[Plugin] Snapshot – (1.0.1) — updated 09.10.2012

glro

i couldn' select a custom folder to store the thumbnails, through the "select" button, but i did it by typing th whole name of the folder

i couldn't either remove the '+' and '-' buttons, even un checking the option in the snapshot settings

but these are minor problems

because this plugin might fulfil a basic need, something i have been missing in my daily experience of sketchup: the need to retrieve a model lost among thousands of files.

This is how i imagine to proceed:

i store all the thumbnails in a specific folder, always the same

when i look for a sketchup model, i browse this folder, viewing big thumbnails

when i have found the thumbnail i am looking for, i copy the file name (without suffix), move to the folder i think the sketchup file should be, and paste it in the "search file" windows

windows file browser will find it

An extension to the plugin might be a button that would open a specific file browser (like Xnview) and by looking through the thumbnails, would open the sketchup model by clicking on the thumbnail

simon le bon

Dear Aerilius,
Thank you so much and "bravo" for this wonderful plugin that I'm sure people are going to use intensively

The start of the discussion begins here:
[Request]Snapshot With File Name button

As this above thread is now closed, may I post here the last post I had made !

@simon le bon said:

@glro said:

i don't understand the meaning of "save the name-1" and "save the name "+1"..

That means that you can take not only one but a series of snapshots of the same model. They take the same file name + an incrementation. Basically you are going to use "save the name "+1"

Aerilius_Snapshot.skp is then accompanied with
Aerilius_Snapshot1.png
Aerilius_Snapshot2.png
Aerilius_Snapshot3.png

The "save the name-1" is less evident. Previously I thought it was adding at the end of the file name a decrementation -1 -2 -3 etc..
This was very foxy, using it with an already incremental set of skp

if this was the skp set,
Aerilius_Snapshot.skp
Aerilius_Snapshot1.skp
Aerilius_Snapshot2.skp
Aerilius_Snapshot3.skp

The Snapshots set was

Aerilius_Snapshot-1.png
Aerilius_Snapshot-2.png

Aerilius_Snapshot1-1.png
Aerilius_Snapshot1-2.png
Aerilius_Snapshot1-3.png

Aerilius_Snapshot2-1.png
Aerilius_Snapshot2-2.png

etc...

But "save the name-1" don't work this way. It decrements an existing incrementation. And when there is no digit at the end of the file:

Aerilius_Snapshot.skp gives
Aerilius_Snapshot-1.png and after "save the name-1" overwrite this picture..

About incrementation, there is the classic method and a better foxy one, developed here into the forums, but impossible to me to find it back (I was sure I had bookmarked it )

*>The Classic one consists to save your WIP model with an incrementation. The most up to date one takes the higher number.
Basically it is the set I was using above

Aerilius_Snapshot001.skp
Aerilius_Snapshot002.skp
Aerilius_Snapshot003.skp

disadvantages are: you can never be sure what really is the last file. Perhaps you worked in the office and at home, perhaps you have some files stored in another folder, perhaps a collaborator has worked on a new version, etc. ..

*>The foxy method works with the file option " Save a copy as "

This option offers to save the file you are working on with an incrementation but without updating the name of your model on screen.

Using this option, the last and most updated model can be always the first one

Aerilius_Snapshot_00.skp is saved and also a "Save a copy as" is saved
Aerilius_Snapshot_001.skp

At the next step of the drawing, as you are always working on the "00" one, another "Save a copy as" is saved:
Aerilius_Snapshot_002.skp

etc..

Very clever indeed no ?

@Aerilius

What I can regret is that this "Save a copy as" doesn't generates a Snapshot when Autosave is checked.

simon

Aerilius

It now works also in SketchUp 7 (there was a very small error that prevented that completely). The toolbars can only be changed when SketchUp is opened again (we cannot do anything about that).

@glro said:

An extension to the plugin might be a button that would open a specific file browser (like Xnview) and by looking through the thumbnails, would open the sketchup model by clicking on the thumbnail

That would require to know from a thumbnail's name where the skp file is located, but it's difficult if all thumbnails are in the same folder. Better would be to integrate the large thumbnails in the operating system's thumbnail system (but I don't know how to do that on Windows, as far as I understand it would require C programming).

@simon le bon said:

The "save the name-1" is less evident. Previously I thought it was adding at the end of the file name a decrementation -1 -2 -3 etc..

Sorry, I had understood it would decrease the number (to redo older images). So instead of a minus button, you would prefer something like "increase primary version number" and "secondary version number"?

@simon le bon said:

What I can regret is that this "Save a copy as" doesn't generates a Snapshot when Autosave is checked.

That would be good! Unfortunately the SketchUp Ruby API tells us only what model is saved, not where. So I can get the location of the working model, not of "Save as". Good request for a next SketchUp version!
Tell me when you find out more about the "The foxy method"...

driven

Works on mac,

to attach to the skp file...
Take your picture,
then >> right-click on the SU title >> select the containing folder >> select the new png >> right-click >> services >> create icon and preview [need GraphicConverter installed] >> click on same_name.skp >> right click >> more info >> drag the same_name.png icon onto the more info box icon [top left] >> close more info.

enjoy in coverflow.
john

glro

thumbnails must all be in the same folder, to create a data base from which the user can search for a skp file

C, or java programming would be needed, yes; to create a special file browser hat would add a meta data (the link to the skp file)

Xnview can add meta dat, but the link tothe file is not active

meta data xnview

glro

@aerilius said:

@glro said:

An extension to the plugin might be a button that would open a specific file browser (like Xnview) and by looking through the thumbnails, would open the sketchup model by clicking on the thumbnail

That would require to know from a thumbnail's name where the skp file is located, but it's difficult if all thumbnails are in the same folder. Better would be to integrate the large thumbnails in the operating system's thumbnail system (but I don't know how to do that on Windows, as far as I understand it would require C programming).
...

maybe just a shortcut to the skp file, created by the pluging when the picture is taken, and stored in the same folder
is it possible to create a shortcut to a file using ruby?

Aerilius

@driven said:

Works on mac

Great! I think there was once a discussion about integrate better thumbnails on OS X, as far as I remember that would require XCode and Objective C (?). I couldn't do it and can't test it.
If GraphicsConverter has a command line interface, that would make it much easier!

@glro said:

C, or java programming would be needed, yes; to create a special file browser hat would add a meta data (the link to the skp file)

That would be almost reinventing the wheel . I would prefer using the system's thumbnailing (Windows Vista+ uses a thumbnail folder and a database). We would need to register a thumbnail to the database. As far as I know, there are only APIs for C(++, # ...) and I have not enough experience. I will see if someone else can help me, or if we can get equivalent improvements into SketchUp.

@glro said:

is it possible to create a shortcut to a file using ruby?

That might be a the easiest solution! I'll try it!

ken

Aerilius

Would it be possible to make the selection to save, such that I can save in a "custom folder" and the "same Folder as skp" at the same time. This way I would have the master png's in my custom folder and work related png's at the skp's folder.

If I know the work related folder, I would just browse at that location, if I wasn't sure or was looking for something that I haven't worked on for some time, I could go to the custom folder.

Also, I could print out a contact sheet for the custom folder for a hard copy.

So this morning, I have been opening and saving skp files to get my master folder up to date.

Thank you for this very helpful plugin.

Ken

driven

@aerilius said:

If GraphicsConverter has a command line interface, that would make it much easier!

It does, and it's free[if your scint], you can also use it to extract the SU thumbnails from the .skp, but it's a bit random when Sketchup saves that, unless you want the silly 'styled' frame you get with 'save thumbnail'

I'll dig out the command line flags. an applescript wrapper might swap the icons...

john

bagatelo

There should be an option to enter the date and time automatically in the file name.
Thanks for this great tool.

glro

@aerilius said:

@driven said:

Works on mac

Great! I think there was once a discussion about integrate better thumbnails on OS X, as far as I remember that would require XCode and Objective C (?). I couldn't do it and can't test it.
If GraphicsConverter has a command line interface, that would make it much easier!

@glro said:

C, or java programming would be needed, yes; to create a special file browser hat would add a meta data (the link to the skp file)

That would be almost reinventing the wheel . I would prefer using the system's thumbnailing (Windows Vista+ uses a thumbnail folder and a database). We would need to register a thumbnail to the database. As far as I know, there are only APIs for C(++, # ...) and I have not enough experience. I will see if someone else can help me, or if we can get equivalent improvements into SketchUp.

@glro said:

is it possible to create a shortcut to a file using ruby?

That might be a the easiest solution! I'll try it!

There is a simple way: creating a batch file, for example:
"@ECHO OFF
call F:\000_experience.sauvb\programmation\ruby\essai_plateforme.skp
end"

this opens the console
to avoid opening the console, write a second file

"var WindowStyle_Hidden = 0
var objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
var result = objShell.Run("cmd.exe /c shortcut.bat", WindowStyle_Hidden)"

both are text files, easy to write in ruby...

simon le bon

@aerilius said:

It now works also in SketchUp 7

That's great

@aerilius said:

@simon le bon said:

The "save the name-1" is less evident. Previously I thought it was adding at the end of the file name a decrementation -1 -2 -3 etc..

Sorry, I had understood it would decrease the number (to redo older images). So instead of a minus button, you would prefer something like "increase primary version number" and "secondary version number"?

It seems to me that "save the name+1" already "increase secondary version number"

nameFile_000.skp
when it is saved gives: (autosave checked)
nameFile_000.png
"save the name+1" become:
nameFile_0001.png
nameFile_0002.png
nameFile_0003.png
...

nameFile_001.skp
when it is saved gives:
nameFile_001.png
& "save the name+1" become:
nameFile_0011.png
nameFile_0012.png
nameFile_0013.png

That's not bad to consider snapshots incrementation.

@unknownuser said:

it would decrease the number (to redo older images)

Redo older image is not (IMO) a very necessary option. And in facts don't work pretty good.
If you have a png set made with "save the name+1"
nameFile_0001.png
nameFile_0002.png
nameFile_0003.png
Then you want to redo basically the last one: nameFile_0003.png , if you use "save the name-1" It is nameFile_0002.png that is overwrited !!

May be only one button would be necessary which would make a clear proper incrementation:

nameFile_001.skp
when saved gives:
nameFile_001.png
& "save the name + increment"
nameFile_001_001.png
nameFile_001_002.png
nameFile_001_003.png

Just idea (as Jean Lemire always says )

Simon

PS:
_ Sorry that "save a copy as" can't autosave a snapshot. We can take few seconds to save the snapshot name manually after all.
_ "The foxy method" is lost for me. I have tried with the search engine in vain. May be Gaieus knows something about it!

glro

@aerilius said:

@driven said:

@glro said:

is it possible to create a shortcut to a file using ruby?

That might be a the easiest solution! I'll try it!

i added some code to yours at the end of "self.save_as(filepath)" method


filepath2 = (filepath.split("/")[0..-2]).join("/")
nom_model = m.title
# name of the text file to put the shortcut in
nom_bat = filepath2 + "/" + nom_model + ".bat"
	
#open this file
aFile = File.new(nom_bat,"w")

pathmodel = m.path

#write the file shortcut
aFile.puts("call "+pathmodel)
aFile.puts("end")
aFile.close

a black cmd window is opened... must be closed manually, unless you embed the .bat file in a .js file...
it is basic but it works...

simon le bon

Sorry to disturb the coding discussion

Ae_Snapshot tested with Su7 : love this plug
(Png transparent background option still don't work - - )

simonlebon

Aerilius

I forgot to mention: the transparent png option has only been added to SketchUp 8.
I'm working on a new version!

glro

@glro said:

@aerilius said:

@driven said:

@glro said:

is it possible to create a shortcut to a file using ruby?

That might be a the easiest solution! I'll try it!

i added some code to yours at the end of "self.save_as(filepath)" method


> filepath2 = (filepath.split("/")[0..-2]).join("/")
> nom_model = m.title
> # name of the text file to put the shortcut in
> nom_bat = filepath2 + "/" + nom_model + ".bat"
> 	
> #open this file
> aFile = File.new(nom_bat,"w")
> 
> pathmodel = m.path
> 
> #write the file shortcut
> aFile.puts("call "+pathmodel)
> aFile.puts("end")
> aFile.close
>

a black cmd window is opened... must be closed manually, unless you embed the .bat file in a .js file...
it is basic but it works...

Doesn't work if there is a white space in the file address

additional code is needed


nom_bat2 = nom_bat.to_s

if nom_bat2.count(nom_bat2, " ") != 0
UI.messagebox("no white space in the file address")
fail
end

Aerilius

I updated the plugin. I think it will now fit all your needs because you can now make your own buttons
@glro, can you test if the shortcuts work as expected?

glro

@aerilius said:

I updated the plugin. I think it will now fit all your needs because you can now make your own buttons
@glro, can you test if the shortcuts work as expected?

i tested, but there might be a problem

no box is opened on my scree when i check "ae snapshot" in the menu

it might come from the html file

in the pop up windows you show in the first message of this thread, i read "create a shortcut"

but when i click on the html file in "ae_snapshot" folder, i don't see the same things

html settings differences

Aerilius

I first thought it might have to do with upgrading the settings (because the previous version is much different). But I just tested it from 0.1.1 to 0.3.0 and it works for me.

You mean the settings dialog does not appear when you click the gear icon on the toolbar (there is no ae snapshot menu). Can you open the Ruby Console, click the gear button and give me the error messages if there are any.
Then copy&paste " AE::Snapshot.options={}" into the console and press the gear button again. Does it then work?

glro

@aerilius said:

I first thought it might have to do with upgrading the settings (because the previous version is much different). But I just tested it from 0.1.1 to 0.3.0 and it works for me.

You mean the settings dialog does not appear when you click the gear icon on the toolbar (there is no ae snapshot menu). Can you open the Ruby Console, click the gear button and give me the error messages if there are any.
Then copy&paste " AE::Snapshot.options={}" into the console and press the gear button again. Does it then work?

yes, the setting dialog does not appear;
the gear icon does'nt appear either...
just a small reactangle where i cannot click ...

how do you explain the differences between the setting dialog window i get when i double click directly on the file "settings_dialog.htm" and the one you pasted in you message?

my guess is that it is linked to the problem

snapshot icon