[Plugin] SectionCutFace

TIG

As JQL says, in the newer versions you can edit the SCF .constants file.
This sets up the Color list and other dialog initial defaults.
If you open that file using Notepad(++) there are instructions in the file itself on what can be edited.
You can then set it to default to whatever you want in every SKP you open.
Run the tool and press enter for OK without recourse to any setting changes.
The reason the .constants file was added was that previously these were in a separate [editable] RB, but v2016 signing doesn't allow you to mix RB and RBS files in the same RBZ !
Also if certain file-types [like RB] are edited in any way the hash signing is broken and in v2016 its 'security' status is compromised.
You can however edit a .constants file-type without any bad affects on the 'security' in all versions of SketchUp, as that file-type is not included on the hash set up.
Also the RBS code that reads those values in has a strict list of items to read in from that file, so in that way some 3rd-party idiot adding malicious content into there is also prevented from from execution.
The only downside thus far is that when reinstalling a newer RBZ the .constants file is refreshed, and so it will need re-editing [but you can make a backup copy inside the folder, which with survive the reinstallation, then you just need to rename etc !]

Mithrandir

Thanks for the info TIG!

bmike

Great Update TIG! Love the naming options. Thanks!

JQL

Well Tig, I don't know how to say this, but I have yet another feature request, that I guess would make SCF more than perfect...

Would it be hard for you to have SCF group's axis parallel to the section plane?

If our section plane is orthogonal to world axis, their group's axis are fine, if our sections are not orthogonal, the axis are not not coplanar with the face inside.

This seems minor (and indeed it is) but I use section cut faces for 2D drafting inside sketchup and I often have sections wich are not parallel to world axis. When I need to, I change axis with the axis tool, so I know how to deal with that, however it would be cool to turn a section into an autocad drawing clone with 2D axis set to go.

If you'd let me choose, I'd like axis to be 2D with the section face, wich would mean:

X to the right;
Y pointing up;
Z would result to be on the reversed normal of the section (pointing against the sections arrows)

I also use these newly set axis to correct whole section groups, or parts of sections wich I have remodeled but I don't want to redo the whole section cut face I've been working on.

Here's an example gif:

bmike

Hi Tig -

I'm having an issue with 5.1:

When I 'Remake Section Cut Face' it doesn't fill the section and it creates a new object on Layer 0, despite having selected the option to name it after the layer when I first created the cut.

https://youtu.be/xKdL3P6IYqM

I'm going to try and delete all related files from my PlugIn folder and re-install from a download.

bmike

@bmike said:

Hi Tig -

I'm having an issue with 5.1:

When I 'Remake Section Cut Face' it doesn't fill the section and it creates a new object on Layer 0, despite having selected the option to name it after the layer when I first created the cut.

https://youtu.be/xKdL3P6IYqM

I'm going to try and delete all related files from my PlugIn folder and re-install from a download.

No luck, deleted manually and re-installed from the SKF store, same problem persists.

-Mike

JQL

That usually happens if you made the original section on Layer0.

Instead of Remaking the section try Making a new section. From then on you can Remake it and it will keep those values.

bmike

@jql said:

That usually happens if you made the original section on Layer0.

Instead of Remaking the section try Making a new section. From then on you can Remake it and it will keep those values.

I didn't make the original section on Layer 0....

Screen Shot 2016-02-10 at 1.35.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-02-10 at 1.36.18 PM.png

TIG

Either set the Section-Plane to have the desired layer and set the SectionCutFace's layer to be '<Section's Layer>' so they always match - or pick '<Customized>' and in the dialog type in the existing layer-name e.g. S-81 - which is then frozen.
Then when you remake it, then it always uses that customized-name.

Picking from the list of 'all' layers is only really useful for the 'No' - Non-update-able - SectionCutFaces - which are of course frozen and not re-makeable.
But having the list available for all SectionCutFaces types, at least lets you see what layers names already exist, to then use in '<Customize>'...

For the two types of remake/update-able SectionCutFaces... the 'frozen' layer-name choices are:

'<Section's Layer>' - where the Section-Plane's layer-name is used across remakes; and only changes if you have reassigned the Section-Plane's layer, in which case when you remake it, its layer is changed to match... So a simple fix is to reassign the Section-Plane to say S-81 and then when remade the SectionCutFace will also have that layer.

'SCUT...' - where that specific initially assigned layer-name is retained across all remakes.

'<Customized>' - where that initially chosen layer-name is retained across remakes.

If you simply recreate either of the two update-able SectionCutFace types, by using 'Add...' it will replace the previous one, using whatever options you choose - a remake-able SectionCutFace is only one per Section-Plane - unlike a 'No' update type which can have several SectionCutFaces associated with it.

bmike

Thanks Tig. Will test tomorrow.

wiskill

I can't get the section cut faces to update on demand nor auto update. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Here's a video to show the problem.

https://youtu.be/yfV9xAI-Y8M

Whenever I try to update the section cut (or have it auto-updated) it results in a blank cut lines with no faces that doesn't get put in its layers properly.

edit: After multiple retries, with any/either options enabled/disabled or named unnamed sections and everything. I can't get the section face to auto update or update on demand no matter what I do.

Here's a video: https://youtu.be/wYZZQCZ1zTc

From a cleanly new file, I make a simple cube, try to make a section face with only 1 option changed, copy the cube over, remake the face and it won't update properly. All it does is create a new group in layer 0 with just the outline of the cuts. It won't update the layer, it won't make a face, and when I choose remake face again, it just keeps making a new group with the outline again.

Right now when I want to remake a section face, I will always have to delete the old face, THEN make a new one.

I've tried uninstalling sketchup 2014 and 2015, and using leaving only 2016 on my pc. I've tried deleting the plugin folder and reinstalling, and the problem still persists.

I'm totally stumped. Any help appreciated.

davidheritier

Really really good job!!! THx!!!!

TIG

@wiskill

Obviously you are "doing something wrong".
Many others with the same OS and SUp version have no issues.
Different versions of SketchUp NEVER interact, so you don't need to worry about other versions.

Your video is puzzling, since I do the exact same steps, with the exact same set up, AND it refreshes the SectionCutFace as I might hope...

Can you open the Ruby Console before doing anything and see if there any error messages...

Can you also provide a list of all other extensions you have loading...
There might be a [very rare] clash...

wiskill

Here's the error message in from the ruby console.

Error; #<TypeError; no implicit conversion of Sketchup;;Layer into String>
c;/users/wisarut/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2016/sketchup/plugins/sectioncutface/sectioncutface_code.rbs;121;in `name='
c;/users/wisarut/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2016/sketchup/plugins/sectioncutface/sectioncutface_code.rbs;121;in `new'
c;/users/wisarut/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2016/sketchup/plugins/sectioncutface/sectioncutface_start.rbs;63;in `block (2 levels) in <module;SectionCutFace>'
SketchUp;1;in `call'

Here's a video showing the error: https://youtu.be/mro1VSwkTBw

I think I don't have any other extensions installed. I used to have LibFredo6 and FredoScale and JointPushPull installed for Sketchup 2015, but when I moved on to Sketchup 2016, I didn't reinstall it as I wasn't using it that much.

Just a short note, I have 2 pcs, (1 desktop and 1 ultrabook) and the problem persists on BOTH machines.

TIG

@wiskill

Thanks for the message and video.
I have managed to replicate your issue.
I am working on a solution...

TIG

Here's v6.0 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=SectionCutFace it has the following changes:

Glitch/typo fixed with the 'remade' SectionCutFaces - layer error etc as recently reported.

The SectionCutFaces now have modified bounding-boxes, made tight to the face, and their axes are also reset so that their blue axis is perpendicular to the face, with the red axis 'horizontal', and the 'origin' set to a logical lower corner.

An additional option has been added to the dialog and constants file.
'Scene Visibility' - seen the main Documentation for more details...

NOTE: because of the draconian signing regime introduced in v2016, which effectively requires all subfolder Ruby files to be encrypted... some users with SketchUp versions < v2014 have had problems loading newer versions of this extension [and some others...
If that is your case please PM to TIG, who can PM back some fixed RB files for the ../Plugins/SectionCutFace subfolder which will allow ye olde versions of SketchUp to continue working even then...
If you have >= v2014 it should work with no problems !]

JQL

Wow Tig! 2D sketchup! Thank you so much!

Charlie__V

TIG,
First......I am very grateful for all of the plug ins you create and maintain for the community!

I do not use many plug ins myself.......but one I have used for many years now is the section cut face.

I see you have made some nice changes to this so I downloaded and installed V6.0 today.

Surprisingly I immediately got a bug splat after install, and sent the report in.

MS Win7Pro
64-bit OS
Intel i3-2100CPU 3.1GHz
8.0 GB ram

I have since reinstalled V4.4

Just thought you should know.....not sure what the cause could be.

Thank lots,
Charlie

TIG

What is your SUp version ?

No error messages [e.g. in Ruby Console] ?
At what point does it splat ?
On opening the tool or on OK ?
Does it spat on all permutations of the options ??

How did you install the plugin ?
From its RBZ ?
Can you delete all "SectionCutFace" files and its subfolder in the Plugins folder [manually] and then reinstall and restart and see what happens...

I assume an earlier version of the plugin work OK...

Do you have many other plugins installed ?

wiskill

Thanks for the update! Everything seems to work fine now. Any info on what was causing the faces to not update properly? I love the new visibility options btw.