[plugin]Random replacement of components

sdmitch · 22 Jun 2011, 16:50

First, there is no reason the change the component.definition.name only the component.name which is the only thing that the plugin checks for. If you select those components that you want to use as the Source set then, from the ruby console, "Sketchup.active_model.selection.each{|c| c.name='Source'}" will properly identify them as the Source set. Substitute 'Target' for 'Source' to identify the selected Target set.

pilou · 22 Jun 2011, 16:58

I will change again my tut
PS You can make the same for Target's Components
"Sketchup.active_model.selection.each{|c| c.name='Target'}"

sdmitch · 22 Jun 2011, 19:24

Pilou, Thanks again for providing the tutorial. It looks perfect!!!

pilou · 22 Jun 2011, 22:26

In fact that is some redundant with the use of the Dialog box Info for rename a group of components!

pilou · 27 Jun 2011, 00:32

Little teaser
The 24 position Plug always by Sdmitch will be released in a few time!
A very pleasant plug!

Edson · 27 Jun 2011, 11:38

@sdmitch said:

In response to http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=37434 and others, I have written a plugin to accomplish this given two sets of components, a source set and a target set. These sets are identified by giving all the members of the set the same component name. Components also have a definition name which is what is entered when the component is created. The component name is displayed and can be assigned in the Entity Info panel. The appearence of a component is determined by the definition assigned to it by the definition name. If a sub-set of target components are pre-selected, then only those will be randomly changed.

it would be great if the plugin's author could explain how to use it or, better still, post a tutorial showing it.

sorry, pilou, but yours is not that clear to me.

pilou · 27 Jun 2011, 11:51

@Edson ("Definition Name" and "Name" are two distinc thing in a component)
select some components with different "Definition Name" in any position
Give the "Name" Source to these selection with the Info Dialog box

Draw another one component: Draw copy past it anywhere you want in any position
Select all these copies
Give the "Name" Target to the all selection copies with the Info Dialog box

launch the plugin Random Replacement
I can't be more clear

(the 24 positions is another plugin not yet released

Edson · 27 Jun 2011, 12:34

@unknownuser said:

@Edson ("Definition Name" and "Name" are two distinc thing in a component)
select some components with different "Definition Name" in any position
Give the "Name" Source to these selection with the Info Dialog box

Draw another one component: Draw copy past it anywhere you want in any position
Select all these copies
Give the "Name" Target to the all selection copies with the Info Dialog box

launch the plugin Random Replacement
I can't be more clear

(the 24 positions is another plugin not yet released

thanks, pilou. you are right: in writing, the explanation is very clear.

I have been asking for a similar plugin for a long time but no one seemed willing to create one. for me it will be very useful to randomize vegetation and windows (closed, open, half this, half that, etc).

a comment though: one does not necessarily have to name the source components source and the target ones target for the plugin to work. first I named them as you suggested and then I named them 1 and 2. the plugin worked in both situations. so, as long as there is a named source group and a named target group it works fine.

pilou · 27 Jun 2011, 12:36

@Edson

No, Source and Target are not nescessary names
It's just these given by default in the dialog box
you can put any names you want (of course these that you have yet renamed your components in the Info Box
But carreful it's sensitive cases !!!

pilou · 27 Jul 2011, 22:22

And here the 24 positions plug of Sdmitch
With his autorisation!

Pilou24Positions.rb

AcesHigh · 12 Aug 2011, 14:52

there are many uses for this plugin.

for example... think of 3D tiles on a roof. Each tile is a component. But the roof gets so artificial, with all the tiles exactly the same color, no stains, etc. With this plugin, you would be able to, for example, create some 10 different roof tiles, each of them a slight different color variation, some stains, etc. And randomly replace the original components along the entire roof.

another possibility: a building with a glass façade. Real such buildings will have curtains/blinds behind the windows. Make the the building with window components. The random replace them with OTHER window components, each window component with blinds in different positions (no blinds, blinds half way pulled, pulled down completely)

there are so many uses!!!

rachmatrf · 21 Feb 2012, 08:28

Thhank you Sdmitch

pilou · 31 May 2012, 09:39

Sdmitch has made a new variant with no Random integrated!
(see second post for more precsion of use

31 May 2012

pilou · 31 May 2012, 10:50

A little tut
No limite of number of any components source or target!
You can name all your source components by hand but it's painfull when you have numerous!
So a little trick
Just select Components source and copy this in the ruby console
Sketchup.active_model.selection.each{|c| c.name='Source'}
Your source components are now named "Source"
You can make the same for Target Component
Just select Components source and copy this in the ruby console
Sketchup.active_model.selection.each{|c| c.name='Target'}

Edit : In fact for the rename Source and Target you can make the just with the Entity Info Box!

You can now use the random plug (click for zoom)

Of course it's infinite possibilities