[Plugin] Import ALL from Folder

TIG · 29 May 2011, 13:37

This script has been split off from posts in a convoluted thread...

[flash=600,338:ucwt3g8e]http://www.youtube.com/v/0TCYfNQVB6U[/flash:ucwt3g8e]

(c) TIG 2009-2020

import_from_folder.rb

Run the tool by typing
TIG::import_from_folder
in the Ruby Console or picking 'Import ALL from Folder' from the File menu.
In the dialog that appears navigate to the required Folder and pick one
File of the 'type' to be imported.
e.g. select any 'geometry' type [some are available for 'Pro' only]
skp, dwg, dxf, kml, dae, 2ds, dem, ddf, stl
or image files
png, jpg, tif, psd, tga, bmp
Images are 'imported' differently... They come in with their width/height
in inches based on their pixel-size, and they line up along X-axis [red]
ALL files of the 'type' you selected will be imported from that folder
into the Model.
SKPs produce an extra request on 'placement'...
Progress of each file is shown in the VCB...

Download from the PluginStore http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=import_from_folder

Bob James · 29 May 2011, 19:18

Can they be imported as textures rather than images and put into their own rectangles? This would be a great way to add to a favorites material folder.

TIG · 29 May 2011, 19:21

@bob james said:

Can they be imported as textures rather than images and put into their own rectangles? This would be a great way to add to a favorites material folder.

That's another Plugin
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=241
massmaterialimporter.rb by Adam Beazley, tweaked by me...
Makes materials from image files in a folder... each named after the image-file and using that image as its texture...

Bob James · 30 May 2011, 22:35

Thank you, TIG. You guys are amazing
You and your fellow ruby gurus are what turn SU from a great program to a untouchably superior program.

Thank you again for this and your many other generous contributions.

Bob James · 18 Jun 2011, 00:04

@tig said:

That's another Plugin
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=241
massmaterialimporter.rb by Adam Beazley, tweaked by me...
Makes materials from image files in a folder... each named after the image-file and using that image as its texture...

A oldy but goody!!
I imported all of my textures, one group at at time (e.g. metals). I then dragged them down into either an existing materials folder or added a new folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Materials.

I can use all of them.

The big question I have is: where are they stored?
They do not appear in the folders in C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Materials.
For example, when I open C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Materials\Metal, there are 21 files. But when I open the Materials Window and click on Metals, there are 195

I really need to know why they are stored so I can back them up as .skm files.

TIG · 18 Jun 2011, 08:52

They are made as new materials in the current Model materials.
You must save them as external SKM files just like you would with any material you have created that you might want to have for reuse in another SKP...
To save all Model Materials as external SKM files use the Material Browser's "Save collection as..." option [accessed from the pop-out menu from browser's right-hand menu-arrow] and locate in any folder you wish, it should start in ../Materials, give it a new subfolder as appropriate... or to save an individual material as a SKM use the "Save As" option accessed by the right-click context menu when one material is selected. You can also open a second folder pane in the browser [top-right + button] and navigate to the required folder to take the new materials, and then drag your desired materials one at a time from the Model materials pane and drop them into that other folder's pane, to make SKM copies of them externally...
So to recap there are three ways to make external SKM files from the Model's materials - either all at once as a 'collection', or one at a time with 'save as', or one at a time by drag+drop into a selected folder...

TIG · 18 Jun 2011, 09:42

If you've used the drag method and the SKM files still aren't showing up then open the Materials folder [subfolder if used] and check your permissions [security] settings - you need to have all rights to add files etc.
On Vista [and Win7] there's the dreaded/stupid 'Compatibilty Files' issue. Your PC lets you [seemingly] add files to a folder that has limited permissions. These then don't show up when you next look for them - they have actually be put into a 'Compatibilty Files' folder that you then have the chance to merge back into the intended folder - it's frankly madness to protect you from yourself to this extent - especially when it doesn't explicitly tell you what it's done! If a folder has these 'Compatibilty Files' issues there's usually a button on the top window bar with that name, to show it and allow you access to these...
It can be very very annoying!! I experienced it when I first got Vista and a new Sketchup install... I suggest that you go through all of the folders in your ../Sketchup folder to which you are likely to want to add files - e.g. ../Plugins, ../Materials, ../Components and ../Styles - and ensure you have full access-rights to these and all of their subfolders... then there should be no more 'Compatibilty Files' issues at least

Bob James · 20 Jun 2011, 19:16

@tig said:

These then don't show up when you next look for them - they have actually be put into a 'Compatibilty Files' folder that you then have the chance to merge back into the intended folder

I suggest that you go through all of the folders in your ../Sketchup folder to which you are likely to want to add files - e.g. ../Plugins, ../Materials, ../Components and ../Styles - and ensure you have full access-rights to these and all of their subfolders... then there should be no more 'Compatibilty Files' issues at least

I finally found the "Compatibility Files" location. There is no such folder name per se. For future reference by other users having this problem it is:
C:\Users\jamesb*AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Materials*.
Thank you for your help. I never would have thought of looking for them

I had my IT people give me permissions and ownership to the SketchUp files, but this did not solve the problem. So I'm just dragging and dropping from the "Compatibility Folders" to the Materials folder at C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Materials

Seems like there should be a cleaner way to get new materials/textures into SU.

TIG · 20 Jun 2011, 21:31

Windows 7 even decided to rename the 'compatibility' folder when compared to Vista

It wouldn't be so bad if it explicitly told you what it was doing, rather than subtly moving them into a side-folder !!!

Your IT guys need to ensure that all suitable users have full rights to read/write/add/change/delete files/subfolders/etc in the various subfolders of Sketchup that they WILL need to access [at least on occasion]... like Plugins, Components, Styles, Materials...

This is not exceptional - it should be the norm for all [except the most junior/reckless] members of staff...

It's not Sketchup's fault it's your IT guys...

Camille Morrison · 2 Aug 2011, 18:21

Hi I am trying to use the dwg/plugin but I don't know how to get it to work, I tried running it from start/run but it doesn't work

TIG · 3 Aug 2011, 10:28

Camille

What dwg-plugin ?
The DWG Exporter is one of the types accessed off Sketchup's File > Export menu - that's Pro only though ?? No 'plugin' file is needed as that is an exporter [.dll on PC] supplied with Sketchup itself.

BUT do you mean this thread's plugin tool...

Plugins are not 'run' like external apps they [typically a plugin is named 'xxxxxxxx.rb'] go in the Plugins folder and either appear in a menu or are activated in other ways from within Sketchup itself - as explained in the download page for each tool... so for this tool it says...

Run the tool by typing
TIG::import_from_folder
in the [Window >] Ruby Console, or picking ' Import ALL from Folder' from the [Sketchup] File menu.

mattao987 · 30 Nov 2012, 01:26

Hi TIG,

Thanks for your plugin with is really useful.

I'd like to add an optionnal STAGE in your script.

Once a file is imported, i'd like to create a new layer named by reference to the file name with a suffix.
Let's say Wonka_Niv1
Then, Group all the freshly imported items on this new layer.
Then proceed to the next file.

Could you be kind enough to assist me?

TIG · 30 Nov 2012, 10:20

@mattao987 said:

...I'd like to add an optionnal STAGE in your script.
Once a file is imported, i'd like to create a new layer named by reference to the file name with a suffix.
Let's say Wonka_Niv1
Then, Group all the freshly imported items on this new layer.
Then proceed to the next file...

What file type are you importing?
SKP and Others need to be treated differently...
Obviously none of this 'Layering' stuff will ever work with imported 'Images' !!

For non-SKP files:
Provided there is at least one object already in the receiving-SKP, then all imported formats [other than a SKP] will already import as a component named after the file - e.g. "Wonka_Niv1.dwg".
So after line#84:
model.import(file,false)
add these lines:
unless File.extname(list[0]).downcase==".skp" ins=model.definitions[File.basename(file)].instances[0] ins.layer=model.layers.add(File.basename(file, ".*")) end#if
Note: this uses the imported files 'basename' [e.g. "Wonka_Niv1"], to use the full name with say its '.dwg. suffix use ...add(File.basename(file)) instead

For SKP imports you will need to edit another part of the code:
after line#107:
ins=model.active_entities.add_instance(defn,tr)
add this:
ins.layer=model.layers.add(name)
This uses the imported SKP's name, without any '.skp' suffix [e.g. "Wonka_Niv1"] - but if you want to add one, then change ...add(name) to ...add(File.basename(file))

This should do what you want...

mattao987 · 5 Dec 2012, 01:40

I encounter some errors at the script loading ( sketchup launch time )

Loading File import_from_folder.rb
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/import_from_folder.rb:89: parse error, unexpected '}', expecting kEND
}
^
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/import_from_folder.rb:124: parse error, unexpected kEND, expecting '}'
end#def import_from_folder
^
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/import_from_folder.rb:134: parse error, unexpected $, expecting '}'

I've tried a BBedit editing and I suspect some bad editing error. ( I am not a programmer as you can see )

I've tried to edit the code after sketchup launch and it works one time but only one.

Could you help?

import_from_folder.rb

mattao987 · 5 Dec 2012, 01:51

Maybe I could use this commandm=Sketchup.active_model;m.start_operation('c');m.active_entities.each{|e|next unless e.is_a?(Sketchup::ComponentInstance);n=e.definition.name;l=m.layers.add(n);e.layer=l};m.commit_operation

TIG · 5 Dec 2012, 10:09

@mattao987 said:

Maybe I could use this commandm=Sketchup.active_model;m.start_operation('c');m.active_entities.each{|e|next unless e.is_a?(Sketchup::ComponentInstance);n=e.definition.name;l=m.layers.add(n);e.layer=l};m.commit_operation
BUT that only puts component-instances in the active_entities context onto layers named after their definitions.
The original .rb file in the first post in the thread works just fine.
I can see you have changed some of it in your example...
Why?
I'm not going to look farther into it as I don't understand what you are attempting to do...
What are you trying to do differently, when compared to the original code ?
Obviously you have messed up your version that you you attached, it's broken around line#89

driven · 5 Jan 2013, 00:44

@tig said:

Why?
I'm not going to look farther into it as I don't understand what you are attempting to do...

hi Tig,
I think he's on a mac, as I just tried to run it and got similar errors.
As I only needed one folder of images I pulled the bits out and line fed Ruby Console, to ascertain what worked, oddly it was failing at every return and worked when they were removed? is it a 1.8.5 ruby issue? I cobbled the bits that worked in a new file and ran it fine, if you want to see it I can PM...

john

mattao987 · 5 Jan 2013, 01:02

Sorry for this long absence, ( a long serie of "bugs" in my working life )

I've just tried the editing of the code with BBEdit cos it was not working on my mac.

My goal is to achieve a fast import of files exported from VectorWorks through the DWG plug-in.
I got a very good answer with your script but I hoped to get it one step beyond

(Please pardon me my bad english)