Creating Components in Cab.rb

Dan Rathbun · 9 Aug 2011, 01:00

I had already tried that and it doesn't work, the only way to get them to show up is to edit the component then the preview shows up. Not a big deal but was just curious if I was doing something wrong with the script/code.

Oh are these YOUR components ?? (ie, NOT Google supplied components,) that your having problems with?

See API: ComponentDefinition.refresh_thumbnail

cdefs = Sketchup.active_model.definitions
 cdefs.each {|comp| comp.refresh_thumbnail }

Dan Rathbun · 9 Aug 2011, 01:04

Also..

open the Model Info dialog.
Go to the File panel.
check the "Redefine thumbnail on save" option

Frankn · 9 Aug 2011, 02:08

See API: ComponentDefinition.refresh_thumbnail

cdefs = Sketchup.active_model.definitions
 cdefs.each {|comp| comp.refresh_thumbnail }

[/quote]

Thanks that worked perfect.

Frank

Dan Rathbun · 9 Aug 2011, 03:22

@frankn said:

I've also been looking into adding components to other components and all I found so far is some refernences to subcomponents and parent components but nowhere did I find how those work?

ALL Sketchup::ComponentDefinition objects are kept in the model's Sketchup::DefinitionList collection. ALL of them, regardless of what level any instances ( Sketchup::ComponentInstance ,) of them are inserted.
The "level" can at the top (under the model,) or nested many levels deep beneath any combination of Group / ComponentDefinition "parents".

The Entity.parent() method is inherited (down thru Sketchup:Drawingelement ,) to all the objects that can be put into a model.

So create all the component definitions you will use, and load them into the model.
To nest a component into another, insert an instance of the subcomponent, into the entities collection of another component's definition.

outer_comp_def.entities.add_instance( inner_comp_def, transform )

.. repeat to suit (ie, you can insert multiple bolt & nut component instances, in another component definition.)

P.S. (a Group is a "special" component, and so it also has a Sketchup::ComponentDefinition)

Frankn · 9 Aug 2011, 04:22

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the explanation, I think that's what I did without realizing with just trial and error... many, many errors!

I thought you might like to see what I've been working on and by default bothering you with so I included the script.

Keep in mind this is a work in progress and my first attemp at at sort of programming so go easy on me. and please feel free to comment on what I'm doing wrong or that I could improve.

Also the Drawers and Doors functions/inputs aren't implemented yet... still haven't figured that part out.

Thanks again,
Frank

Test.rb

Frankn · 9 Aug 2011, 05:06

I fixed a few things and realized I could call the instances I added to the global component by different names.

It does run slow but I still haven't looked into optimising scripts so hopefully I can speed it up some though I don't mind it though, it's faster then creating a cabinet from scratch.

Next on the to do/ to learn list is...

Creating door and drawer fronts, creating drawers... shouldn't be a problem.
Add a user defined number of shelves and insert them evenly spaced in the cabinet... I can do this manually/individually but the math involved in doing them automatically should be fun to figure out!
Same thing for door and drawer fronts.
And give a choice of creating an upper or lower cabinet since the building of these is different... I could use 2 different scripts like I did when moding the cab.rb script but I think it would be slick having it all-in-one.
Add grain direction
And eventually learning how to export the to a csv file so that I can populate an existing excel spreadsheet that I use... yes I know there are already some cut sheet/list scripts but this is more of a hobby/learning experience and I'd like to see what I can do.

That should be it but I'm already happy with the progress I've made in just 3 or 4 days or learning this stuff.

Again thanks for all the help I really appreciate your teach how to fish approach.

Frank

Test.rb