[Plugin] extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb

jeff hammond

make the surface first using TIG's ruby.. the resulting surface will be a group.. using , move the surface an easy to remember amount above the drawer (say 30")...

now, back on the drawer, make your router cut.. when the rabbet is finished, move the surface back down 30" (or whatever amt. you moved it up.) select all the surfaces then right click and go to 'intersect'->intersect with model..

clean up the leftovers..

[edit] also, you should download this ruby:
http://www.smustard.com/script/Weld

it's called weld and what it does is allow you to join all the rail's individual segments into a single line.. select all the segments you want to join, run weld, then you'll be able to click anywhere on that line and the whole thing will be selected..

jeff hammond

[fwiw, you probably should've started a separate thread for this so the actual plugin thread doesn't get cluttered/off-topic but since we're already here....]

a trick i use sometimes that may work better for you than the method i described above is using the followme tool..

push/pull wont carve into that cupped surface but you can force it to.

make the surface first (and explode the group)
draw a line the amount you want the rabbet to go in.
select the line, choose the tool, then click on the rabbet profile.
you'll need to do some clean up, make faces, and intersect but it does work out pretty quick..
here's an example video using a dished surface.

[flash=640,385:3atsbkfp]http://www.youtube.com/v/uL9FU9_gcjI&hl=en_US&fs=1&[/flash:3atsbkfp]

pilou

It's always a delight to see your animations!

MarkEMark

WOW Jeff! Thanks!

I will do what you suggest. Thanks so much.

I am rather new to this board, and didn't realize this should have been a separate topic, so thanks for the heads up. Next time I'll know. I was thinking all things related to the 'Rails' plug in would be in the same thread, but I see your point and will post accordingly next time.

Again, many thanks. Oh, and that video is worth a thousand words!

Mark

pilou

@unknownuser said:

Oh, and that video is worth a thousand words!

Always the case!

tamfore

is there any links to text files or pdf that gives a description or instructions on how to use this plugin?

Thanks
Tamfore

thomthom

@tamfore said:

is there any links to text files or pdf that gives a description or instructions on how to use this plugin?

Thanks
Tamfore

Select two Curves and apply Extrude By Edges.

To convert a set of edges to a Curve - use Weld: http://www.smustard.com/script/Weld

TIG

They don't need to be 'curves' - they must be two pre-selected groups that each contain some edges [which of course might be curves BUT they can be unconnected edges too - this is unlike it's brother 'EEbyRails' which needs curves to be selected once the tool is activated]...
There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

daemawang69

just wonderful

tamfore

thank you!!! I will go look at those detail instructions!!!

tamfore

@tig said:

There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

I could not find what you are referring to when speaking of Detailed instructions at the start of these scripts and open in NotePad.exe Confused with that... I am alittle new to plugins and do not understand that?

TIG

@tamfore said:

@tig said:

There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

I could not find what you are referring to when speaking of Detailed instructions at the start of these scripts and open in NotePad.exe Confused with that... I am a little new to plugins and do not understand that?

OK - here's step by step guide...
Almost all scripts are .rb files and whilst a few are encrypted most are readily 'readable'.
They are just a plain-text files with an alternative suffix so that SUp knows to load them on startup.
I am assuming you are v7 on a Vista PC, but if it's v6, XP or a Mac then it'll still be pretty similar...
Open the '..\Sketchup 7\Plugins' folder and find the script you want to 'read' - in this case it's called extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb.
Select its icon, right-click the mouse and pick 'Open with' in the context-menu [or something equivalent].
If the application 'Notepad' is not listed as an option then pick 'Choose Default Program...' and find 'Notepad.exe' [typically it's located in the 'C:\Windows\System32' folder].
Either way you'll now be able to set 'Notepad' as the default program to always open .rb files - don't worry about doing this as it will not affect Sketchup's ability to load and run these scripts - it just means that in future when you double-click on a file ending with .rb it'll open in 'Notepad' so you can read it.
Note that 'Notepad.exe' is the built-in plain-text editor in Windows - there other similar suitable applications like 'Notepad++' [which is what I use] - it must be a 'plain-text-editor', BUT do not use word-processors like 'Write' or 'Word' as they can leave hidden formating inside a file if you save it and then Sketchup will have problems loading the script !
Anyway, you should now have the script open in a Notepad window and you can read its contents.
The usual convention is that at the start of the script there's a block of text that explains the script's ownership, copyright, what the script does, how to use it, versions and changes etc etc - these are added as 'comments' to help users, and the text is preceded with a # or it's within a =begin...=end block so that Ruby ignores them when it loads the code.
Once you get to a line saying something like require 'sketchup.rb' the code is starting and your eyes should glaze over... it might be interesting occasionally to read such code though to see what the script is doing...
The other usual convention is to add any menu code at the end of the script - so to see where it'll load and what it'll be called simply scroll to the end. For 'EEbyEdges' the menu is "Plugins" and it'll be called "Extrude Edges by Edges". You can change the menu to another standard one off the top bar and also any text it has, and save the file [keep a backup copy in case you mess up] - e.g. translate it into your own language. Within the code itself there will be prompts, dialogs etc, and again that text is editable if desired - just remmeber that the text is inside "" [or ''] and respect these "" etc - e.g. UI.messagebox("Select 2 Groups of Edges !\n1st is 'profile' and 2nd 'path'.") - Note that \n is a new line character and \t is a tab character.
You'll probably just want to read the script and then close it without saving, BUT if you do change the script and save it these changes will only become apparent when Sketchup is restarted.
Happy Sketchup'ing New Year

romain210

thanks a lot

cupko

Thanks for this!!

theark

Fantastic!! Many thanks

t_gia197

Great. So useful
Thanks alot

mitcorb

this post deleted and re posted at Extrude Edges by Rails

mitcorb

This post resubmitted at Extrude Edges by Rails

TIG

This post deleted and re posted at Extrude Edges by Rails

TIG

This is v2.0 - it's now been deBabelized, with a combined Extrusion Tools Toolbar added and miscellaneous glitches tweaked...
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=166780#p166780