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:

How can I choose points for a new dimension (like basic sketchup tool "Dimension" does)?
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: