[Plugin] SectionCutFace

TIG

Here's v3.6
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=172583#p172583

I have recoded its already legitimately formed group manipulations to avoid Bugsplat-crashes of ill-advised 3rd-party tools, which may over-write API methods and/or add badly formed Observers.
So it might now work with Vray beta loaded too etc - although the fault lies with these kind of tool not this one, which is an innocent victim [now taking additional otherwise unnecessary precautions to protect itself - like you having to wear body-armor against knife-attack - when the fault is in the attacker not you!]

JQL

AHAHA! Perfect!

This version is brilliant! This by itself is a better upgrade to Sketchup than any 2013 new features!

Just to take advantage of your coding rythm... would it be very hard to make it also available an option to "Reposition SectionCutFace" to context menu? The existing cut group would then move to match the respective moved section WITHOUT updating it.

Imagine the following scenario:

we have extensively edited a cutface and added details and hatching;
we changed the model and move the section plane to cut a window or some new feature in the project;
instead of creating a new face by "Redo SectionCutFace", we could easily edit the section by hand but we just forgot to position it correctly to the relative position of the section;
We could then select an option like "Reposition SectionCutFace" and voilá! Easy and lasy...

Anyway, if its to hard, don't bother, I already do it all by hand right now and live very well with it.

Many thanks!

EDIT:

Portuguese translation/Tradução portuguesa (PT-PT):

# Translation Constants used in SectionCutFace tool
# CONSTANT="Phrase"
# Only edit between the "", never change the CONSTANT=
###
# Make a copy of the -EN-US file with your own locale suffix
# e.g. it would be SectionCutFace-FR.strings for the French version
# Any empty lines and lines starting with a '#' are ignored
# Do not include ' or " within translated strings within the "..."
# CONSTANT="Translated Text"
###
DESC="Cria um Grupo com o Desenho de um Corte. O comando executa-se no Menu de Contexto (Rato Direito) sobre um Plano de Corte seleccionado. Na caixa de diálogo surgem as opções para a Cor da Face, Arestas, seu Bloqueio e Actualização da face relativamente ao plano de corte."

MENUTXT="Nova FaceDeCorte"
MENUTXTOD="Refazer FaceDeCorte"
V8ERROR="Desculpe! Funciona apenas no Sketchup 8 ou superior..."
PARAMS="Parâmetros da FaceDeCorte"
UPDATE="Actualizar a FaceDeCorte"
ADDING="Criar FaceDeCorte"
### Temp Cutter group name
CUTTER="Faca"
YES="Sim"
NO="Nao"
ONDEMAND="Manualmente"
DEFAULT="Sem Material"
NOFACE="Sem Face"
### Layer/Group Name prefix
SCUT="CRT"
### Dialog
COLOR="Cor"
KEEP="Manter todas as arestas"
HIDE="Esconder Arestas"
LOCK="Bloquear"
GLUE="Auto-regenerar"
LAYER="Camada"
TITLE="Parâmetros para a FaceDoCorte"
### EOF

JQL

TIG

JQL - I see your idea.
But if the SCUT doesn't correspond the the current section=plane's cutting it will look odd ?
Meanwhile, you can make a manual relocation...

I have made your Portuguese translation/Tradução portuguesa (PT-PT) into a .strings file .
I will include it in any future updated file-set.

Meanwhile Portuguese users can download this and extract it from the attached ZIP file, and put it into their ../Plugins/SectionCutFace/Strings folder; restart to use the translated menus/prompts etc.

Another other users who wish to made string file translations for their locale?
If so please make them and post them here.
Name the file as the instructions - 'SectionCutFace-LOCALE.strings' - and ZIP it to allow it to be attached o your post...

SectionCutFace-PT-PT.zip

JQL

TIG,

It will definetely look odd. But you can easily change it by hand. I do that all the time and I use a visual style for working on sections/plans that helps me see most of the differences and a fast method of updating them.

I can post it here with images if you'd like, its a very useful but complex set to assemble wich makes my worklow very fast after it is set. If by any chance your auto update would mess my sections i'd be dead, but your recent manual update is simply genious.

Trust me I'm totally satisfied with your plugin as it is, it would only be perfect with that small improvement.

NOTE FOR ALL BEGINNERS: I recently discovered Supersection on Extension Warehouse and I tell you, Supersection+SectionCutFace are a killer combo for superfast section/plan setting and LayOut integration!

PS: I didn't try your PT version, but when I set SectionCutFace-PT-PT.strings on my pc it didn't work. I had to change back its name to SectionCutFace-EN-UK.strings and then it worked. I have an english Sketchup and I like it that way. Maybe that's what's causing the problem?

TIG

A locale based strings translatoin system looks for the Ruby Console's Sketchup.get_locale.upcase ending to the filename.
So if your installation returns EN-US then that is the strings file that it will used.
If you want translations into another language even though your SketchUp version is ENglish, then as you have found the SectionCutFace-EN-US.strings file can be edited to include whatever wording you desire... Keep a backup copy of the original !
This concept applies to any plugin using similar translation files when SketchUp's locale doesn't match your preferred language.

bmike

TIG,

On demand working great, on my Mac. No go on the auto update, which is OK, as I usually have 10-20 cuts per model, and don't mind refreshing them to keep things running smoothly.

-Mike

bmike

Donation on the way!

stuczynskakatarzyna

Hi! ive just installed this plugin...with SU 8 pro... and it still doesnt work...and I really read all of the posts about this,and still it doesnt...please help

TIG

@stuczynskakatarzyna said:

Hi! ive just installed this plugin...with SU 8 pro... and it still doesnt work...and I really read all of the posts about this,and still it doesnt...please help
You report is not much use!
How doesn't it work ?
Does it appear in the right-click context-menu if you have just one SectionPlane selected ?
If so then does it open a dialog ?
If so then does it add a cut-face group on the plane ?
You can check this in the Outliner, it's called 'SCUT-....' on a layer of the same name.
If you set Glue to No/Yes/On_Demand you get different outcomes: No is not lined to the SectionPlane and stays unchanged where it was first made when you alter the SectionPlane or the model itself. Yes links the cut-face and the SectionPlane and it should update dynamically as the SectionPlane or model is altered [this is nor recommended for complex or multiple cuts], On_Demand does link the cut-face to the SectionPlane but it only updates if you select it and use the context-menu item to 'Redo' it when it updates [without a dialog] using the previous settings [color etc]...

If you never get the context-menu it suggests that it is not installed correctly.
How did you install it ?
There are three possible ways you might have done this [you might have told us!]
You AutoInstalled the tool from the 'SkecthUcation Plugin Store' dialog's red-button, from within SketchUp itself.
You Downloaded its RBZ archive from the SCF PluginStore and used Preferences > Extensions > Install... button.
You Downloaded the RBZ, then changed its suffix to .ZIP and extracted its contents, then moved the tool's file/subfolder into the Plugins folder manually.
Restarting SketchUp to activate the tool.

Can you see the tool's file and subfolder within the Plugins folder ?
Do you have a link/button on the Plugins folder's Windows Explorer window, named 'Compatibility Files...' ? If so tis suggests you have insufficient security-permissions to your Plugins folder.
You must have the security-permissions to your Plugins folder set to FULL - otherwise tools often fail to install properly [without telling you] and can even appear to be there, BUT are actually in a 'VirtualStore' as Windows protects you from yourself - the default for all files/folders in the Program Files ttree is 'read-only'. Also some tools need to write files/folders into the Plugins folder and fail if the permissions are restricted !
To fix this [with admin-powers] select the Plugins folder's icon, right-click context-menu Properties > Security > Edit and set very entry in the list to have FULL permissions.

Also set SketchUp.exe to 'always run as admin' - Properties > Compatibility chec-box...

There are probably some other possible causes, but this list should give you the most common suspects...

CadFather

nothing happens on mine, i right click, go through the choices but no result - however it may easily be my complex plugins configuration, so don't take this as a bug. shall report further when i have more time to play with it.

TIG

@cadfather said:

nothing happens on mine, i right click, go through the choices but no result - however it may easily be my complex plugins configuration, so don't take this as a bug. shall report further when i have more time to play with it.
If you do a No glue version and move the SectionPlane back a little can you see the cut-face.
The cut-face can't be located on the SectionPlane because you wouldn't then see it [like if you snap a SectionPlane onto a face the face is not shown], so it's moved 0.2mm into the cut so it's then visible.
This 'offset' is a compromise between the cut-face's visibility and it looking right - obviously you don't want to see that the cut-face is not on the plane itself!
Occasionally some users setup/GC etc will still take the cut-face as being on the SectionPlane and so you don't see it, although it's there...
If that's the case there is an offset value of 0.2.mm in the code that can be adjusted slightly to see if that helps...
I can either update the tool with a value that works for you all of you [perhaps compromising the appearance slightly for many] OR add an 'Offset' option with is 0.2 and lets you enter a bigger value till you get it right for you - as an editable parameter in the loader rb file, like the others used in the dialogs...

CadFather

Thanks TIG, that makes sense - i'll have a proper play with it later on, and 2mm sounds just fine to me.

Edit 0.2mm!!!

TIG

This is because when it's on a face it makes a visible 'section' BUT the cut itself intersects nothing - because the plane doesn't actually intersect with the object ! It's as if you drew a large grouped rectangle over the face then edited the contents and selected the face and used 'Intersect with model' - it has NO intersection as the two faces are 'coincident'.
I can fix this by nudging the cut say 0.2mm into the section, then it will should intersect and face...
I am about to fix another issue so I'll add that...

bmike

@tig said:

This is because when it's on a face it makes a visible 'section' BUT the cut itself intersects nothing - because the plane doesn't actually intersect with the object ! It's as if you drew a large grouped rectangle over the face then edited the contents and selected the face and used 'Intersect with model' - it has NO intersection as the two faces are 'coincident'.
I can fix this by nudging the cut say 0.2mm into the section, then it will should intersect and face...
I am about to fix another issue so I'll add that...

I get that. I never use this on faces, so for me this was an example of why someone might not see it working.
I should have been more clear.

All good on my end.

bmike

Note that if you use this on a face you might not see it working.

Screen Shot 2013-06-11 at 6.52.07 AM.png

Screen Shot 2013-06-11 at 6.52.24 AM.png

It doesn't show up, even if I check the outliner, it is there, but not visible.

Screen Shot 2013-06-11 at 6.55.20 AM.png

I can move the section cut fore and aft, and even delete everything, but still can't see the cut.

Screen Shot 2013-06-11 at 6.56.33 AM.png

But as soon as I move the section cut and regenerate the cut face, it works.

Screen Shot 2013-06-11 at 6.53.27 AM.png

Edited to clear up my intention, see below.

TIG

Here's v3.7
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=172583#p172583

SectionPlanes that are snapped exactly 'on-face' will now cut geometry to match the visual section, by making the cut-face 0.1mm inside the visible section.
A new option in SectionCutFace_loader.rb to change 'Inset' to > 0.1.mm, needed for a few users whose GC's leave section-cuts not showing when they are regarded as still being not 'within' the viewable section...

kaas

Sketchup is getting better and better thanks to you guys!

The new automatic glue option made me wonder.. have you considered, besides of using a solid color, creating the possibility of using the backface material (texture) of the faces ?

Like that the front faces of the walls, window frames, slab floors etc (all solids of course) could have a 'visual' texture on the front faces and the backfaces could use their corresponding hatch textures. Especially with the new glue-option it would be amazing if the section would 'automatically' be texture mapped with all the corresponding hatches.

During the design process I manually texture the section cuts (only for the final documents I manually create real line hatches) and the above would be a great time-saver.

Anyway, just a thought.

Greetings!

Max

JQL

Thanks for the explanation TIG, even if I got there myself it took me some time. I was almost going to post my Locale incident as a bug in your plugin.

I made a small change in your naming of the list in the translation. Where you refer to "Glue" wich in portuguese is "Colar" I translated as "Auto-Regenerar" wich actually means "Auto-Regenerate". I hope you don't mind, but if you do, there you have the literal translation.

There could be a warning about this feature it is both powefull and dangerous...

V3.7 in such short time... you code faster that I can write!

Best regards,

JQL

teresaytw

hi TIG, i wanna know why even if i restart my sketch up, or even my laptop, the section cut plugin still isn't load in my sketchup Pro 8? i did copy and paste the plugin into my plugin folder.

Dave R

@teresaytw said:

hi TIG, i wanna know why even if i restart my sketch up, or even my laptop, the section cut plugin still isn't load in my sketchup Pro 8? i did copy and paste the plugin into my plugin folder.

Where are you looking for it?