[Plugin] Add Height from Datum

unclex

could add a datum symbol?
such as a component skp file, can defined by user

Woodarc

How do I load this plugin please?

TIG

How do I load this plugin please?
There is a .rb file in the first post in this tool's thread. Download that file.
Move it into the Sketchup Plugins folder and restart Sketchup...
It then auto-loads and adds two items to the Plugins Menu '>>Add Height above Datum' and '>>Set Datum'.
Read the tool's instructions on the download page, and others' useful advice in this thread too...

NOTE: that since you on a PC you must ensure that you have FULL access rights to the main Plugins folder.
To check/fix this - select its icon in Windows Explorer, context-menu > Properties > Security > Edit...
Being an Admin is NOT enough to ensure things go smoothly.
A file might look to you that it's got put into the Plugins folder, but if you have limited access-rights then Windows may have put it into a VirtualStore - a 'Compatibility Files...' [or similar] button/link in the folder's Windows Explorer top bars is a sure sign of problems...
Also have the same FULL rights set for the Components, Materials and Styles folders, since you will also want to write files to these from time to time...

caronte01

I really like this one. Very useful.

Tig, thanks a lot!!!

Santiago

JClements

Hi TIG,

Would it be possible to have the Eye Height function of the Look Around tool respect the Datum set by this script? So, for instance, if I set the datum of the origin at 236' 7 1/2", I could input 336' 7 1/2" for eight Eye Height and the camera would rise to 100' above the origin.

TIG

Sorry John - no easily

TIG

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...

JClements

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.

rv1974

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?

ak-sam

@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.

TIG

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...

srx

Is it possible to wrap this datum in a component representing symbol for high in the floor plan? Similar to attributes in Autocad?

pbacot

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!

rv1974

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?

JClements

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

TIG

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...

JClements

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.

Gillan

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

BradMDG

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!!!

TIG

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...