Looking to make a script, but dunno how.

Chris Fullmer

#1 groups have the .to_component method that will turn them into a component. But it makes each group a unique component, because there is no built in way to determine if a group is an identical copy of another group. There is some work arounds that can be done on certain groups that are exact copies of another group, but generally speaking, groups can't be turned easily into a single component and instances.

#2 - I'll have to look at later

#3 - The @target_entities will hold its value until SketchUp is closed, after it is given a value once. So you should clear it after your script is run each time. Add a @taget_entities = [] to the end of your script. That is my gess as to what is happening.

#4 - Yeah, that happens. Adam Billyard once took some time to explain about how random functions work in programming. It was eye opening....or rather, my eyes popped out from all the terms he used that didn't make any sense to me. But essentially random is a tricky thing to nail perfectly I guess.

Sounds like its coming along well!

Chris

agamemnus

@chris fullmer said:

#3 - The @target_entities will hold its value until SketchUp is closed, after it is given a value once. So you should clear it after your script is run each time. Add a @taget_entities = [] to the end of your script. That is my gess as to what is happening.

Well, I know that it holds its value -- that was a way to re-randomize if the user wanted to without selecting those same groups again. But, if I set @target_entities to something else and it (@target_entities) is already set to something, that won't cause a leak, right? (the array it was previously set to will be cleared from memory?)

Chris Fullmer

Ahh, correct. If you set it to seomthing new, then it clears its old value.

thomthom

Ruby uses garbage collection - so it keeps track of all the junk we throw about and sweeps it all away!

cjthompson

@agamemnus said:

I can't seem to convert the target groups to components fast enough -- I used 'if (current_entity.typename == "Group") // current_entity.to_component // end', but that only applies at the end of the script so I have to run it twice.. dunno how to make it convert instantly. Tried shoving "Sketchup.active_model.commit_operation" after and then converting the unique components to base components but it won't budge.

the reason why is because .to_component creates a new entity.
Try current_entity = current_entity.to_component.

thomthom

Also .typename is very slow.
Instead of current_entity.typename == "Group" use current_entity.is_a?(Sketchup::Group).
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=19576&start=0#p162235

agamemnus

Thanks guys. Got myself two more issues now, though.

The code refuses to convert lines to groups!! (I have "current_entity = current_entity.add_group")
Is there any way to make a yes/no dropdown, and if not how do I change the size (width) of the inputbox text?


require 'sketchup.rb'

module Convert_objects_randomly

 @base_entities = []
 @target_entities = []
 @convert_only_groupsinstances = true

 def Convert_objects_randomly.choosebase
  @base_entities = Sketchup.active_model.selection.to_a
  if @base_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select base groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
  end
 end


 def Convert_objects_randomly.choosetarget
  target_entities = Sketchup.active_model.selection.to_a
  if @base_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select base groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
  end

  if target_entities.empty?
   if @target_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select target groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
   end
   target_entities = @target_entities
  end
   
  target_entities.each do |current_entity|
   if current_entity.is_a?(Sketchup;;Group)
    current_entity = current_entity.to_component
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   elsif current_entity.is_a?(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance)
    current_entity = current_entity.make_unique
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   else
    current_entity = current_entity.add_group
    current_entity = current_entity.to_component
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   end 
  end

  @target_entities = target_entities
  Sketchup.active_model.commit_operation

 end

 def Convert_objects_randomly.settings
  if (@convert_only_groupsinstances == true)
   default = "yes"
  else
   default = "no"
  end
  settings_query1 = inputbox(["Convert only groups/components to base objects?"],[default],"Convert Objects Randomly Settings")
  if (settings_query1[0] == "yes")
   @convert_only_groupsinstances = true
  else
   @convert_only_groupsinstances = false
  end
 end

end #Convert_objects_randomly module


Convert_objects_randomly_menu = UI.menu("Plugins").add_submenu("Convert Objects Randomly")
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Select base objects") {Convert_objects_randomly.choosebase}
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Convert selected to random base objects") {Convert_objects_randomly.choosetarget}
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Settings") {Convert_objects_randomly.settings}

file_loaded(__FILE__)

thomthom

@agamemnus said:

The code refuses to convert lines to groups!! (I have "current_entity = current_entity.add_group")

Check the API on that method. It only belongs to Entities collections. Not single Entity
http://code.google.com/intl/nb/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/entities.html

@agamemnus said:

Is there any way to make a yes/no dropdown

Check the second example in the manual:
http://code.google.com/intl/nb/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/ui.html#inputbox

MartinRinehart

@agamemnus said:

Ok, thanks. How do I convert an entity to an entities collection?

You don't. Use an entities collection returned by the entities method:


Sketchup.active_model.entities
myGroup.entities
someComponent.entities

agamemnus

@thomthom said:

@agamemnus said:

The code refuses to convert lines to groups!! (I have "current_entity = current_entity.add_group")

Check the API on that method. It only belongs to Entities collections. Not single Entity
http://code.google.com/intl/nb/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/entities.html

@agamemnus said:

Is there any way to make a yes/no dropdown

Check the second example in the manual:
http://code.google.com/intl/nb/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/ui.html#inputbox

Ok, thanks. How do I convert an entity to an entities collection?

Edit: The textbox width is still really long, even with the dropdown now...

agamemnus

@martinrinehart said:

@agamemnus said:

Ok, thanks. How do I convert an entity to an entities collection?

You don't. Use an entities collection returned by the entities method:


> Sketchup.active_model.entities
> myGroup.entities
> someComponent.entities
>

But I can't... it's not a group or component. It's a line.... tried "current_entity = current_entity.entities", no go.

TIG

You can't convert any raw geometry to a Group.
But...

my_group=model.active_entities.add_group(my_line)

might work if the line has no face etc, then

my_instance=my_group.to_component
my_definition=my_instance.definition

Otherwise clone the line into a group and leave the original alone with

my_group=model.active_entities.add_group()
my_group.entities.add_line(my_line.start.position,my_line.end.position)

which recreates the line inside the new group...

agamemnus

Ugh. Maybe it's just better to use Chris's unsorted geometry->groups script first.

agamemnus

Okay, script 1 is finished. It could use some expansion though, possibly. (eg: (1) convert areas instead of just lines, groups, and components [hard] and (2) don't make identical unique components as options [very doable, but might not be worth it]) The only real problems now are cosmetic:

I am not sure that "Convert objects randomly" is a very good name for the script. I can't think of anything else that is both short and also semi-self-explanatory, though.
The dropdown in the "options" is too big! I don't know how to set its width.

Code:


# ----------------------------------
# ==================================
# ----------------------------------
#
# "Convert objects randomly" script
# Released into the public domain by Agamemnus.
# Version 1; November 10, 2009
# Contact the author; sketchup at flyingsoft dot phatcode dot net
#
# Purpose;
#
#     Easily converts a set of objects (target) into another set (base) randomly,
# distributed amongst members of the base set.
#
# Use;
# 1)  Select a set of objects -- currently only components and/or groups work.
# 1b) Pick "Select base objects" in "Plugins">"Convert Objects Randomly".
# 2)  Select a target set of objects -- currently only components, groups, or lines.
# 2b) Pick "Convert selected to random base objects" in "Plugins">"Convert Objects Randomly".
# 2c) Done! You may pick "Convert selected to random base objects" again if you wish --
#     your previous base and target object sets apply if you did not fundamentally change
#     (explode, convert to group, etc-- geometry editing is fine) the target components.
#
# 3) Set "Plugins">"Convert Objects Randomly">"Settings">"Convert lines to base objects?" to "YES"
#    if you want ungrouped lines in the target set to be affected. Set "NO" otherwise.
#    The default is "YES".
# 
# Behavior of result objects in version 1;
# If the picked "base" object is a group, the target object is converted into a unique component.
# If the picked "base" object is a component, the target object is converted into a component
# instance of that component type.
#
# 
# ==Miscellaneous Notes;==
# 1.) Much thanks to the Sketchup forum regulars in helping with problems in this script.
#
# 2.) Looking for Work ;(
# ...in the fields of;
# economic analysis
# business strategy
# marketing
# UI design
# web based programming
# 2D visual art
# 3D visual art.
# general programming.
# M.A. in International Economics and Finance at Brandeis IBS, BA in economics at Brandeis IBS and Brandeis University.
# 16 years of experience in amateur programming in BASIC-based languages (Basic, Freebasic, VB, etc.)
# Several years of experience in PHP and Javascript. Experience in C-LISP, Matlab, and "some"
# experience in Ruby (eh!) and C.
# Work environment must at a _minimum_ contain penguins performing tricks, live.
#
# ----------------------------------
# ==================================
# ----------------------------------

require 'sketchup.rb'

module Convert_objects_randomly

 @base_entities = []
 @target_entities = []
 @convert_lines = true

 def Convert_objects_randomly.choosebase
  @base_entities = Sketchup.active_model.selection.to_a
  if @base_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select base groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
  end
 end


 def Convert_objects_randomly.choosetarget
  target_entities = Sketchup.active_model.selection.to_a
  if @base_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select base groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
  end

  if target_entities.empty?
   if @target_entities.empty?
   results = UI.messagebox "Please select target groups and/or components first."
   Sketchup.send_action "selectSelectionTool;"
   return
   end
   target_entities = @target_entities
  end
   
  target_entities.each do |current_entity|
   if current_entity.is_a?(Sketchup;;Group)
    current_entity = current_entity.to_component
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   elsif current_entity.is_a?(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance)
    current_entity = current_entity.make_unique
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   elsif (@convert_lines == true)
    current_entity = Sketchup.active_model.active_entities.add_group(current_entity)
    current_entity = current_entity.to_component
    current_entity.definition = @base_entities[rand(@base_entities.length)].definition
   end 
  end

  @target_entities = target_entities
  Sketchup.active_model.commit_operation

 end

 def Convert_objects_randomly.settings
  if (@convert_lines == true)
   default = "yes"
  else
   default = "no"
  end
  settings_query1 = inputbox(["Convert lines to base objects? "],[default], ["yes|no"], "Convert Objects Randomly Settings")
  if (settings_query1[0] == "yes")
   @convert_lines = true
  else
   @convert_lines = false
  end
 end

end #Convert_objects_randomly module


Convert_objects_randomly_menu = UI.menu("Plugins").add_submenu("Convert Objects Randomly")
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Select base objects") {Convert_objects_randomly.choosebase}
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Convert selected to random base objects") {Convert_objects_randomly.choosetarget}
Convert_objects_randomly_menu.add_item("Settings") {Convert_objects_randomly.settings}

agamemnus

Here is a file with both scripts (random color and object), and another file that shows the result of using SketchyPhysics 3, these two scripts, and Chris Fullmer's "Scale and Rotate Multiple" and "Loose Geometry to Groups" scripts. (Gems are from the 3D Warehouse)

So now ... what if I wanted to make the result groups instead of component instances? So far the script is only converting everything to unique component instances and changing the definition. Ideally I want to just change the geometry of the groups without making unique component instances. So, assuming I could do one of these, which one is more efficient (faster), and can I even do any of these (and how) --?

Convert "target" objects to component instances based on "base" objects, then convert "target" objects back to groups and delete the components.
Convert "target" objects straight to groups based on "base" objects.

(If anyone thinks my question is unclear I would rephrase it.. I needs answers! )

convert_objects_randomly.rb

rock test.skp

Chris Fullmer

A few things. I'm getting errors when I try to run the script. I have not looked at all the code, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong yet. But, I'll try to look it over tonight.

I'm also not entirely sure what your questions are about groups and components and component instances. Maybe it will make more sense when I get the script to run all the way through. I'll try to get back to this in a few hours,

Chris

agamemnus

@chris fullmer said:

A few things. I'm getting errors when I try to run the script. I have not looked at all the code, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong yet. But, I'll try to look it over tonight.

I'm also not entirely sure what your questions are about groups and components and component instances. Maybe it will make more sense when I get the script to run all the way through. I'll try to get back to this in a few hours,

Chris

I don't know why you are getting errors. I am not getting any errors. I did not use any globals AFAIK, so that can't be it. No idea.

I'll try to rehash the question. I'm trying to convert the "target" objects into "base" objects but so far the only way to do that is to convert the "targets", if they are groups or lines, to new/unique component instances and then change the definition of that instance. Instead, I would like to either change the unique component instances back into groups (and delete the component definition), or to simply change the objects right away into groups, depending on whether any of these methods are possible and which one is faster. (see "Convert_objects_randomly.choosetarget_changeobjects")

Chris Fullmer

I am getting

Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method `definition' for #Sketchup::Group:0xa0636b0>

I am guessing you have a plugin installed that created the Group.definition method. Probably somethin by Thom or TIG? let me know what it is and I'll intall it.

Chris

TIG

You can't get a group's definition without an extra 'method'... thomthom has one - I can't find it on the forum so here it is...


class Sketchup;;Group
       # Some times the group.entities.parent refer to the wrong definition. This method checks
       # for this error and locates the correct parent definition.
       def real_parent
          if self.entities.parent.instances.include?(self)
             return self.entities.parent
          else
             Sketchup.active_model.definitions.each { |definition|
                return definition if definition.instances.include?(self)
             }
          end
          return nil # Should not happen.
       end
end

The group.entities.parent should return the group's definition BUT sometimes it fails... so use group.real_parent to replace group.definition and it should work...

Hope this helps...

agamemnus

Ok. I didn't know.. I thought it was native. Is there some way to stash this inside my script so that the method is local? Or perhaps I shouldn't worry about that? (How do I check if a method is defined? If I can't, are duplicates OK?)