[Plugin] triangulateFaces.rb v1.2 20101120

TIG

Now new improved 'triangulate' - It now 'triangulates' [almost] everything...

Script: triangulate.rb
Code Usage: triangulate(array_of_faces)
Result: it triangulates faces in array...
Plugin Usage:
Result: it triangulates faces in selection...
Known Issues:
Even complex single looped faces should work OK.
Simple faces with one or two holes are also usually OK.
Very large numbers of faces might cause a 'white-out',
processing is continuing, please be patient...
Complex faces with complex multiple holes in them might 'splat' !
Add some extra dividing lines and retry...
Very small faces might not work properly and 'splat' ! Scale them...
Failed triangulations are warned and can be undone...
Save your work before using this tool...
v1.0 First issue. 20090703
v1.1 4 sided faces with 3 in line vertices trapped.
undo operation added. 20090703 pm
v1.2 L-shaped AND 4-sided faces trapped. 20090703 pm+
v1.3 Menu added, warns if no suitable selection. 20090703 pm++
v2.0 Now triangulates all >= 4-sided faces and traps awkward L/U/holed
shapes etc. 20090707
v2.1 Renamed 'triangulatefaces' to avoid clashes with delauney/cloud etc.
20090708

Now Obsolete - see triangulateFaces.rb later in thread... HERE http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=175613#p175613

TIG

Updated
v1.1 4-sided faces with 3 in line vertices trapped,undo operation added 20090703pm
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=169956#p169956

Chris Fullmer

Are you going to put into the menu system? Or just run it in the webconsole? or...?

sepo

Well it does not appear in plugins menu nor in context menu.

Burkhard

What's the difference to this plugin?
Author unknown!

triangulateSelected.rb

Burkhard

It is possible to add a seperate " add detail" tool for further triangulations?
It could be usefull for detail modeling.

1- Triangulate face and open:
2- Input Box with values like: 10x and available smoothcheckbox
3- Set complete triangulation in one step

You can seperate the Sandbox " add detail" from the original script. But then the new script should be coded ( with strings) in the same way to add it in one toolbar.

usefull?

TIG

OK, OK... Here's v1.3 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=169956#p169956
It now has a menu and traps for unsuitable selections...

I only made it as a quick hack because Chris asked how to triangulate the quad faces of a sphere........................

TIG

Here's v1.2 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=169956#p169956

Burkhard: To add extra detail sub-division to faces use my Advertex+.rb tools - using the appropriate modifier key you can add a vertex onto a face and new edges will then be added up to it from every face-vertex...
It's a little different from the other script (which I don't recall seeing before) - mine only sub-divides quads - as Chris's request and it also traps for any possible new 'dividing' edges not falling on the face - e.g. with L-shaped or 3nr co-linear-vertex faces...

B/Chris: It runs by selecting some faces and then typing triangulate in the Ruby-console... To add a menu item you can simply add these lines onto the end of the script using a plain-text editor...

### Menu ###
UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("Triangulate 4-edged Face in Selection"){triangulate}if not file_loaded?(File.basename(__FILE__))
file_loaded(File.basename(__FILE__))

TIG

Here's v2.0, now new improved - 'triangulates' [almost] everything...
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=169956#p169956

Chris Fullmer

Thanks TIG, this is great!!!

TIG

Here's v2.1, I've renamed the command triangulatefaces(array_of_faces) as 'triangulate' was already a defined command inside delauney/cloud scripts etc, used to triangulate points...
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=169956#p169956
Please replace earlier versions with this new file to avoid clashes...

sepo

Cheers Tig...nice one.

CPhillips

Here is the method I use:


def triangulateFace(face)
    ents=Sketchup.active_model.active_entities
    faces=face.mesh.polygons
    verts=face.mesh.points
    faces.each{|f|
        ents.add_line(verts[f[0].abs-1],verts[f[1].abs-1])
        ents.add_line(verts[f[1].abs-1],verts[f[2].abs-1])
        ents.add_line(verts[f[2].abs-1],verts[f[0].abs-1])
    }       
end

The nice thing is it cant fail to triangulate regardless of the shape or number of holes. But it unfortunately adds faces to the "holes". Or rather Sketchup does. Does anyone a way to add an edge without Sketchup attempting the "heal" the face?

TIG

I thought of that approach but abandoned it because of that facing hole problem...

kwistenbiebel

Thank you TIG for this plugin.

Do we still need to add those extra lines in the ruby console to get the plugin in a menu?
I couldn't find it in the Plugins/Tools menu, thus my question...

TIG

@kwistenbiebel said:

Thank you TIG for this plugin.

Do we still need to add those extra lines in the ruby console to get a menu?
I couldn't find it in the Plugins/Tools menu, thus my question...

'Triangulate Faces in Selection' should be in the Plugins menu...

kwistenbiebel

Strange, I can't find it anywhere in my long long plugin list .
Maybe it clashes with some other plugin? (I do have WxSU installed which caused me trouble with other plugins in the past).
By the way, I am on SU6 Pro.

TIG

@kwistenbiebel said:

Strange, I can't find it anywhere in my long long plugin list .
Maybe it clashes with some other plugin? (I do have WxSU installed which caused me trouble with other plugins in the past).
By the way, I am on SU6 Pro.

If you have 2.1 open it in a text editor and read the last bit it should define the menu...

CPhillips

I finally figured out how to triangulate any face without the side effect of filling holes.

def triangulateFace(face)
    mesh=face.mesh(1)
    faces=mesh.polygons
    verts=mesh.points
    uvs=mesh.uvs(true)
    outmesh = Geom;;PolygonMesh.new
    faces.each{|f|
        outmesh.add_polygon(verts[f[0].abs-1],verts[f[1].abs-1],verts[f[2].abs-1])
    }
    ents=Sketchup.active_model.active_entities
    mat=face.material
    face.erase!
    grp = ents.add_group
    grp.entities.add_faces_from_mesh(outmesh)
    grp.entities.each{|e|
        if(e.class==Sketchup;;Edge)
            e.smooth=false
            e.soft=false            
        elsif(e.class==Sketchup;;Face && mat!=nil)
               #handle materials and uvs.
            uva=verts.index(e.vertices[0].position)
            uvb=verts.index(e.vertices[1].position)
            uvc=verts.index(e.vertices[2].position)
            e.material=mat
            e.position_material(mat,[verts[uva],uvs[uva],verts[uvb],uvs[uvb],verts[uvc],uvs[uvc]],true)
        end
    }
    grp.explode
end

Coronel

Could you please clarify for a 3D newie the purpose of triangulation in this case?
Does it means the model will be correct or will work better or is merely a way of get more detail?