Script to bring all components from library into SU model
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Hi,
I started this post in the Sketchup forum but wonder now whether it might be better in here.
Wonder if anyone can help me to find or write a script that will allow me to bring all of the components from a component library into an SU file. Ideally I'd like to be able to place them next to each other in a line or on a grid (say 1000mm grid).
Is this possible to do? Currently Im having to manually load components and would like to find a quicker way to do it.
Thanks
Sam -
Ive been having another trawl around to see if I can find away to do this and found this post which seems like the perfect starting point.
Inserting an External SketchUp Component (of some Pants)
Posted by Scott Lininger, SketchUp Software Engineer You've just SketchUped an amazing Robot Monkey , and you're ready to include him in yo...
(sketchupapi.blogspot.com)
This is the script I have been trying to get to run
pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load("C:\pants.skp")
Sketchup.active_model.place_component(pants_def)I have changed the file path to match where I have saved the file on my computer but I keep getting the following error message if I run the script.
(eval):2537
pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load("C:\Users\sam.morris\Desktop\pants.skp")
Error: #<IOError: (eval):2537:in `load': Invalid component file>
(eval):2537
(eval):2537Apologies for the probably being a complete noobie error on my part but Im trying to work out how to do this.
I have downloaded the two components from the post and have changed the name of the skpfile to pants to match the script. I know this post is very old (2008) and I wonder if it may be that the way ruby works has changed since then but Im stumped. It seems like a very simple code and I feel like a simpleton for not being able to get it to work.
Any advice much appreciated.
Sam -
If you use \ as the file separators in filepaths you must either enclose the path inside '...' OR 'escape' the \ if it's inside "...", alternatively use /, inside either '...' or "...'
So - assuming the file does indeed exist - these are valid...
pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load("C:\\Users\\sam.morris\\Desktop\\pants.skp") pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load('C:\Users\sam.morris\Desktop\pants.skp') pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load("C:/Users/sam.morris/Desktop/pants.skp") pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load('C:/Users/sam.morris/Desktop/pants.skp')
BUT this is NOT valid...
pants_def = Sketchup.active_model.definitions.load("C:\Users\sam.morris\Desktop\pants.skp")
because of the non-escaped '' inside "..." subtly changes the meaning and it's therefore no longer a valid path when Ruby reads it !
If you are copying filepaths from 'Windows' folders etc use them inside '...' or if used inside "..." then remember to edit the text to double up every \ as a \ ...
Inside "..." a single \ is a special character that gives the character that follows it a different meaning.
So"\n"is a new-line and"\t"is a tab etc.
So to make Ruby see a \ that is inside "..." as not this special character, but as a real , you must double it up thus"\\"
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Open two shetchup: Copy and paste to another shetchup and lay them out so you can see your object: if you see what want then copy back
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Thanks dukejazz - but it still means I have to load all of the component from the component browser in the first place. I have hundreds (around 700 at last count) of components to load so am trying to find a way to load them all 'automatically' with the use of a script. I don't currently have them all in one file to copy from, they are all saved as individual components in a component library folder.
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TIG - thanks for the thorough explanation. Still coming up against some problems with the next part of the scrip but will do some further reading when I get time to see where Im going wrong. Totally new to scripting so need to try to get my head round this a bit better.
Cheers
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