Need help with Ruby Plugin - Mac

giancarlid

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. I was hoping for some help regarding a script a former co-worker had developed. Basically it is a batch rendering ruby for sketchup, it allows for quick animations by exporting a path of one surface. We use this in our firm to get simulations of water level changes for storm water control stuff.

When I try to use the plug-in it does not appear in the plug-in drop down (I'm on a Mac) even though I've installed it in Library>Application Support>Google Sketchup 8>Sketchup>Plugins. He no longer works with us so he transferred the ruby to me, but we're not sure why it is not working for me (We both have the same computer and version of Sketchup). His friend actually created the script for the ruby and he's too busy to help at the moment. We have a deadline for Monday so if anyone has any ideas please let me know. I'll attach the plugin. Thanks!

Dave

Batch_exporter.rb

TIG

This file looks to be part of a larger set of files.
It will auto-load and fire straight away as it has no module wrapper, and no menu creation code.
It also needs an html file called, " batch_exporter_gui.html" inside a subfolder called " ../Plugins/Batch_Exporter/" ?? That html file may well have related css, js, images files etc that it uses too...
Also the 'output' always goes into: " /Users/ryankahen/Desktop/geosyntec/Exports"
does this folder exist? or at least the ../geosyntec folder ??
You might want to fix that folder path to something more sensible ???

To get this Ruby to have a chance to work can I suggest you do the following adjustments - edit the file with a plain text editor [not a wordprocessor!]...
Add this code to the very start of the script:

require('sketchup.rb')
module Carls
unless file_loaded?(__FILE__)
  UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("Carl's Batch Exporter"){self.batchExporter()}
end
file_loaded(__FILE__)
  def self.batchExporter()

THE MAIN CODE GOES HERE...

Then at the very end add this:

  end#def
end#module

The Plugins menu item should now run Carls.batchExporter - provided of course that the needed html etc is in place... At least now there'll be error messages in the Ruby Console etc if it doesn't work...

Considering the mess ' Carl' has left you might also want to think about changing the 'name' to something less personal and company specific...

giancarlid

Thanks for the quick response. I did as you advised and added in that part of the script and changed ryan's directory to mine but now I get this message:

"Error Loading File batch_exporter.rb
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/batch_exporter.rb:103: parse error, unexpected kEND, expecting $
end#module
^"

This is the "updated script" I've never used this before so I'm not sure I input in everything correctly

# Batch Exporter Driver File
# Author; Carl Anderson
# Email;  cwanderson33@gmail.com

# start of our edits

require('sketchup.rb')
module Carls
unless file_loaded?(__FILE__)
  UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("Carl's Batch Exporter"){self.batchExporter()}
end
file_loaded(__FILE__)
  def self.batchExporter()

# end of our edits


# Instantiate WebDialog
input_dialog = UI;;WebDialog.new("Carl's Batch Exporter", false, "Batch Exporter", 300, 270, 200, 150, true)

# Add callback for sending sending data from Javascript/HTML back to ruby script
input_dialog.add_action_callback("do_batch") {|dialog, params|
    
    # split the arguments on commas
    array_params = params.to_s.split(",")
    increment = array_params[0]
    height = array_params[1]
    axis = array_params[2]
    filetype = array_params[3]
    fileprefix = array_params[4]

    # convert strings to floats for math operations
    increment1 = increment.to_f
    height1 = height.to_f    

    # get model
    model = Sketchup.active_model
    # get selected face
    #face = Sketchup.active_model.selection.first
    
    # get entities instead of first entity (for mac)
    face = Sketchup.active_model.selection
    # initialize loop variable
    i = 0
    loop_count = height1 / increment1
    # if export directory doesn't exist, create it
    # directory created in folder containing your project file
    #my_export_path = Dir.getwd + "/export"
    my_export_path = "/Users/giancarlid/Desktop/geosyntec/Exports"
    Dir.mkdir(my_export_path) unless File.exists?(my_export_path)
    
    # do a loop
    while i < loop_count
        # Create transformation to move the selection
        if axis == "0"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([increment1,0,0])
        elsif axis == "1"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([0,increment1,0])
        elsif axis == "2"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([0,0,increment1])
        else
            UI.messagebox("Fatal Error... code should not have gotten here.")
        end
        
        # perform transformation (do the move on the object)
        Sketchup.active_model.entities.transform_entities(transformation, face)
        # create full filename and pathname
        full_filename = my_export_path + "/" + fileprefix + "_" + i.to_s + "." + filetype
        # export to file
        status = model.export full_filename
        # increment loop counter
        i = i + 1
    end
    
    # alert user that export has completed
    UI.beep
    UI.messagebox("Exporting Complete!")
 }
 
# Set HTML file to display in window
#input_dialog.set_file "mypage.html"
# Find and show our html file
html_path = Sketchup.find_support_file "batch_exporter_gui.html" ,"Plugins/Batch_Exporter/"
input_dialog.set_file(html_path)
input_dialog.show()

# start of our edits
end

if( not file_loaded?("batch_exporter.rb") )

   ###UI.menu("Plugins").add_separator
   UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("Batch Exporter") { export_batch }

end

###
file_loaded("batch_exporter.rb")

# end of our edits

end#def
end#module


# Batch Exporter Driver File
# Author; Carl Anderson
# Email;  cwanderson33@gmail.com

# start of our edits

require('sketchup.rb')
module Carls
unless file_loaded?(__FILE__)
  UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("Carl's Batch Exporter"){self.batchExporter()}
end
file_loaded(__FILE__)
  def self.batchExporter()

# end of our edits


# Instantiate WebDialog
input_dialog = UI;;WebDialog.new("Carl's Batch Exporter", false, "Batch Exporter", 300, 270, 200, 150, true)

# Add callback for sending sending data from Javascript/HTML back to ruby script
input_dialog.add_action_callback("do_batch") {|dialog, params|
    
    # split the arguments on commas
    array_params = params.to_s.split(",")
    increment = array_params[0]
    height = array_params[1]
    axis = array_params[2]
    filetype = array_params[3]
    fileprefix = array_params[4]

    # convert strings to floats for math operations
    increment1 = increment.to_f
    height1 = height.to_f    

    # get model
    model = Sketchup.active_model
    # get selected face
    #face = Sketchup.active_model.selection.first
    
    # get entities instead of first entity (for mac)
    face = Sketchup.active_model.selection
    # initialize loop variable
    i = 0
    loop_count = height1 / increment1
    # if export directory doesn't exist, create it
    # directory created in folder containing your project file
    #my_export_path = Dir.getwd + "/export"
    my_export_path = "/Users/giancarlid/Desktop/geosyntec/Exports"
    Dir.mkdir(my_export_path) unless File.exists?(my_export_path)
    
    # do a loop
    while i < loop_count
        # Create transformation to move the selection
        if axis == "0"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([increment1,0,0])
        elsif axis == "1"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([0,increment1,0])
        elsif axis == "2"
            transformation = Geom;;Transformation.new([0,0,increment1])
        else
            UI.messagebox("Fatal Error... code should not have gotten here.")
        end
        
        # perform transformation (do the move on the object)
        Sketchup.active_model.entities.transform_entities(transformation, face)
        # create full filename and pathname
        full_filename = my_export_path + "/" + fileprefix + "_" + i.to_s + "." + filetype
        # export to file
        status = model.export full_filename
        # increment loop counter
        i = i + 1
    end
    
    # alert user that export has completed
    UI.beep
    UI.messagebox("Exporting Complete!")
 }
 
# Set HTML file to display in window
#input_dialog.set_file "mypage.html"
# Find and show our html file
html_path = Sketchup.find_support_file "batch_exporter_gui.html" ,"Plugins/Batch_Exporter/"
input_dialog.set_file(html_path)
input_dialog.show()


end

end#def
end#module

Thanks for the help!
Dave

TIG

I've put that into a 'code' block for you...
` end

end#def
end#moduleremove the first '**end**' I don't know where it came from... your typo ?? end#def
end#module`

giancarlid

Although the "Carl's Exporter" is now shown in the plugins, it doesn't seem to do anything. Ryan (the former employee) said

"They way I used it was I select the top plane of the water( or which ever plan you are moving. You can select the direction it moves) and then run the plugin"

Simple as that. Although it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Maybe it is missing a file or something. Has anyone had any better luck.

Basically the idea is that you click the surface, run the plugin, select the direction you want the plan to go and it'll push/pull the surface in that direction to the point you want (making it look as those the literal box of water is getting bigger or smaller). It'll export all the those files to a batch rendered so they can be processed. I'm still a bit confused about it myself but Ryan is unreachable and there's still a lot of work do be done for the presentation Monday.

I really appreciate the help. I've never posted here before but I utilize the forum for tips and fixes all the time.

Dave

TIG

Without the .html file and everything else I can't see how it all works...

thomthom

Moved topic to the Developer section.

jolran

Is the path correct? Your using html_path = Sketchup.find_support_file "batch_exporter_gui.html" ,"Plugins/Batch_Exporter/"

Maybe something like this is safer?
html_path=File.join(File.dirname(FILE), "Batch_Exporter/batch_exporter_gui.html")

For what I know Sketchup.find_support_file should be avoided since not every ones computerdisks looks the same.

thomthom

@jolran said:

For what I know Sketchup.find_support_file should be avoided since not every ones computerdisks looks the same.

Not because the disks are different. But because Sketchup.find_support_file will look up a file in SketchUp's Plugins folder - and people might install their plugins elsewhere. Like I do, I install to my Dropbox folder so I sync plugins between versions and computers.
More info: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/09/sketchup-plugins-can-be-installed-anywhere/

jolran

Ah yeah, thats correct. At least I got a part of it right.
Nice link BTW. Good reading.