[Plugin] Add Height from Datum

TIG · 20 Oct 2009, 16:38

This Tool is a reworking of the height.rb tool (c) Robin Hill - #heighttool_datum.rb - it adds two items to the Plugins Menu '>>Add Height above Datum' and '>>Set Datum'.

The Datum is Z=0.0 by default. You can set it to any value you like and it's remembered across sessions with the Model - once it's set you do not need to change it or re-enter it again, ever for that Model.

Any 'Heights' you add using the tool are adjusted by that Datum value [let's say Datum=100.0'] so something placed at ModelZ=0.0 is given Height:100.0' and something placed at ModelZ=20.5' is given Height:120.5'. Now there's no need to move the Model off Z=0 to return true Heights above a Datum...

The height-text always shows the correct height of the arrowhead - manually editing the text will not work as it will revert - if you want a 'fake' height-text use a piece of ordinary text !

TIP 1:
If you want to Move a piece of height-text it is not anchored to its picked point/object like the built-in SketchUp tool [since this can't be done readily through Ruby]... therefore DON'T use SUp Move to do this relocation [the text willupdate to suit the new arrowhead Z-position but it won't be pointing at the original picked point any more].
Instead you should pick the SketchUp Text Tool and then pick on the height-text, and now you can relocate the height-text as needed, leaving the leader's arrowhead where it is.

Using the Text Tool you can also pick on the height-text's arrowhead and relocate that too, then you can set the text position as needed - however, make sure that the arrowhead snaps to something at the same height as the original point, otherwise you'll get the new height of the arrowhead updated in the text to suit.

Note that moving the height-text's arrowhead this way does then anchor the leader arrowhead to the newly snapped point/object, so any subsequent 'move' of the height-text leaves the arrowhead anchored in place BUT beware that any 'move' of the now linked geometry [say a face that is lowered] will move the arrowhead down and it will update the text showing the new Z-level...

From v2.0 the tool's submenu includes the tool itself - at add the height label, and tools to set the Datum and also convert selected text into Height labels...

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pilou · 20 Oct 2009, 16:42

Tricky

JClements · 21 Oct 2009, 05:50

Very nice!

Could there be a modified Move Tool and Line Tool which could respond to input (perhaps through the VCB) relative to the Datum setting?

So, for example, if you move an object along the blue axis and entered 30d in the VCB, it would be moved 30 units above datum or after drawing a line along the blue axis, you could enter 48d in VCB, the end point would be at 48 units above datum.

TIG · 2 Nov 2009, 20:44

Version 1.1 is here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=193238#p193238

The Text is now put into active_entities...

JClements · 9 Nov 2009, 10:28

Could the current datum of the model be displayed in the >>Set Datum Dialog rather than the last entry the user typed (if a datum had not previously been set, then it would display 0)?

Mike Lucey · 9 Nov 2009, 12:00

Thanks TIG, do you ever take a rest?

Mike

TIG · 10 Nov 2009, 09:42

@jclements said:

Could the current datum of the model be displayed in the >>Set Datum Dialog rather than the last entry the user typed (if a datum had not previously been set, then it would display 0)?

Update on the list - busy rebuilding my system for the next day or two - my HD melted - I must be working it too hard !!!

EarthMover · 11 Nov 2009, 00:17

Thanks TIG. Missed this the first time around...definitely will be useful for me.

TIG · 12 Nov 2009, 10:56

Here's v1.2
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=193238#p193238
It now shows existing datum in the dialog, has a modified leader etc.
Note the added 'Tip' on relocating the height-text...

Next big change... is to make it 'dynamic' so that it always shows the height it is at... so if you do move it in the Z it changes it's value to suit...

JClements · 12 Nov 2009, 11:34

Dynamic leader text. WOW!

Thank you, TIG

TIG · 12 Nov 2009, 12:28

Here's v1.3
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=193238#p193238
The main change is that the height-text is 'dynamic' and updates to show the current arrowhead Z-level above datum if the text is relocated. There's also a conversion tool to update any earlier height-text etc... read notes with the download page...

JClements · 12 Nov 2009, 13:05

Pretty neat and I never knew you could use the text tool to move leaders (how long have I been using SU?).

Probably not a bug, but the dynamic leader doesn't update if inside a group.

TIG · 12 Nov 2009, 13:23

@jclements said:

Pretty neat and I never knew you could use the text tool to move leaders (how long have I been using SU?).
Probably not a bug, but the dynamic leader doesn't update if inside a group.

It doesn't update because the height-text hasn't been changed/moved ifthe group has been been moved - this is because the group's origin is where it was before and the height-text refers to that.
However, a piece of height-text should update if it's moved inside the group whilst the group is being edited: therefore to update all edit the moved group and 'select all' and Move the selection by 0 to kick it into an update...

However, I'll look at a tweak to see if I can get it to work better within groups etc...

ken · 12 Nov 2009, 17:00

TIG

Thanks for the very useful plugin. I do a illustrations of underwater structures. Would it be possible to “right-click” to set the baseline to the last measurement, such that all further measurement use the new baseline as the “0 ft reference”.

Again, thank you

Ken

tranbathao · 15 May 2011, 03:47

thanks TIG, really useful

Phil Rader AIA · 29 Mar 2012, 20:08

Wow this is JUST what I need and you guys are always years ahead of me developing things I cant even imagine I need right now....but I will need it in the future.

Phil Rader AIA · 26 Sept 2012, 03:41

TIG I've been having some bug splats when I move the text in the datum text using the text command. I'll try to narrow down a repeatable crash and let you know.

pbacot · 26 Sept 2012, 04:18

This is very handy. Been using it lately. Thanks!

I notice the text seems to "show through" other objects. If you have it inside a house you can see it from outside. Is that special feature? Unusual.

TIG · 26 Sept 2012, 08:08

@pbacot said:

This is very handy. Been using it lately. Thanks!

I notice the text seems to "show through" other objects. If you have it inside a house you can see it from outside. Is that special feature? Unusual.
It's plain Text - it does that - try it with some 'ordinary' Text and you'll see how that does it too...

TIG · 26 Sept 2012, 08:09

@unknownuser said:

TIG I've been having some bug splats when I move the text in the datum text using the text command. I'll try to narrow down a repeatable crash and let you know.
OK, that's the first report like this - I can't replicate it.
If you move it with 'Move' rather than using the 'Text' relocation facilities [needed to 'lock' the arrow-head onto an object - because this can't be done easily in the API]... is it then OK ?
Let me know what you find...