3D model of hill-like structures using SketchUp C SDK

SrutiDavis

The Ruby API can only be used from within SketchUp, correct.

As for the C SDK, where are you stuck? What prevents you from creating terrain geometry? The C API is generic, there is no limitations imposed to what it creates - so creating terrains is be possible.

Hi tt_su,

Thanks for your reply. I'm new to SketchUp and so far I have only been able to create regular shapes such as a cube or a 2D face using the SDK. How does one go about creating terrain geometry such as a sand pile? Please give some suggestions.

Dan Rathbun

You would first create a virtual mesh (a Geom::PolygonMesh object. All classes in the GEom module are virtual memory objects, not actual model Sketchup::DrawingElement subclasses.)

Then to port the mesh to the model, you use Entities#add_faces_from_mesh() or Entities#fill_from_mesh().

Dan Rathbun

Then to tweak your mesh, you can get TT's Vertex Tools

http://www.thomthom.net/software/vertex_tools/

SrutiDavis

@dan rathbun said:

You would first create a virtual mesh (a Geom::PolygonMesh object. All classes in the GEom module are virtual memory objects, not actual model Sketchup::DrawingElement subclasses.)

Then to port the mesh to the model, you use Entities#add_faces_from_mesh() or Entities#fill_from_mesh().

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your reply. The methods and objects you proposed are from the Ruby API. I want to be able to do the same using C API since I am working from another application and not using the SketchUp interface.
So how can I create terrain geometry using the C API?

tt_su

@srutidavis said:

Thanks for your reply. I'm new to SketchUp and so far I have only been able to create regular shapes such as a cube or a 2D face using the SDK. How does one go about creating terrain geometry such as a sand pile? Please give some suggestions.

If you observe the construction of the mesh that Sandbox you'll see that each square is made up of two triangular faces with a soft+smooth edge shared between them.
If you have your set of 3d points that represent the sand pile you'd iterate over it, generating the triangulation needed.

tt_su

@dan rathbun said:

You would first create a virtual mesh (a Geom::PolygonMesh object. All classes in the GEom module are virtual memory objects, not actual model Sketchup::DrawingElement subclasses.)

Then to port the mesh to the model, you use Entities#add_faces_from_mesh() or Entities#fill_from_mesh().

That doesn't apply to this particular question though, as he's trying to use the C API to generate the geometry.

Dan Rathbun

Sorry.. but does the C API have interfaces for Geom classes ?

Does it have an interface for add_faces_from_mesh ?

tt_su

@dan rathbun said:

Sorry.. but does the C API have interfaces for Geom classes ?

Does it have an interface for add_faces_from_mesh ?

The C API interfaces with the SketchUp core, it does not interface with Ruby.

There are similar functions though, such as SUEntitiesAddFaces and SUEntitiesFill, but they are not 1:1 mappings.

Dan Rathbun

OK thanks. I have not had time to delve into it yet.

I thought it would have virtual helper classes like the Ruby API has in the Geom module.
But I suppose being C, there is a wealth of such libraries that a C programmer could choose to use, even OpenGL, or MS GDI libs ?

tt_su

There is, yes. But the C API isn't finalized either. It's still being developed and we are improving it to make it have a similar coverage as the Ruby API.