Modifying or extending SU native tools

ArunYoganandan

Is there a way to extend/modify SU's native tools? like access the native tool's callbacks or methods. Or even inherit them to override or add to their behavior?

like

<span class="syntaxdefault"></span><span class="syntaxkeyword">class&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">MySelectionTool&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxkeyword"><&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">SelectionTool<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;initialize</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">super</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">()<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;def&nbsp;draw</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">(</span><span class="syntaxdefault">view</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxcomment">#&nbsp;Do&nbsp;my&nbsp;own&nbsp;thing&nbsp;here..<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">end<br /><br />end</span>

Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks
Arun

TIG

Most times you must make a mimic of a native tool - see the linetool example script...
There is limited access to premade tools - e.g. running them.
However, the API does allow many aspects of the premade tools to be aped...

PS: Please don't double post - as new member you must be patient... while you are processed and recognized as not being a spambot...

Dan Rathbun

NO, sorry,.. at least not directly. The native tools are coded on the C++ side, and are not exposed as Ruby classes.

However.. the API does have observers, including a Sketchup::ToolsObserver (so you can do something when a native tool changes, ie, becomes active, or it's state changes;) and the Sketchup::SelectionObserver (so you can do something when the model's selection set changes, ie, is cleared, has items removed or added.)

Many authors have both a tool and a series of observers that make up a plugin.

ArunYoganandan

Sorry guys about the double post. After my first post, I wasn't sure if it went through. Now I understand.

I'm going to play around with the toolsobserver to see if it can help me and get back. Thanks for your help!

Dan Rathbun

Most of the native tool ids are defined as global constants, that begin with "CMD_"

List them, at the Ruby Console:
Object.constants.grep(/CMD/).sort

The tool state integers vary from tool to tool, and some tools do not use them at all.