same mounting hole and you or the creators need to make some modifications so that both kits can be used at the same time.

For instance, Chris, a certified expert who also tries to stay on top of this forum, did not know that Didier, another expert, had posted a new version of his "kit" nearly two months ago, that fixed that "mounting bolt" conflict between their two kits that has had so many people upset. But it's fixed and folks know now, and word is going to get around, as long as people keep talking.

Sometimes the "kit" installation notes are less than perfect, sometimes you have to supply your own bolts and washers. But they are a lot of fun and allow you to do things you never could if you had to do it all from scratch.

For what it's worth, I hope it helps, (FWIW, IHIH)
August

rtgoogler

You are probably tired of hearing this question...but I can't get Shape Bender to work on my Mac. Once I select the object to bend, run the script, then I can't select the line. I have redrawn it a couple of times to make sure my line is along the red axis. Help!!! Thanks,

shapebendertest.skp

pilou

Explode all many time for have no groups, no component
then group
that's works

TIG

Follow this

rtgoogler

Thanks Pilou and TIG. TIG...followed your instructions step by step. Still doesn't work for me. I am unable to select the line or the path. This tool would be perfect for a design idea I am working on, but I can't get it to work. In Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 7/Sketchup/Plugins I placed these:

progressbar.rb
clf_shape_bender_loader.rb
clf_shape_bender.rb

Am I missing something? Anything I need to do in Sketchup to activate these scripts?
Thanks in advance.