[Plugin] Pen Tool +

EarthMover

Not to play the rat here, but wouldn't that be best implemented as a 'begin (within) new group model now' thing, rather than something limited to line creation?

Most of the Tools on Surface from Fredo come with an option to create within a new group. I use that one quite a bit, but those tools don't always work as expected when not drawing on a surface. It's easy enough to just draw two lines, group them, open the group, then delete the lines and you're in a group where any native tools apply. I just figured most modeling starts with the line tool, so if that initiated the group, you could continue with any other tools from within it and be ahead of the game. I use this most often when tracing perimeters for contours or use with instant site grader plugin.

rumcajs

I did draw many soft edges, while I corrected rounded corners on object. Later suddenly the tool stopped working and it draws only hard edges, anywhere. I'd stress a lot with it, but nothing helped.

http://i46.tinypic.com/288wq5e.png

When I draw hard edges to triangle, the connected lines do not create a face.

pbacot

@rumcajs said:

I did draw many soft edges, while I corrected rounded corners on object. Later suddenly the tool stopped working and it draws only hard edges, anywhere. I'd stress a lot with it, but nothing helped.

http://i46.tinypic.com/288wq5e.png

When I draw hard edges to triangle, the connected lines do not create a face.

IDK about your first question, but on the Second: Note that the "Edge" tool "E" is designed NOT to form faces to provide that option. The "LINE" tool "L" will form faces.

In regards to the Soft Draw tool I do find that it will only draw soft lines (hidden geometry ON) when connecting across a face. For me it will not draw soft edges in open space as shown in the video.

ideas_arte

¡Thanks!

rumcajs

The Soft edge tool can close faces. But I did not used Edge tool (!). I used Soft edge - "S" tool, but it draws hard edges instead soft. But I did cca 20-40 faces with soft tool and soft edges when I started the model. And later it stopped to work. So strange. I like the Soft edge tool very much, because it can save a lot of time, but one needs to know, why it fails to draw soft edges occasionally.

matt.gordon320

Hi Rich! Thanks again for releasing what has been one of my favorite plugins. I've started setting up the SketchUp installs for my firm, and I've got a little quirk to pass by you:

I'm using Fredo6's 000_Additionalpluginsfolder.rb to pull scripts from a network hard drive to each individual station. For some reason I can't work out, the icons for PenTools don't show up, I just get a blank tool bar, though the buttons and the menu items under the draw menu work fine. In short, the script works, but the icons are missing!

Any thoughts on where to start looking?

Thanks!

-Matt

TIG

@matt.gordon320 said:

Hi Rich! Thanks again for releasing what has been one of my favorite plugins. I've started setting up the SketchUp installs for my firm, and I've got a little quirk to pass by you:

I'm using Fredo6's 000_Additionalpluginsfolder.rb to pull scripts from a network hard drive to each individual station. For some reason I can't work out, the icons for PenTools don't show up, I just get a blank tool bar, though the buttons and the menu items under the draw menu work fine. In short, the script works, but the icons are missing!

Any thoughts on where to start looking?

Thanks!

-Matt
Edit the main file PenTool+.rb with a plain-text editor [like Notepad or Notepad++]
Find line #1773...
plugins = Sketchup.find_support_file("Plugins")
change it to:
plugins = File.dirname(__FILE__)
and then Save the file.
Restart SketchUp, and it should now find the custom plugins-folder location OK...

Rich should really make this simple amendment to his toolset to allow wider use of custom plugins-folders easier... It's one of the few that still use the outdated find_support_file which always looks to the main Plugins folder

Rich O Brien

@Matt

Silent update in the PluginStore

NOTE: If upgrading from 1.5 to 1.6.0 please delete the Pen Tool+.rb file and rob_hsltool folder from your plugins folder.

matt.gordon320

Thanks both TIG and Rich!

alexkara

The first time I use any of the pen tools, tool a line is automatically drawn from my starting point to the central Axis. Thereafter it behaves OK. This happens also when I change back to it.

Anyone have this issue and is there a workaround I am missing.

Dave R

I'm not seeing that at all with these tools.

What operating system, SketchUp version, etc.? Please complete your profile.

alexkara

I have updated my profile.

Tried to attach a screen dump but did not know how.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Pherim

I have the same issue, but only in Sketchup 2015 64bit. Are you sure your profile is correctly updated? It works for me in SU 2013 without problems.

Also, soft draw doesn't work at all in SU2015, the lines start from the origin and are not softened, and weld draw always generates a new line from the origin with every click instead of a continuous line.

TIG

There is v1.7.0 updated in the PluginStore http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=Pen_Tools I've updated it for Rich - it now avoids the errors causing the first point to auto-create and to always be at the origin, and also some of the tools [like soft/weld] to be messed up completely...

If you get issues with tools like this, then it's always useful to try them with the Ruby Console open and pass on any errors.
In the case of these 'Pen Tools' there were clear error-messages relating to the string translations, which worked with earlier versions of SketchUp if the 'example,rb' tools had also been setup, but which now no longer work with newer SUp versions, and Ruby2 is not as forgiving either !

It was a simple fix to edit the file and delete the 21 erroneous 'langhandler' calls highlighted in the error-messages...

I think it now works fine - please test and report if I'm wrong !

Clayton49

To all,

I was looking for a tool to just draw dashed lines, this tool seems to suggest it can do this o.k. therefore does it work with SU-PRO-2017 ? Or is there another tool that can draw dashed lines or various line styles similar to plain 2D-CAD ?

I seem to remember a set of tools that just functioned like 2D-CAD, but unsure if it had line style options ?

Anyway a tool like this would be quite useful to add further detail to extracted sectional model views for floor plans etc, as not everything needs to be modeled in 3D-SU. 2D items like: plan doors swings, plaster lines & symbols to name a few.

Over & out,
CJT54

Dave R

There is a tool for drawing guides that you might use as dashed lines but remember, they will be deleted if you hit Delete Guides.

Screenshot - 7_30_2017 , 2_26_47 PM.png

TIG's 2D Tools has a tool that can draw "styled" lines. You might check that out.

Clayton49

@dave r said:

There is a tool for drawing guides that you might use as dashed lines but remember, they will be deleted if you hit Delete Guides.

[attachment=0:otl9wsk6]Screenshot - 7_30_2017 , 2_26_47 PM.png[/attachment:otl9wsk6]

TIG's 2D Tools has a tool that can draw "styled" lines. You might check that out.

Hi Dave-R,

Yes, the TIG'S-2D-TOOLS is what I'm after, but see it's not SU-PRO-2017 validated... grrr...I'll have to post something on that on the forum to see if it's o.k. to use.

Thanks,
Over & out,
CJT54

Rich O Brien

It's fine to use.

Just set your restriction policy in the extension manager to not be over zealous.

Dave R

It works just fine with SketchUp 2017. The fact that it shows as "unsigned" doesn't mean it won't work.