[Plugin] Solids Trim and Keep (Pro Only)

Jim

If you have ever used SketchUp's Solid Tools you may have noticed their annoying behavior which converts your Components into Groups.

This plugin allows you to trim a Component and have all instances update as well. It uses SketchUp's built-in Trim tool (thus Pro only,) but then does some post-operation clean-up. It renames the original Component and leaves it in the Component Browser, so you may want to Purge Unused Components after using it.

Requirements

SketchUp Pro version >= 8

Use:

Select Trim and Keep from the Tools menu.
Select the "cutter" solid.
Select the solid to "keep"
Optionally repeat from step 2
Optionally Purge Unused Components

Download

jf_trim_and_keep.rb

Install

Move or copy the downloaded file to your Plugins folder. Restart SketchUp.

Dave R

Excellent! This is a huge improvement over the Solid Tools Trim tool. This works the way I think they should have made it work from the beginning.

Thank you Jim.

TIG

Thanks Jim, to remove the now unused original definition from the model you need to add this line just before the model.commit_operation line...
def_to_keep.entities.erase_entities(def_to_keep.entities.to_a)

[OR give the user a choice to keep/remove the now unused definition...]

EarthMover

Thanks Jim. Much needed improvement. It's always bugged me about Trim.

irwanwr

is there any way to make this plugin also available for free version too?

Dave R

As I understand it, the plugin utilizes the Solid Tools stuff that is only active in the pro version.

irwanwr

yes, i see the info on the first post about the pro feature. thank you, Dave.
so there's no other similar plugin or something with independent program or code somewhere?

Dave R

Well, you might check out Bool Tools. Not exactly the same but maybe it'll do what you need.

irwanwr

thank you Dave. i think that's a pro plugin though. if only i have the cash and a job list to use the plugin perhaps.

Dave R

I believe Bool Tools will work on the free version of SketchUp but I understand if you need to have some paying clients to afford to buy it.

utiler

Well done, Jim! I would hope this is sorted in future versions of SU...

bmike

Nice... will give it a go!

irwanwr

is this OSCoolean plugin have any similarity with this Solids Trim and Keep plugin?

Dave R

I think it is similar to the Solid Tools. You should give it a try.

bmike

Very nice!
Been looking for this for a long long time!
This is the way Solid components should act with the native solid tools.

SketchUp Team:
If I wanted to trim a group, I would have done so!

Thanks much for this.

irwanwr

@dave r said:

I think it is similar to the Solid Tools. You should give it a try.

it seems that OSCoolean is a good tool. though it doesn't really work well when i tried to use it. perhaps it needs some updates or something. i don't know for sure.

ktkoh

The BooTools works very well I think it was 10 bucks but well worth the money. It edits the selected component however it deletes the component used to do the editing so if you want both after the operation make a copy of the cutting component. I use it with the free version and have been very plesed

Keith

irwanwr

@ktkoh said:

The BooTools works very well I think it was 10 bucks but well worth the money. It edits the selected component however it deletes the component used to do the editing so if you want both after the operation make a copy of the cutting component. I use it with the free version and have been very plesed

Keith

which free version and where, Keith?

Dave R

@irwanwr said:

@ktkoh said:

The BooTools works very well I think it was 10 bucks but well worth the money. It edits the selected component however it deletes the component used to do the editing so if you want both after the operation make a copy of the cutting component. I use it with the free version and have been very plesed

Keith

which free version and where, Keith?

I think he was referring to the free version of sketchUp.

irwanwr

i see. thank you Dave.
well, 10 bucks in a 3rd world country wont be easy to get.
meanwhile, i guess i'll just stick to Curviloft. it needs some wireframing to do and it does do it's job very well for skinning