Need help with specific dimension plugin

[Ka6a]

Hi all.

I'm not a Ruby programmer and having a headache with one simple question:
Is it possible to create a plugin for making numbers of dimensions instead measurements?
For examle: D1, D2, D3... etc

Asking for help.
Thanks in advance

[TIG]

First add the dimension initially:
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/entities#add_dimension_linear
Or to modify an existing dim:
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/dimensionlinear
Then use:
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/dimension#text=
to edit what that dim's text actually says...

[Garry K]

You can also do this with your text override.

dim.text = "D1\n<>"

\n = means newline and puts the dimension on a second line
<> = means include the model's units in with the dimension

[Rich O Brien]

I like that tip Garry!

[Ka6a]

Thank you guys for replying
So, after titanic labour I have produced this:

require 'sketchup.rb'
SKETCHUP_CONSOLE.show
UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("DimPlugin") {addim}
def addim
  entities = Sketchup.active_model.entities
  dim = entities.add_dimension_linear [50, 10, 0], [100, 10, 0], [0, 20, 0]
 dim.text = "D1"
end

And questions:

1. How can I choose points for a new dimension (like basic sketchup tool "Dimension" does)?
2. How can I create multiple dimensions (D1, D2, D3... etc)?

Thanks again...

[driven]

dimension first then try

dims = Sketchup.active_model.entities.grep(Sketchup;;Dimension)
i = 0
dims.each do |d|
i+=1
d.text = "D#{i}"
end

it hard to do a sort, but maybe the order of dimensioning will be honoured...

john

[Ka6a]

Thank you! It works much better!

But I still need a way to pick two dimension's points.
Or another decision (if it easier):
I could make dimensions by default Sketchup tool, but then I would to replace all of them by my plugin.

[TIG]

You need to make a "Tool" in Ruby code.
This then allows you to pick two or three points etc.
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/tool

Look at the code in my 2dTools to make a Rectangle.
Points 1 and 2 would be the dimension start and end and point 3 could set the offset etc.
Obviously you don't use the add_line() method, you need this:
http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/entities#add_dimension_linear

[Ka6a]

Thanks for advice, TIG, but I already tried it... It's too hard code for my low programming skill.
Could you answer me:
Where can I find sketchup dimension tool code for try to edit it? (Is it possible?)
Or how could I solve my problem another way (maybe by replacing text in existing dimensions)?

My current "frankenstein"-code :

require 'sketchup.rb'
SKETCHUP_CONSOLE.show
UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("DimPlugin") {addim}

def addim
entities = Sketchup.active_model.entities
dim = entities.add_dimension_linear [50, 10, 0], [100, 10, 0], [0, 20, 0]
dims = Sketchup.active_model.entities.grep(Sketchup;;Dimension)
i = 0
dims.each do |d|
i+=1
d.text = "D#{i}"
end
end

Thanks again

[TIG]

You can't do much with native tools, except activate them using Sketchup.send_action()
To mimic the native tools you must use the Ruby API.
There are many methods.
Using the methods I suggested would allow you to make a tool of your own which placed dimensions by picking points etc...

@driven already gave you a way of editing existing dimensions' text...
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=594206#p594206
It is applied to all available dimensions in the model, or could be adjusted to process just the selected ones...

[Ka6a]

Oh, my! It works! Thank you guys so so much!
TIG you are a Ruby wizard! Thank you for your patience

So, here is my final result: