Tell him he is dreaming
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I think this is a matter of learning good work habits and doing good housekeeping as you go along. If a plugin was created that knew when you were finished drawing an object, a plugin could be created that knew what needed to be drawn and you wouldn't be needed.
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Thanks for both of your replies. Sorry to waste your time.
As I said, tell him he is dreaming. -
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Assign a key to "create group" or component. Draw line. Hit the key. Open component and model away.
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just for the record, i believe it is possible. though i think it would require a convoluted use of observers.
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Maybe a timer? Stop drawing for 5 seconds and the loose geometry gets grouped. It would be great when you stop for a few moments to consult documentation or take a sip of coffee.
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Dave, you cannot you possibly be lazier than a sicilian! ; )
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How would SU ever know when you were ready for the group? after you drew one line? 10? You can use a shortcut and there are plugins that will do a lot of things to groups and comps.
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seasdes and dave are dreaming
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I know nothing about writing plugins. However Pbacot has given a hint. What about - start plugin with a shortcut. A contruction point is placed and grouped automatically. A dropdown menu opens giving you the option to create a line / circle /arc etc within the group. Exit the group when finished.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can investigate or comment.Cadfather - anyone can be lazy, not just sicialano (lol)
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I'm curious: What's the benefit of making a group before you've drawn anything? I don't see it as a time saver and it doesn't make the drawing any easier.
I know a guy who makes a component after he's drawn the first face. Then he opens the component for editing and makes it 3D and does whatever else he needs to do to it. That seems like extra work to me, too.
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@dave r said:
I'm curious: What's the benefit of making a group before you've drawn anything? I don't see it as a time saver and it doesn't make the drawing any easier.
I know a guy who makes a component after he's drawn the first face. Then he opens the component for editing and makes it 3D and does whatever else he needs to do to it. That seems like extra work to me, too.
I am thinking that making a group first is like making a container into which objects will be placed. Also it stops things sticking to others etc. The purpose of the plugin first placing a construction point is to have something to put in the group. It could be faster if using a keyboard shortcut (single key) or an icon.
The concept that I have proposed may or may not be more efficient it depends on the programming I suppose.
I have proposed this to make give it advantages of a solids modeller (ie things not sticking to each other) but still allow surface modelling.
As I said I know nothing about programming so don't know if it is possible.
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I see. I guess I don't ever have that problem of things sticking when I don't want them to because very early on I developed the discipline to make a component of the thing I just drew before I go on to drawing the next thing. It's just second nature for me to draw a part, select it all, hit G and create a component.
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I was just partly kidding, but when doing house models, the first session is rarely a complete object in itself. So soon after I start I will have made a component of the walls, for instance, and that remains the vessel for those entities from then on (and it's never "done"!). Plugins often create an object that is already grouped (such as a roof plugin) before I begin working on it.
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Yes. I didn't mean to insinuate I totally complete the drawing of a part before making it a component. I rarely do that but because I almost always use components I've already created as references for drawing their neighbors. The components often get additional detailing later, though.
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there is a plugin which lets you create groups from single lines / points by MATT666 (cousin of the beast)
use it with control g
SketchUp Plugins | PluginStore | SketchUcation
SketchUp Plugin and Extension Store by SketchUcation provides free downloads of hundreds of SketchUp extensions and plugins
(sketchucation.com)
since it works with construction points you could use matt666's POINT TOOL 666 to draw a point and then group it with MAKE COMPONENTS 666.. double click into the point and your set... alt p - control g - double click
\m/
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Seasdes, just in case someone dares challenge me to a lazy duel...zzzzz, i'm ready!
2 things come to mind, a plugin could be written such that when activated, waits for you to click on a face or edge, finds all connected geometry and groups it.
another is that you could have a key that works as start and end time
ie. press the key > draw > press the key again. everything drawn between presses will be grouped.quite like the first option, many times i have to draw many sections and group them at the start of a project. this could save a few precious minutes and clicks, which could go towards my alarm clock.
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