[Plugin] Add Height from Datum
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Here's v2.0
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=heighttool_datum
It has been updated [after 8 years !]
It's now in a module, avoids global variables etc.
It's also signed for v2016/2017 compatibility in all Loading Policies...The tool now sets up a submenu in the Plugins|Extensions Menu, its item
'Height Above Datum > Add Height Above Datum' is the main tool.
On selecting it this will become the active tool.
Hovering on a point shows its height above datum (default z=0=ground plane).
Clicking the left mouse button adds a text label with that height
Selecting another tool will stop this being the active tool
Change the tool's Datum using 'Height Above Datum > Set Datum' submenu item
This datum is remembered with each Model as an Attribute.
Any preexisting labels are updated to reflect the new datum.
Convert selected text into height labels using the submenu item
'Height Above Datum > Make Selected Text Dynamic'
Moving a height label vertically changes the height shown in it.
Height labels have an observer attached which auto-updates them.
The observers now properly attach to models/tags irrespective of the way way they are [re]opened... -
TIG, first of all, thank you!
Three suggestions for an update:
1- Would it be possible to add to the submenu, an option to specify a new (or existing) layer the leader text would automatically be assigned too?
After using the plugin, a lot for all these years, I find that the text can get in the way at times but is still is required. So being able to turn it off for certain scenes via the Layer Manager is the answer ... but I often forget to change layers before using the plugin.
2- Ability to add prefix-text to a leader's text with descriptors such as "TOS" (top of slab) or "Pipe Invert" . That text would remain even if attached to geometry that is moved but could later be edited manually by the user.
3- Instead of creating the leader with a mouse-click, have it created via click-and-drag. With the current version, many times I have to adjust the leader's position with the text tool immediately after placing it with the mouse-click.
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TIG, I'm dreaming about a commercialdatum script that would interactivelyshow the changing in terrain while I'm sculpting (say with artisan or sandbox tools).
And reversely , if changing the level value could set the mesh (below) height it'd be oblivion. there must be soft selection setting for influence controlling though.
Another request: sloping displaying(in percents). Is it doable? -
@jclements said:
TIG, first of all, thank you!
Three suggestions for an update:
1- Would it be possible to add to the submenu, an option to specify a new (or existing) layer the leader text would automatically be assigned too?
After using the plugin, a lot for all these years, I find that the text can get in the way at times but is still is required. So being able to turn it off for certain scenes via the Layer Manager is the answer ... but I often forget to change layers before using the plugin.
2- Ability to add prefix-text to a leader's text with descriptors such as "TOS" (top of slab) or "Pipe Invert" . That text would remain even if attached to geometry that is moved but could later be edited manually by the user.
3- Instead of creating the leader with a mouse-click, have it created via click-and-drag. With the current version, many times I have to adjust the leader's position with the text tool immediately after placing it with the mouse-click.
YES and YES!
Add Height from Datum is brilliant.... however for commercial use, when we mark up a plan with 100s of spot heights, we don't want to see the word "Height" on each one...these drawings get very very cluttered. My industry uses RL:41.1 (relative level).
The only way to change Height into RL is to cut and paste the tags thus making them plain text.For the same reason, we need the ability to shift the tag.
In my case I have to label the top and bottom of a retaining wall - but these points sit directly above each other so i get two labels in the same place = unreadable.
Here's hoping a fix isn't too much work - if it is I'll top up your cookie jar/beer fridge.
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You can easily edit the script [for your own in-house use]
Use Notepad++ on PC or TextWrangler on a MAC, to open its main RB file in the Plugins folder named:
#heighttool_datum.rb
We are going to remove the"Height: "prefix from all tags...Find line #74 - to stop an initial prefix - which reads:
txt="Height: #{z}"
Edit it to read:
txt="#{z}"Find line #103 - to trap for updated datums affecting tags - which reads:
e.set_text("Height: "+(e.point.z+@datum).to_l.to_s)
Edit it to read:
e.set_text((e.point.z+@datum).to_l.to_s)
Repeat the edit for the equivalent text in line #109...Find line #127 - to correct the text changes in the observer's action - which reads:
t.set_text("Height: "+(t.point.z+datum).to_l.to_s)
Edit it to read:
t.set_text((t.point.z+datum).to_l.to_s)Save the changes to the file and then start up SketchUp to see the effect...
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Is it possible to wrap this datum in a component representing symbol for high in the floor plan? Similar to attributes in Autocad?
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Use the tool quite a lot in site models. When I set height above datum, however the leader is not nice and long like the ones in the video. It is short and level so is almost always obscured by the object being referenced. I move the text afteward.
Anyway really useful tool! Thanks!
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TIG Some humble requests here (I'd happy to see them as commercial ones):
*) A second alternative datum line
It's very common to use to datum systems: one is above the sea level, second- project's one simultaneously.
*) Even though the file units in are centimeters the level values come in meters.
*) Slope indication tool, especially as percent value?
*) Is Interactive update a doable thing? -
Hi TIG:
When using SU2018 there seems to be a glitch. The starting point of the leader for the elevation label is no longer "sticky" (if the surface or end-point to which leader is pointing is pushpulled or moved, the leader doesn't move with it).
However, when "Make Selected Text Dynamic" is applied to a regular leader text, the leader of the converted text IS "sticky".
Regards, John
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It has never been possible to 'attach' a text arrowhead using API code [it can be done with a dim].
The manual attachment can't be copied.However, you can manually attach these pieces of text yourself.
Add the tag.
Activate the Text tool, select the tag's arrowhead and with the mouse button kept down drag the arrowhead and lock it onto the desired face or edge, if you select the text-part you can also relocate that... -
Thanks, TIG.
I guess my age status/memory was playing tricks on me. :}Also, what works is assign a shortcut key to "Make Selected Text Dynamic" and the Text tool.
Draw a label. When finished and the Text tool is still active, pass (and keep) the cursor over the leader to select it and then use the shortcut for "Make Selected Text Dynamic"..... I don't suppose a script could do something similar, could it? Add Datum would start the Text Tool and also an observer of some kind which looks at Text tool activity. When the user completes the label, it is selected and the "Make Selected Text Dynamic" is applied.
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Awesome way of solving RL datums on my drawings, however as the post above we also use a RL in Meters. Is it possible to use M instead of MM, this would solve the issue
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First and foremost, thank you for your amazing scripts in general! Question, I downloaded Height From Datum today for a project that is stretching my boundaries. I LOVE the idea of clicking and instantly showing the datum. My problem is (see attached photo) that when I bring the model into Layout, some of my labels "stack up" and become impossible to read. I know this has been a problem with prior posters. Question/suggestion, could you have an option in a custom menu where you could angle the text at a 45 deg orientation so it doesn't stack up as easily? I'm ready to fund some of your precious time if you can assist.
Thanks!!!
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Unfortunately Text placed through the API can't be associated with geometry.
However, you can use Move to relocate your Text arrowhead - or the Text tool itself... and you can also use the Text tool itself to relocate the text-string relative to the arrowhead, so in that way you can adjust where the strings go in a view and avoid clutter.Although the Text's arrowhead head is not linked to geometry when it's added through the API, you can link it afterwards by using the Text tool itself, to edit the arrowhead position, at which point it gets linked to any geometry you snap onto...
You can't change the angle of Text objects, they automatically always get made horizontally aligned.
The @vec can be adjusted in the Ruby code, but that simply changes the default position of the string relative to the arrowhead.
Subsequent editing of the Text string's location will result in that vector changing... -
This is one of my 'go to' plugins and it's brilliant.
I have one question regarding the positioning of the text and associated leader. I would like the ability to get the the text to hover a definable distance above the point being labelled (ie with an extended leader). Approx 200mm would do the job. At the moment, depending on the model plan area being labelled even zoomed in a number of the text elements bury themselves partially below the surface being annotated. -
You can use the Text tool to relocate a tag's arrowhead, and snap it to something at that height, and also relocate the text-part...
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Thank you TIG! Just what I was looking for. Followed your instruction for customizing the prefix and got to work!
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@tig said:
Unfortunately Text placed through the API can't be associated with geometry.
Is it possible rebuild this plugin so it'd be based on dimensions 'engine'? SU's dimensions are associative.
Yet another feature: ability to add custom values (meters instead of centimeters for example, this is standard building industry here). -
I have a a series of guide points on a site survey that I've converted to 'Mark' components (via TT's Guide Points). Would there be an easy way to set the Instance Name as the height for selected components? That way it would be easy to ID specific height points / benchmarks via the Outliner (would also be useful for topo lines).
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This is a great little tool. I know this thread is probably "dead" at this point, but worth a shot.
Is there a way to update so that there would be a Elevation Datum and an Actual Datum? Say, Elevation: 97'-6", Actual: 6203'-6". Or even decimal points on the Actual.
Thanks!
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