Julia Eneroth's Viewport Resizer / SketchUp 2023

Rich O Brien

@HornOxx can you describe what it is you want to do?

HornOxx

Thanks Rich, I gladly will like to try to describe what my concern is

I would like to ensure that any 2D SketchUp export takes place (no matter what format PDF, PNG, JPG etc) always under the same standardized conditions, so to speak, and the result is always the same. I can't even guarantee this on my own machine itself. SketchUp does not allow any viewport-aspect ratio-independent export and even Sketchup scenes cannot solve this dilemma.
ScetchUp always exports its full viewport. However, the viewport itself never stays the same - it changes depending on how my Sketchup is equipped with trays, plugin bars or the screen used etc.
Due to this variance, an exported file always takes on different dimensions. For example, this always brings up all my layouts (in my case mostly within Adobe Illustrator)
Additionally, I always work in a team of around 20 users. Each of us must be able to (re-)produce the exact result that someone else would have produced.
Unfortunately, we/I can not do this because each exported file varies in size from in at least width or height.
Another reason for my desire for a standardized, freely adjustable export output from Sketchup is that I would like to exactly synchronize SketchUp's export with that of any downstream renderer.
So far we have avoided the dilemma described by only allowing any final scene adjustment and 2D-exports in a HD Aspect ratio (or of course a multiple thereof) by only allowing and using Eneroth's Viewport Resicer for exports.
And that's why I wrote above - this plugin is actually one of the most important plugins for me and essential for a defined workflow

I hope I was able to describe what my concern is and I really hope that there is another strategy that has remained hidden from me until now

Rich O Brien

@HornOxx The reason I ask is because I use a AutoHotkey Window Resizer to resize SketchUp so the my viewport is a particular ratio. It takes a little bit of setup but saves me from guesswork.

As an example if I hit CTRL+F10 it resizes SketchUp so its viewport is 600px x 600px. Now I can export 1:1 image ratio at whatever resolution I need.

Its a bit hacky but I've used it for years.

HornOxx

Great Rich !!!
Yes, the principle you are showing here is exactly what I urgently need and which has since been guaranteed by Eneroth's ingenious plugin.
And even if I have no idea at the moment how I could create such a script, I understand your message correctly: with this method a viewport adjustment e.g. to a desired HD aspect ratio like 960px x 540px could as well be achievable?

TIG

@HornOxx

I use AutoHotkey for many things and it's easy enough to customize once you come to grips with its foibles...
I don't auto-resize viewports, but Rich knows how, and perhaps he can share his example script, or point you/us to someone else's ?

Rich O Brien

@TIG said

but Rich knows how, and perhaps he can share his example script, or point you/us to someone else's ?

To be clear, my AHK script, is cobbled together from other scripts and is dependent on a particular UI setup in SketchUp. This is a complete hack with a very blunt axe but it works for me.

Windows only
SketchUp 2023 (but you can customize for earlier releases)
Single horizontal Toolbar stack
Tray on but sized to narrowest width

NOTE: This works on any active window its not limited to SketchUp

Download and install AutoHotkey
Download and unzip this into a folder wherever you want on your system
Resizer.zip

If you double click the ResizeWindows.ahk it will add an icon to your tray so you know when you have it active for use.

The shortcuts keys I've set are:

Ctrl+F10 1:1 @600px x 600px
Ctrl+F9 4:3 @800px x 600px
Ctrl+F8 16:9 @800px x 450px
Ctrl+F7 21:9 @945px x 405px
Windows Key + LMB will hide the title bar of active window (Utility)
Windows Key + RMB will show the title bar of active window (Utility)
CTRL+ALT+LMB to toggle always on top (Utility)
CTRL+SHIFT+F8 display a popup with the Width/Height of active window (Utility)

If you open the ResizeWindows.ahk with a text editor you will see the following:

#NoEnv
#SingleInstance, force
#Persistent
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
Menu, Tray, Icon, %A_WorkingDir%\icons\resize.png ,, 1 ; icon

#installKeybdHook
TrayTip, %A_ScriptName%, Started, 1

^+F8:: ; Get window stats to create more presets below
WinGetActiveStats, winT, winW, winH, winX, winY
WinGetClass, class, A
MsgBox, 
(
- TITLE
%winT%

- DIMENSIONS
%winW%  x  %winH%
)
return

^F10::ResizeWin(956,719) ; Ctrl+F10 1:1 @600px x 600px
^F9::ResizeWin(1156,719) ; Ctrl+F9 4:3 @800px x 600px
^F8::ResizeWin(1156,569) ; Ctrl+F8 16:9 @800px x 450px
^F7::ResizeWin(1301,524) ; Ctrl+F7 21:9 @945px x 405px

^!Lbutton:: ; Ctrl+Alt+Lbutton to toggle always on top
WinGet, currentWindow, ID, A
WinGet, ExStyle, ExStyle, ahk_id %currentWindow%
if (ExStyle & 0x8)  ; 0x8 is WS_EX_TOPMOST.
{
   Winset, AlwaysOnTop, off, ahk_id %currentWindow%
}
else
{
   WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, on, ahk_id %currentWindow%
}
return

ResizeWin(Width = 0,Height = 0)
{
  WinGetPos,X,Y,W,H,A
  If %Width% = 0
    Width := W
  If %Height% = 0
    Height := H
  WinMove,A,,%X%,%Y%,%Width%,%Height%
}

;-----------------------------
;Collapse titlebar
LWIN & LButton::
WinSet, Style, -0xC00000, A
return

;Uncollapse titlebar
LWIN & RButton::
WinSet, Style, +0xC00000, A
return
;-----------------------------


Gui, +ToolWindow +AlwaysOnTop -SysMenu -Caption +Border
Gui, Color, cCCCCCC
SetTimer, Draw, 100 

Draw:
MouseGetPos, MouseX, MouseY, MouseWin ; get mouse coords/window
WinActivate, %MouseWin%

WinGetActiveStats, Title, WinW, WinH, WinX, WinY ; get the stats of the active window

; variables
DrawW := (WinW)
DrawH := (WinH)
DrawX := (WinX - 1)
DrawY := (WinY - 1) 

; show the gui
Gui, Show, NoActivate w%DrawW% h%DrawH% x%DrawX% y%DrawY%, Draw
WinSet, TransColor, CCCCCC, Draw
return

It is lines 24 to 27 that handle the resizing of the SketchUp window. These you may need to tweak to get the result you want. For me it does what I want. I could go into more details but look at this filthy hack length already.

HornOxx

many thanks Rich for all the input and also to you Tig! for your encouragement!
I have installed everything, learnt that I need the older HotKey version 1 instead of 2, finally installed an editor with line display because of "...It is lines 24 to 27 that..." and of course I immediately realised what potential lies in this systematic approach - wonderful!
(I originally hoped that this topic could still be dealt with via ruby - I can't do that either (LOL) but it still reads somehow more logically in my opinion)
And Rich, your script runs wonderfully, but of course doesn't lead to the desired result on the basis of my SkUp setup - but never mind, still great!

Now I have to get to grips with the script parameters and variables which take into account my typical SkUp setup whichcan be guessed by the screenshot below...

faust07

If that helps: a plugin for easily exporting SketchUp images, as shown in the viewport but with free input of height, width, format and compression.
Originally modified for a smooth scene animation to coincide with the Skindigo AnimationExport (Indigo Render Animation).
Here reduced to a SketchUp single image output with input of image parameters.
Transfer the code to an rb file called Single_Image_Export.rb and copy it to the plugin folder of the respective SUp version (tested up to SUp2022).
Restart SketchUp ....

# Formerly Created by Dale Martens AKA 'Whaat' as "Smoothstep Animation"
# Released 6 Oct 2008 As-is and without warranty of any kind.
# Originally modified by faust07 for a smooth scene animation to coincide with the Skindigo AnimationExport (Indigo Render Animation).
# Here reduced to a SketchUp single image export with input of image parameters.
# Modified by faust07 (AT) 2024-03-25

require 'sketchup.rb'

if( not file_loaded?("Single_Image_Export.rb") )
	menu=UI.menu("Plugins")
	menu.add_separator
	menu.add_item("Export Single Image") {(SingleImageExport.new(true))}
end

file_loaded("Single_Image_Export.rb")

class SingleImageExport

def initialize(export)   # export should be true or false

if export			# Inputs
	prompts = ["Width","Height","Format","Compression"]  
	values = ["1920","1080","JPG","1.0"]
	format_choices = "JPG|PNG"
	enums = [nil,nil,format_choices,nil]
	results = UI.inputbox(prompts,values,enums,"Export Options")
	if results
		@width = results[0].to_i
		@height = results[1].to_i
		@format = results[2]
		@comp = results[3].to_f
		if @comp < 0.1 or @comp > 1.0
			UI.messagebox("Compression must be between 0.1 and 1.0")
			@export = false
			return
		end
		def_filename = "SU."+@format.downcase
		path = UI.savepanel "Export Frame","",def_filename
		if path
			@export_path = File.dirname(path)
			@filename = File.basename(path,".*")   # remove the file extension
		end
	end
end

# single image export
@image_path = File.join(@export_path,@filename + ".#{@format.downcase}")
Sketchup.set_status_text("Exporting Frame to #{@image_path}")
Sketchup.active_model.active_view.write_image(@image_path, @width, @height, true, @comp)

end 	# end def initialize(export) 

end # class

Rich O Brien

@HornOxx said in Julia Eneroth's Viewport Resizer / SketchUp 2023:

of course doesn't lead to the desired result on the basis of my SkUp setup

You can just press CTRL+F10 to set it to 'My Square' and then use File > Export >2D Graphic. In the option box if you click Use View Size you will see what the image dimension is for you.

Then adjust line 24 values accordingly to get you to 600px. Not the most elegant approach.

I think the better approach would be to ask Fredo if his Screenshot tool in Fredo Portrait could be extended to handle this. It already has ratio based selecting.

HornOxx

...Rich, I will definitely try your approach (first) to get a better understanding of what is going on between your script and the result "in front" since all that is pretty new to me and then continue by trying to tweak the script here and there to find out which are the right "lines" and values which are necessary - what an exciting thing and refreshing to learn always on top of that.
1000 times thanks for guiding me this far. And if Tig contributes from his almost inexhaustible fundus of knowledge, this is always and everywhere welcome in any case!!!!! ️

@Faust07
Hi and as always I am very happy to hear from You and when I look around in this fantastic group of people here I ask myself "where on earth did I go to school and was it worth it all these years"
Yor Script worked out of the Box and and delivered the result I need for my/our workflow.
I rendered a hiddenline (1920 x 1080) from SketchUp and did the same with the view synchronised Enscape, also in 1920 x 1080. Both graphic components fit together exactly. This means that I can also use the functional renderings from Enscape, such as Material-ID or Depth-mask etc. without any time-consuming fiddling in Photoshop and it also means that every other machine in my team reproduces exactly the same "picture"-result.
So, thank you too for dealing with my topic and for providing a working script on top of that! ️

( Which schools did you all attend?)

faust07

I'm glad this helps.
I find it a shame that the SkerchUp programmers have not yet considered it necessary to implement a precisely definable image export, even though the basic functions are available in Rubi.
Regarding school: "Hochschule für Architektur- und Bauwesen Weimar" today "Bauhaus Universität" - we punched out punched cards and handed them over to the computer center (short time after Konrad Zuse...)
I learned most of Rubi from AntonS for scripting in MSPhysics and from customizing simple plugins for my own purposes. It's enough for small things...

HornOxx

TH Darmstadt / Architektur, and a completely digital-free education back then (not even Zuse) This (CAD) topic then came over me very intensively in my first year of work, but thankfully in a company that provided very good training...

Yes, I agree with you that this issue discussed here has been a flaw since the beginning and yes, it also annoys me that Sketchup never fixed this flaw.

Again to your script and for information for everyone participating here - in the meantime I played through at least 10 scenarios (a: because this topic is so important to me and b: because I have to simulate the output of my many colleagues and our cross-workplace collaboration) and in all these scenarios your script consistently delivered the same and good output results! Prima! I even included the downstream render output in this test, with excellent results as well.
Again, Thanks! to All!!

I'm definitely going to deal with the scripting topic - because that's the only key to solving problems like this!
faust 07.jpg

HornOxx

Hi all - apparently there is a solution to my (for you surely annoying) viewport export dilemma, and that is by using Sketchup's own onboard tools:
Instead of using the classic 2D export you can use the animation export instead. There you do not export a video file but individual frames, for example as png or jpg with the setting 1 frame per second.
There you can set a viewport-independent export resolution. I have tested this under all possible settings and various viewport modifications, I always get identical export image results, and these even fit together with a downstream renderer (e.g. Enscape) provided the renderer is set to Sketup's viewport synchronisation.

I wouldn't have come up with this obvious solution if Eric M Sargeant hadn't posted his video Batch Exporting Scenes and Styles
Batch Exporting Scenes and Styles
So thanks to Eric M Sergeant and all of you here

Firdaus_KL

@Rich-O-Brien Hi sir. Really appreciate your help. Can I know how to get window stats to create more preset? I see in the script it state "+F8" and when I press those keys, nothing happen. Sorry Im a bit noob in this script-things.

Rich O Brien

@Firdaus_KL said in Julia Eneroth's Viewport Resizer / SketchUp 2023:

Can I know how to get window stats to create more preset?

Windows Stats is to report the current dimensions of the active window. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F8 will open a dialog with the dimensions of the window.

To create a new preset you would need to add a line with your preferred dimensions after line 27

^F6::ResizeWin(1301,524) ; Ctrl+F6