[Plugin] Deck Builder (Updated 23-Jun-2015)

sdmitch

Update 19-Jun-2014 - Added 3 selectable posts and railing to steps. Fixed deformed posts on curved sections.

alpro

sdmitch, great plugin, last version worked well for me except on curves, this new version doesn't work for me at all, no matter how I draw the face when I execute the plugin, it hangs for a bit then just reverses the face. Windows 7, IE 11, Sketchup 2014 Pro

Mike

sdmitch

@alpro said:

sdmitch, great plugin, last version worked well for me except on curves, this new version doesn't work for me at all, no matter how I draw the face when I execute the plugin, it hangs for a bit then just reverses the face. Windows 7, IE 11, Sketchup 2014 Pro

Mike

If the face is reversed, the plugin has at least partially ran so run it with the Ruby Console open and see where and/or what is causing it to fail.

There was a change in the folder where the posts and spindles are so, if you only copied the new plugin to the Plugins folder instead of doing the normal extensions install, that could be the problem.

pilou

Very cool!

pilou

Here maybe a little glitch!
I made any regulates!

deckglitch.skp

sdmitch

The quality control director has been fired for not sufficiently testing in metric units.

Problem has been fixed. Maybe.

alpro

sdmitch, installed latest version through Sketchucation Plugin Store, here is what shows in the ruby console when executing the plugin.

Error: #<TypeError: no implicit conversion from nil to integer>
C:/Users/MRacz/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/Deck Builder.rb:362:in []' C:/Users/MRacz/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/Deck Builder.rb:362:in add_posts'
C:/Users/MRacz/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/Deck Builder.rb:218:in `onLButtonDown'

Thanks for your help.

Mike

Just checked my plugins folder, for some reason neither a spindles or post folder was created, weird.

Nevermind, folder was created and after trying again, deck builder works as advertised, even weirder

Dave R

Mike, I would try reinstalling it. I just installed the current version on my PC via the SCF Plugin Store and don't see the error when starting SketchUp fresh.

Box

Can you have a look at the toolbar settings, it seems you have it set to open the toolbar every time SU starts. So even if you have closed the toolbar it will reinitialize at the next start up. Slightly annoying.

sdmitch

@box said:

Can you have a look at the toolbar settings, it seems you have it set to open the toolbar every time SU starts. So even if you have closed the toolbar it will reinitialize at the next start up. Slightly annoying.

If you don't want the toolbar to show on start up find this line

	cmd.tooltip="Deck Builder";tb.add_item cmd;tb.show

and replace it with this line

	cmd.tooltip="Deck Builder";tb.add_item cmd;#tb.show

The Toolbar will be created but not automatically displayed.

Box

Thanks for that, it certainly works. I would have thought it would be the default setting, after all if you turn it off you would expect it to stay turned off.

sdmitch

@box said:

Thanks for that, it certainly works. I would have thought it would be the default setting, after all if you turn it off you would expect it to stay turned off.

Perhaps, but few things will persist from session to session.

TIG

The "user-friendly" way to have your script's loader setup its toolbar so that it opens when its first installed, and then subsequently so it only opens if the user had it open when they last exited SketchUp, is simply done thus:
cmd.tooltip="Deck Builder";tb.add_item cmd;tb.show **if tb.get_last_state.abs==1** #TB_VISIBLE/NEVER
This way, if the toolbar was switched off by the user when they exited SketchUp it will not get re-opened as the plugin loads next time...

sdmitch

@tig said:

The "user-friendly" way to have your script's loader setup its toolbar so that it opens when its first installed, and then subsequently so it only opens if the user had it open when they last exited SketchUp, is simply done thus:
cmd.tooltip="Deck Builder";tb.add_item cmd;tb.show **if tb.get_last_state.abs==1** #TB_VISIBLE/NEVER
This way, if the toolbar was switched off by the user when they exited SketchUp it will not get re-opened as the plugin loads next time...

Thanks for the info. I still have so much to learn.

raymondmartin

Nice tool for deck builders.

Marauderr

I am new at this and this is my first plugin i try,

I can open the deck builder and select the options i want but i dont understand how to make it happen, there is no OK or Cancel Button to click on? so how to make it happen, what is the secret door i use to get there

LOL

Thank You
N.

Dave R

Try having a look at the author's tutorial which you can find on the page he links at the bottom of his posts. Lots of other very useful plugins with tutorials to be found there, too.

eddie

Great plugin! But why have the geometry be individual groups instead of components? Doesnt this bloat the file size and make revising cumbersome??

sdmitch

@eddie said:

Great plugin! But why have the geometry be individual groups instead of components? Doesnt this bloat the file size and make revising cumbersome??

Based on my tests, there is little difference in the file size groups versus component instances. Since each deck is different, it only made sense to use components for the spindles and group everything else.

naivejoe

Nice Plugin. It worked as advertised the first time I used it but then I tested the rotation feature and now it won't change back. All decks are drawn with the joists going parallel to the long direction of the face, the deck boards the short way. I've re-installed, restarted and purged IE.
Rotation stays set at 0 no matter which option is chosen, which is how it worked from first install.
Any help?