Script? Lock Component placement action / lock copy command

davidlouis · 12 Feb 2010, 11:55

I think he is refering to the fact that the copy (ctrl C) paste (ctrl v) route will always place the new copy by the bottom LH corner of the bounding box (as you have stated too) whereas picking a component from the component window will drop it relative to the component axis... the same is true for the move(copy) tool... you can drag one copy of a component or object from a desired reference point but not for more than one instance.

A scenario where this might be useful is say placing a series of circular columns (objects / components) by the centre of their bottom face... your method would default to the bottom LH corner of the bounding box and thus not allow successive placements by the centre...

hmmmm....

thomthom · 12 Feb 2010, 11:56

@chrisjk said:

You can change the insertion point too OK I find now after trying it, so I am not sure why Thom says the method doesn't respect it.

When you Paste, it does not use the insertion point of the component. Instead if uses one of the corner of the bounding box.

Dave R · 12 Feb 2010, 12:11

If the insertion point (the origin of the component's axes correspond to the front, lower left corner of the component, Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V would work fine. I see exactly what DavidLouis is after. It would work much like the Paint Bucket tool in that you pick the component and every time you click somewhere, you get another copy.

I can see a lot of uses for this in the work I do. For example I have a number of drawer pulls and handles saved as components for use in other models. I've placed the insertion point so that I can quickly place them at the intersection of guidelines defining the center of the component. Placing the pulls on an 8-drawer chest is rapid now but it would be even faster with an option like DavidLouis suggests.

chrisjk · 12 Feb 2010, 13:04

But if I move the insertion point as I try to demonstrate below, I can then place copies by the new insertion point. I use a Mac - dunno if this makes a difference?

thomthom · 12 Feb 2010, 13:07

hm... maybe... I use PC. will have a look at my Mac later on.

Dave R · 12 Feb 2010, 13:27

Maybe it is different on Mac. I'll have to look, too. Here's what I get with Copy and Paste. The near knob was the first one placed from the Component library. The one that is highlighted is the result of Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V. I clicked at the intersection of the guidelines. As you can see, the insertion point has nothing to do with the location of the component axes. So, at least for those few of us using SketchUp on PCs, the proposed plugin would be a boon.

chrisjk · 12 Feb 2010, 13:42

My mistake I think..
I started to make a video showing it and now can't repeat what I thought I did to place by the new insertion point, it seems to be the bottom LH corner of the box again..

Chris Fullmer · 12 Feb 2010, 16:22

I've started writing this as it is something I have wanted in the past too. Plus a little bit of extra functionality too!

I think I'll get it out by this weekend.

Chris

davidlouis · 15 Feb 2010, 19:09

FYI for anyone who's following this feed and in particular Dave R, Chris has cracked it and written a script... It can be found on smustard http://www.smustard.com/script/RepeatCopy for a mere $6

There is a video explaining 'how to use' but i would just like to add, having given it a try that the insertion point can be customized by changing the component axes in the sample set of components before running the tool.

That way you can place the components by any reference point you wish.
This should keep you happy Dave R...

Thanks Chris for all the effort.

Later
Dave

Dave R · 15 Feb 2010, 19:15

Thanks for the update David. I'll have to check it out. I think it would certainly be worth it.

Cheers,

Dave