Convert groups to components

[Orionis98]

I searched the forums to find an answer, but unfortunately the only one I found has an inconsistent link.
I have some hundreds of identical groups that I wish to transform to component (this one is already created) in order to make some modifications to all the elements.
Is there a command (or a pluging) to do that?
Thanks

[Rich O Brien]

@thomthom Selection Toys

Selection Toys | SketchUcation

3D SketchUp Community for Design and Engineering Professionals.

(sketchucation.com)

[Orionis98]

@Rich-O-Brien
Very clever, very useful...very complex
Thank you

[Box]

You could also try the confusingly named, Groups to Components .

[panixia]

@Orionis98 is not that complex..

contextual menu -> group copies -> select all -> contextual menu -> group copies -> convert into components.

[Dave R]

@panixia said in Convert groups to components:

contextual menu -> group copies -> select all -> contextual menu -> group copies -> convert into components.

This of course requires Selection Toys as Rich advised.

[panixia]

@Dave-R of course.
In fact I'm answering to him who says that the plugin proposed by Rich is complex to use.
It actually only takes six mouse clicks.

[rv1974]

This post is deleted!

[rv1974]

This post is deleted!

[panixia]

@rv1974 said

6 clicks is ridiculous

Well, regardless the plugin you chose, you've got 2 step to accomplish, first you need to select something, then you need to perform the action.
Provided that you enable the 2 commands in the right click menu, you need 2 clicks to open that.
You can actually just hover mouse to the "group copies submenu" without clicking on it (so they are potentially 2 click less), then you need a click to select and another additional click to convert.

@rv1974 said

trying to find something in this filthy right click menu

The Selection Toys UI is one of the best in my opinion, being that is TOTALLY customizable with a few clicks.
If you feel there are too many options in the right click menu , you can easily remove them at any time.

@rv1974 said

frequently used tool

It shouldn't be used that often TBH, you are supposed to use components from scratch whenever it's needed.
The tool is intended to fix errors due to lack of attention.
You should always pay attention to what you're doing, to begin with.

@rv1974 said

They're several dedicated groups to components scripts

Yeah, I know I've one of them and never use it. Selection Toys is more powerful being that it allows to select group copies that are nested into other groups and subgroups (and allow to choose if you want to pick all the copies in the model or only those into the current context).
It also has tons of other useful selection filters (which I use way more than this specific one).
If you know a plugin that requests less than 4 clicks to perform the exact same operation from context menu with the same level of control, let me know, maybe I missed something.

BTW if, for whatever reason, one need to use some specific command that frequently is a matter of second to setup a couple of dedicated toolbars buttons using Lord Of The Toolbars.
That's something I usually do for my most frequently used commands (which I don't use so frequently to deserve a keyboard shortcut, of course).

The attached video shows how fast you can perform the action on nested groups.

EDIT: apparently you deleted the post while I was answering, I'll reply anyway because the video and the advices could be useful for the OP or anyone searching for the same question.

[rv1974]

@panixia

It shouldn't be used that often TBH, you are supposed to use components from scratch whenever it's needed.
The tool is intended to fix errors due to lack of attention.
You should always pay attention to what you're doing, to begin with.

I avoid using "Make Component" - I hate modal dialogs. I have silent Make Group+Group to Component assigned to mouse button instead. Thanks for the video, though I use TT's plugin for 15 years - the video indeed might be useful for others.
BTW you don't need to select all instances before converting them to instanced component. only one is enough

[panixia]

@rv1974 said in Convert groups to components:

I avoid using "Make Component" - I hate modal dialogs.

I also hate that window, because it's useless in most cases.
I have mouse buttons programmed to other things, so i just use a shortcut (ctrl + G) to make component and then hit "enter" to skip the dialog quickly.

@rv1974 said in Convert groups to components:

you don't need to select all instances before converting them to instanced component. only one is enough

That's definetly a "Doh moment"
So.. at the end of the day, I was wrong.. it actually needs just two clicks (a right click to open context menu and another one to pick the "convert options").
You could probably assign the very same command to your mouse button.
No need to install a separate plugin.

[Rich O Brien]

I always felt the Entity Info panel was a good place to handle component creation.

If you build some mesh object and isolate it in a wrapper(group) you can add component properties via the Entity Panel.

For me the Entity Panel should be the portal to many actions related to your selection. Currently, it just repeats functions other Panels expose.

I can dream....

[panixia]

@Rich-O-Brien said in Convert groups to components:

For me the Entity Panel should be the portal to many actions related to your selection

Wait.. aren't you actually describing that typical "inspector" panel featured in 99.9% of the 3d packages out there?

@Rich-O-Brien said in Convert groups to components:

I can dream....

Yeah.. keep dreaming