Copy _ group array(newbie)

jolran

Hello.

Can someone please give me a hint how I can copy groups in an array, similar or same as in Sketchup manual modeling.
Im stuck... And need to move on to next step in problemsolving.

Can't find more information than just group.copy single object in the API and similar threads in here.

How does one go about? Must be trivial for most people in here. Ive tried som "each do" iterator, stuff and * operators but no GO..

Logically I suspect 1 edge cannot form a group? So I have 2 edges connected together. I havent found any copy methods
for edges or entities(thats why I've grouped the edges).

So for ex. Lets say there are 2 edges that are grouped, called = line_group at [0,0,0]

Just like in Sketchup modeling, I want to copy line_group with 5 multiple copies 10 units(cm in my case) in X axis.

BTW. The result of the array will be grouped and used with intersect_with method later on so I guess they wont have to be unique?

mod = Sketchup.active_model # Open model
ent = mod.entities # All entities in model
sel = mod.selection # Current selection

h_line1 = ent.add_line [0,0,0], [10,0,0]
h_line2 = ent.add_line [10,0,0], [12,0,0]
line_group1 = ent.add_group(h_line1, h_line2)

tr = Geom;;Transformation.translation([0,25,0])
group_copy = line_group1.copy
number_of_copies = 10

number_of_copies.times do
# Move
group_copy.transform!(tr)
# next
group_copy = group_copy.copy
end

Jim

You need to move the copied Group which is done using a Transformation.

Something like this:

Calculate a Vector3d which represents the direction and length between objects.

` tr = Geom::Transformation.translation(...)
group_copy = your_group.copy
number_of_copies = 5

number_of_copies.times do

Move

group_copy.transform!(tr)

<span class="syntaxdefault"></span><span class="syntaxcomment">### assume we gave the 'group' already placed at [0,0,0]<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">vector</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Geom</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Vector3d</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.new(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">10.cm</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> 0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> 0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">group<br />groups</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=[</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">]<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">5.times</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">{|</span><span class="syntaxdefault">i</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">|<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">  tgp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">copy<br />  tgp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">transform</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">!(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Geom</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Transformation</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">translation</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">vector</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">))<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">  gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">tgp<br />  groups </span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><<</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> gp<br /></span><span class="syntaxkeyword">}<br /></span><span class="syntaxcomment">### we now have the 5 copies at 10cm in X...<br />### and a 6 element array containing references to all groups &nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"></span>

jolran

Its very nice I got 2 different versions of the method. Helps me understand. I think I get the logic in the methods, but I havent configured my group correctly to adapt to your code's. I get = nil.

h_line1 = ent.add_line [0,0,0], [250,0,0]
h_line2 = ent.add_line [250,0,0], [255,0,0]
line_group1 = ent.add_group(h_line1, h_line2)

Is my group. Do the center of the new group have to be on [0,0,0] ?

so for JIM's code I added:

tr = Geom;;Transformation.translation [25,0,0]
group_copy = your_group.copy

There is no need to call for ent.transform_entities tr, ?

In TIG's code I just added: gp=line_group1

Thanks a lot Guys! Im happy, at least I now have something to go on.

jolran

Working code is at top. What it does?

Makes 2 edges and group them.
Copies the group 10 times 25 units apart in Y axis.

Thanks Jim and Tig.

TIG

Add the group and THEN add objects to its entities - it's much easier AND safer =Bugsplats are common making a group from entities - if you cross the context-barrier out of active_entities...

group=model.active_entities.add_group() ###==new empty group
group.entities.add_line([0,0,0],[250.cm,0,0]
group.entities.add_line([250.cm,0,0],[255.cm,0,0])

I assume you want cm and NOT inches!

Now use my code to repeat the group to the right 5 times - I think that this won't make much sense because you are drawing a horizontal line 250cm long and the another from the end of it 5cm long... BUT then repeating the copy at 10cm centers horizontally, so they'll overlap weirdly??
I think you need to draw this out manually to see what happens - perhaps you want the lines up in the Y ?... or the copies in the Y ???

The methods works but your dims are to pot...

jolran

Tig, I will try what you say. Your version is a little harder to understand, but I need to get it to work I think for my next step that has to do with group.boundingbox and positions etc.

@unknownuser said:

Bugsplats are common making a group from entities

Yes, I imagine that. I got a little carried away when something actually does work.
And the plugin I'm trying to do (I'm in over my head) will need a lot of copies.

I'm sorry about the dimension thing. 10 cm was not important. Just an example. I needed the concept to work
regardless of the dimensions. The submitted code actually copies in Y direction now

TIG

There are some 'typos'...
The first three lines do nothing for the rest as 'mod' is NOT 'model'...
Note - do not put spaces between methods and their parenthesized () arguments...
Also it's 25.cm NOT 25cm............
Here's a fixed version

<span class="syntaxdefault">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;model</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Sketchup</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">active_model<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ents</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">model</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">active_entities<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;group</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">ents</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">add_group</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxcomment">###==new&nbsp;empty&nbsp;group<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">group</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">entities</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">add_line</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">([</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">],[</span><span class="syntaxdefault">25.cm</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">])&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">group</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">entities</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">add_line</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">([</span><span class="syntaxdefault">25.cm</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">],[</span><span class="syntaxdefault">30.cm</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">])<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">vector</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Geom</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Vector3d</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.new(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">10.cm</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">group<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;groups</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=[</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">]<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">5.times</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">{|</span><span class="syntaxdefault">i</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">|<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">tgp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">copy<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;tgp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">transform</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">!(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Geom</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">Transformation</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">.</span><span class="syntaxdefault">translation</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">vector</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">))<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">=</span><span class="syntaxdefault">tgp<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;groups&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><<&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">gp<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">}&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"></span>

jolran

It's not working for me properly I get nil..
Probably did not understand you fully. Does the declaration on first 3 lines cause a conflict somehow?
I'm using Alex ruby code editor.

I like the idea of using vector though and avoiding bugsplats

mod = Sketchup.active_model # Open model
ent = mod.entities # All entities in model
sel = mod.selection # Current selection

group = model.active_entities.add_group() ###==new empty group
group.entities.add_line ([0,0,0],[25.cm,0,0])  
group.entities.add_line ([25.cm,0,0],[30.cm,0,0])

### assume we gave the 'group' already placed at [0,0,0]
vector=Geom;;Vector.new(0,10.cm, 0)
gp=group
groups=[gp]
5.times{|i|
  tgp=gp.copy
  tgp.transform!(Geom;;Transformation.translation(vector))
  gp=tgp
  groups << gp
}
### we now have the 5 copies at 10cm in X...
### and a 6 element array containing references to all groups

jolran

AAHH! Yes! Now it works.

I spotted the . 25cm mistake. But did not think about the spaces.

Thank you very much TIG and Jim!!

I've learned a lot from this. Now I need to learn what has really happend in the code

And acctually I only needed 1 edge in the group. I did not know one could add the entities in an empty group.
This is a lot better.