Download to Sketchup button

ericschimel

Well, I think I may hire someone to do this for me, I am just trying to get a "Proof of concept" going so I can test out its functionality, and then pass it on to the real programmers to make perfect.

I have found plenty of examples of the web dialog being implemented, thats how I was able to pull that off. I haven't been able to find any examples of where someone has opened a web dialog and sent a model into Sketchup from a website.

You saying that the example is buggy makes me not feel so warm a fuzzy about learning off of that example, I'd rather see one that works.

Dan Rathbun

@unknownuser said:

You saying that the example is buggy makes me not feel so warm a fuzzy about learning off of that example, I'd rather see one that works.

Eric, The 'bugs' are not that bad:

read this thread, it is an example of one of the 'issues' with the API
sample (it's not module wrapped.)
http://groups.google.com/group/sketchupruby/browse_frm/thread/4f22a3a...

below 'class LoadHandler', add this line:
attr_reader(:error)

in 'method onFailure', make this change:
rename $last_error to @error so the line reads:
@error = error_message

now the if statement will work correctly.

The whole thing (for YOUR plugin, plus any other code) needs to be wrapped in a module SketchTHIS block. You MAY have nested modules and classes inside your Top Level Namespace (SketchTHIS.) If you plan more than one plugin, that works with your site, OR is 'site-branded' each should be (or end up in,) in it's own submodule, beneath the outer namespace SketchTHIS. Read the post at Google Groups to see how to use file spanning. (It means even if you don't know what the next plugin will be named, or how many you may end up with; each will be protected from each other in their own namespace; all will be protected from the rest of the Ruby plugin world.)
NOTE, that for module and class names, Ruby may not allow the use of a '!' character; it's kind of reserved for method names and a form of the not operator, (as in !=) 'not equal to'.

**You might have missed the fact that the use of a LoadHandler class object is optional.

You can always just use (for testing):
Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url("myurl/comp.skp")
within the WebDialog callback method, that executes when the user clicks the "download to model" button. (The filename part of the url string changes of course, depending on the file.)

The component is added to the InModel Component List, but an instance is NOT added to the actual model. (The user would need to drag&drop into the model, in the normal way of adding a component instance to
the model.)

I think that's what you are after?

ericschimel

I think this is what I am after...

I am good with the Ruby code, where I am confused is how to implement this on the server side. If I have a hyperlink to a file, what has to happen for Sketchup to insert, rather then download the model?

Jim

using load_from_url puts the download in the Component browser. You then need to place an instance in the model using either Model.place_component or Entities.add_instance.

ericschimel

I understand that, I did find those commands in the Ruby docs, my question is this:

Those commands, from what I understand, need to be generated when the user clicks on a model. How do I make that happen? A standard hyperlink won't do it....

Jim

For that to work, your user needs to be viewing your web page in a WebDialog opened from SketchUp.

The hyperlink does not href the model, but rather it might look something like the following, although it could be any element not just an anchor.


<a href="#" onclick="skp;download_model@modelname.skp">Download Model</a>
or
<span onclick="skp;download_model@model_url>Download This</span>

which calls the WebDialog callback named "download_model" and passes in the filename.

# Then in the Ruby plug-in;
@dialog.add_action_callback("download_model") { |dlg, args|
  Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(args)
}

In a nutshell, the html code sends the model name or url to the Ruby plug-in, which then uses load_from_url to download the model.

ericschimel

Aha! That was the thing I was looking for! Now that I know how to send commands down to Sketchup through the web dialog, I can start experimenting!

I'll let you know how it works for me...

Thanks so much!

ericschimel

Ok Jim, I used your code exactly as you posted it. The method I used in my webpage was your "href" method. The only thing I changed was switching "modelname.skp" for "test.skp" which is a Sketchup model of the same name that I have in the same directory as the web page.

I am getting a script error whenever I load the web page in Sketchup. The error, near as I can tell, points to the ":" in the command. Why? I have no clue... Perhaps there needs to be some additional code in the HTML of my web page? Right now the only code in it at all is the "href" command.

See attached file for the screenshot of the error.

By the way, I added the code exactly as you posted it into my Ruby code. Sketchup seems to like it so far, I suspect that the script error I am getting has nothing to do with the Ruby code, as I don't think the Ruby has even been used yet, because of the error in the web page.

@jim said:

For that to work, your user needs to be viewing your web page in a WebDialog opened from SketchUp.

The hyperlink does not href the model, but rather it might look something like the following, although it could be any element not just an anchor.


> <a href="#" onclick="skp;download_model@modelname.skp">Download Model</a>
> or
> <span onclick="skp;download_model@model_url>Download This</span>
>

which calls the WebDialog callback named "download_model" and passes in the filename.

# Then in the Ruby plug-in;
> @dialog.add_action_callback("download_model") { |dlg, args|
>   Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(args)
> }

In a nutshell, the html code sends the model name or url to the Ruby plug-in, which then uses load_from_url to download the model.

Script error.PNG

Jim

Because I made a mistake!


onclick="window.location='skp;download_model@modelname.skp'"

ericschimel

Thanks Jim for correcting it... Now I can load the page with no script errors.

I am having an issue with the Ruby code I think... I haven't seen any Ruby code with an "@" symbol in front of it, so I tried it with, and without, and I still not getting any results.

I checked with the Ruby console, and there seems to be an error with the "add action callback" line. Should it matter where in the Ruby I place the code? and what other code is in there? Currently, all my Ruby does is open a web dialog first, then the "Add action callback line is in there" and then there is the code to place an icon in its own toolbar, and in the "plugins" menu. That's it.

See the screenshot for the Ruby console...

Once I see this working one time, I should be able to get things moving on my own....

ruby console.PNG

Dan Rathbun

@unknownuser said:

I am having an issue with the Ruby code I think... I haven't seen any Ruby code with an "@" symbol in front of it, so I tried it with, and without, and I still not getting any results.

Well, Jim doesn't realize how much your a spankin'-newbie at Ruby.

In Jim's example the '@dialog' refers to YOUR WebDialog instance reference name, whatever it is you chose to name it in the constructor statement (example):
@dialog = UI::WebDialog.new( ..*parameters*.. )

IF you named it "SketchTHISdlg", then your constructor statement should look something like ( with proper parameters, of course.):
SketchTHISdlg = UI::WebDialog.new( ..*parameters*.. )
then the block to create the callback method, would be (like):
# Then in the SketchTHIS Ruby plug-in: SketchTHISdlg.add_action_callback("download_model") { |dlg, args| Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(args) }

Both Jim and I are hoping you have wrapped your plugin within a module, and this is why Jim used an instance type reference (' @dialog'); my example uses a module constant (' SketchTHISdlg'); both can work, or you can use a module/class reference that begins with @@, as in ' @@mydialogname'.

ericschimel

Ok, so if I understand this correctly, the "add action callback" command needs to know what window the commands are coming from. So, when you create a web window, you name it. Naturally, the "add action callback" would need to have the same name as your window. That makes sense to me, if I am reading everything correctly.

So, I went ahead and switched the name that Jim gave me as a filler name, and put my dialog name in, and it still doesn't work. In the Ruby console I am getting a "uninitialized constant" error.

As far as wrapping stuff up in modules, I think I understand the concept of that, but at this point, I think its way over my head...

Here is the entire ruby script I am using:

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

require 'sketchup.rb'

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

def create_dialog

	dlg = UI;;WebDialog.new("SketchThisNET", true, "", 1200, 800, 150, 150, true);
	dlg.set_url "file;///C;/Users/Eric/Documents/SketchThis/TEST2.html"
	dlg.show


	
	SketchThisNET.add_action_callback("download_model") { |dlg, args|
  Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(args)
}

end

if( not file_loaded?("SketchThisNET.rb") )
    add_separator_to_menu("Plugin")
    UI.menu("Plugin").add_item("SketchThis.NET") { create_dialog }

  toolbar = UI;;Toolbar.new "www.SketchThis.NET"
     # This toolbar icon simply displays Hello World on the screen
     cmd = UI;;Command.new("www.SketchThis.NET") { 
       create_dialog
     }
     cmd.small_icon = "SketchThisSmallIcon.png"
     cmd.large_icon = "SketchThisLargeIcon.png"
     cmd.tooltip = "www.SketchThis.NET"
     cmd.status_bar_text = "www.SketchThis.NET Toolbar"
     cmd.menu_text = "SketchThis"
     toolbar = toolbar.add_item cmd
     toolbar.show

end

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
file_loaded("SketchThisNET.rb")

Dan Rathbun

Eric, on you on a PC or a Mac?

Dan Rathbun

@unknownuser said:

As far as wrapping stuff up in modules, I think I understand the concept of that, but at this point, I think its way over my head...

Ok.. homework assignment time. Your homework is to go and read this tutorial:
Ruby User's Guide

ericschimel

I am on both the PC and the Mac. I am mostly working on a PC though.

So did I miss something obvious on my current situation, or will I find the answers in the users guide?

thomthom


def create_dialog

   dlg = UI;;WebDialog.new("SketchThisNET", true, "", 1200, 800, 150, 150, true);
   dlg.set_url "file;///C;/Users/Eric/Documents/SketchThis/TEST2.html"
   dlg.show


   
   SketchThisNET.add_action_callback("download_model") { |dlg, args|
  Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(args)
}

end

When you create your webdialog
dlg = UI::WebDialog.new("SketchThisNET", true, "", 1200, 800, 150, 150, true);

here, the variable dlg is your reference to the webdialog. This is what you must use to refer to the dialog.

Later on when you do SketchThisNET.add_action_callback("download_model")
This is incorrect. It should be dlg.add_action_callback("download_model")

I take it that you tried to refer to the webdialog by using the title you assigned the webdialog window when you created it?

thomthom

@dan rathbun said:

Well I asked because your path in this statement:
dlg.set_url "file:///C:/Users/Eric/Documents/SketchThis/TEST2.html"
is a mixture of a Mac path and a Windows path !

? That's a valid URI to a local file.
When I have a file in my Documents folder and open it in Firefox, the path in the location bar is: file:///C:/Users/Thomas/Documents/test.html.

Also, localhost is not required.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_URI_scheme

Dan Rathbun

@thomthom said:

here, the variable dlg is your reference to the webdialog. This is what you must use to refer to the dialog.

True what Thomas says, but dlg is a local reference so when the method ends, Ruby may dispose of the object.

Eric, wrap your code in a module block as I showed you, AND rename all occurances of dlg to @dlg as Jim suggested. Then the object will persist, because it's an instance reference of module SketchTHIS.

The other issue you have is each time the menu or toolbar is used your calling SketchTHIS.create_dialog. You can add a nil test:
Inside the module:

def dlg
  (defined? @dlg).nil? ? nil ; @dlg
end

Then at the bottom of your code, where you define your UI::Command object, change the code between the curly braces from:
create_dialog
to:

if SketchTHIS.dlg.nil?
  SketchTHIS.create_dialog
else
  SketchTHIS.dlg.show
end

Then move the menu separator and menu add item statements down below the statements for the toolbar (ie: after your UI::Command is defined,) and change the statement in the menu_add_item curly braces to cmd
That way both toolbar and menu item use the same code in the UI::Command object.

ericschimel

Ok, so here's what I've got (I think I've made some progress)

I followed Thomthoms suggestions, and of course they didn't work. (I am sure I am 100% at fault!) HOWEVER... I checked with the ruby console, and I found an error for "invalid model url"

ruby console.PNG

I had the model in the same directory as the web page, and I assumed that is where it would be looked for. However, it also occured to me that it might need to go in the same folder as the plugin, so I tried that, and still no dice...

The good news here (I think) is that I've got Sketchup and my web dialog talking to each other!

Here is the link I am using to try to send my model into Sketchup (the one that generates the "invalid model URL error)

<a href="#" onclick="window.location='skp:download_model@test.skp'">Download Model</a>

To Dan... Yes, I did copy the file locations right out of Firefox. Those URL's are going to acutlaly be on my webserver. They do work, why, I am not sure, but they do.

Also, about the module situation, after doing some more reading, I think I am starting to understand the benefit of making this into a module. I am not going to go there just yet because I just need to get this thing working, then I can worry about making it "neater".

As far as putting the plugin in a special directory, I want to do that, I am just trying to tackle one thing at a time. Great suggestions, and I WILL be following them, I am just trying not to let my head explode over what is probably a simple task for you Ruby pros!

Thanks for all the help so far guys, I am really learning a lot!

Dan Rathbun

@unknownuser said:

... I checked with the ruby console, and I found an error for "invalid model url"
Because the test your running is not how the plugin is going to run later. I made a comment in an earlier post (perhaps over at Google Groups,) about how the URL link would stay the same, EXCEPT for the skp filename. [see below]

But for simplicity of testing on your local machine, set up the following folders starting from your root directory (and yes, Windows doesn't care if a folder is named "www.sketchthis.net"):
C:/www.sketchthis.net/Downloads/Gallery/catagory
put test.skp in the catagory folder, along with it's test.png thumbnail
put the gallery.html (now called TEST2.html) webpage in the Gallery folder
the plugin ruby script should be in the Sketchup Plugins folder (for testing, later it can go in a subfolder called Plugins/SketchTHIS.)
Below, when you read the webbased URLs, for testing, replace "http://" with "file://C:/"

@unknownuser said:

I had the model in the same directory as the web page, and I assumed that is where it would be looked for.
No. Ruby always looks in the current Ruby working directory. Ruby does not use the Windows PATH environment variable.
Webpages are easiest if you use a <BASE> url tag, then they will start a file search from that. So plan on using a <BASE> tag in your Gallery webpage, and a Ruby Constant named BASEURL in your module, so it does not need to be passed back and forth. It CAN be passed once (so you have the option of moving things around on your website, without needing to redistribute the plugin.)

@unknownuser said:

... However, it also occured to me that it might need to go in the same folder as the plugin, so I tried that, and still no dice...
No the plugin is client-side. The models will be in a Gallery subfolder on your website.

@unknownuser said:

... Here is the link I am using to try to send my model into Sketchup (the one that generates the "invalid model URL error):

<a href="#" onclick="window.location='skp:download_model@test.skp'">Download Model</a>
OK the problem is, you will have 3 (three) parts to the URL: BASEURL, Catagory (a Gallery subfolder name,) and skp filename.

In your HTML <HEAD> section, you'd have this:
<BASE id='baseURL' href="http://www.sketchthis.net/Downloads/Gallery/"/>
In your HTML <BODY> tag, you'd have this:
<BODY id='body' onload="init();">
After your BODY end tag:
%(#804000)[</BODY>
<SCRIPT>]
%(#8000BF)[function init() {
window.location='skp:set_baseURL@'+document.getElementById('baseURL').href;
// any other init tasks
}]
%(#804000)[</SCRIPT>
</HTML>]
So the links (which will likely be thumbnail images rather than text <A> links,) would look like this:
<IMG href="catagory/test.png" onclick="window.location='skp:download_model@'+'catagory/test.skp'">Download Model test.skp</a>
It's also likely you'd want these IMG links to be auto generated by Javascript or PHP tags, from whatever model files are in a given catagory subfolder.

Then in your Ruby WebDialog SketchTHIS.create_dialog method:
You'd change the set_url:
EDIT: Change the entry point for the Gallery, for future freedom of changing website folder heirarchy, without needing to redistribute the plugin. The entry page is a small redirect page, which we'll call "go_gallery.html" that loads whatever the Gallery page is, from whatever it's current location is within the website. (Was hardcoded to a specific URL to "gallery.html")
@dlg.set_url('http://www.sketchthis.net/go_gallery.html')
You'd add another callback:
@dlg.add_action_callback('set_baseURL') { |dlg, args| SketchTHIS::BASEURL=args }
and change this callback:
EDIT: + (string concat) was << (string append), in error
@dlg.add_action_callback('download_model') { |dlg, args| modelURL = SketchTHIS::BASEURL + args Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load_from_url(modelURL) }

@unknownuser said:

To Dan... Yes, I did copy the file locations right out of Firefox. Those URL's are going to actually be on my webserver. They do work, why, I am not sure, but they do.
Well, FireFox has nothing to do with Sketchup WebDialogs (they use MSIE on PC, and Safari on Mac.) Client-side-like pathnames may not be best for server-side folder heirarchy. You already have a "Downloads" folder which can be the Gallery "top" folder, or as in the example above you can have a "Gallery" sub-folder of "Downloads", and in that the gallery.html webpage that gets loaded into the Sketchup WebDialog. Beneath that folder, can be catagorical folders holding skp models and their png thumbnails. The user would click on catagory buttons to see the image lists from the subfolders.

@unknownuser said:

Also, about the module situation, after doing some more reading, I think I am starting to understand the benefit of making this into a module. I am not going to go there just yet because I just need to get this thing working, then I can worry about making it "neater".
As far as putting the plugin in a special directory, I want to do that, I am just trying to tackle one thing at a time.
It's not about 'neatness' Eric, these things are fundamental, they need to be done at the start, not later, so you don't paint yourself in a corner, or have problems like your having.
As far as where the client-side plugin goes, you don't really have a choice because of how Sketchup works. It looks in the Plugins heirarchy for plugins. Users will NOT want you installing them anywhere else, most especially not in their User/Documents folder heirarchy.
So you WILL have a plugin registration script in the Plugins folder, that (if turned on by the user,) loads your plugin from the Plugins/SketchTHIS folder.