Tubealongpath.rb

lewiswadsworth

That is also one of my favorite scripts, but I simply added a shortcut key for it.

--Lewis

[Lewis Wadsworth]

azuby

UI.add_context_menu_handler { |m| m.add_item("Tube Along Path") { tube_along_path } }

azuby

Gaieus

I also use it a lot with Gothic vault ribs and window tracery. I love it!

not registered yet

Does it look similar to chamferalongpath.rb?

[Invader ZIM]

boofredlay

@unknownuser said:

That is also one of my favorite scripts, but I simply added a shortcut key for it.

--Lewis

You replied about the tubealongpath.rb

What does this ruby do that follow me does not? I did not want to divert the topic.
Thanks.

Gaieus

Eric, it mostly does the same it is just a faster and easier way of it (though obviously with limited possibilities regarding the faces to be extruded). But when I need to extrude a lot of faces all along a Gothic window tracery for instance, it is very handy because I dont need to precisely place the faces to be extruded just hit the script and it does the job.
Obviously I don't always use it when making extrusions.

lewiswadsworth

Eric,

I end up modeling a great many tubular railings along stairs and balconies, and this is something of a life saver...I don't have to orient a face perpendicular to the edge that describes the rail, I just select the rail, hit the hotkey for the plugin, specify my diameter, and go. It has also proved useful in creating steel trusses and open-web joists where the chords are round in cross section.

However, the variant pipe-along-path ruby is even more useful much of the time, because I can specify the number of edges in the circle sweeping the edge. Usually I don't need more than 8 if the tube/pipe is small diameter. I just have to remember to set the inner diameter to 0 when I don't want a real pipe.

http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/PipeAlongPath.rb

--Lewis

[Lewis Wadsworth]

not registered yet

Azuby,

Thanks much! That worked like a charm.

Eric,

I am making a model of our plant and all of its plumbing and wiring. This works well for tubing along odd angles because I don't have to set a face for follow me to use.

Thanks all,

Mike W.

TIG

Glad my script is useful...

Gaieus

We all are, TIG, thanks...

boofredlay

Thanks for the Script TIG, and thanks for the information Gaieus and Lewis. I will go get me one.

TIG

Typically at the end of an interactive script there's a menu section, something like:

if( not file_loaded?("............."))

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

file_loaded="..........."

The "............." is the script's name and the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX part is the menu definition - this is so it only loads once if for some reason you manually load the script etc you'll only get one menu item.

To add a right-click context-menu you need to add some code - like azuby's or similar forms. You replace the title and 'action' to suit... so in "Mirror.rb" it's:
...
UI.add_context_menu_handler do |menu|
if Sketchup.active_model.selection
menu.add_separator
menu.add_item("Mirror Selection") { Sketchup.active_model.select_tool MirrorTool.new}
end#if
end#do menu
...
inside the if loop at the end as well as the normal Plugins Menu instructions...

Azuby's equivalent way would be:
...
UI.add_context_menu_handler{|menu|menu.add_separator;menu.add_item("Mirror Selection"){Sketchup.active_model.select_tool MirrorTool.new}}
...

TIG

Feel free... it's the only way we learn...

kdjanz

Just to update TIG's reply, here is the code to cut and paste that worked for me FOR THE PIPE_ALONG_PATH ruby:

     ###$submenu2.add_item("Pipe Along Path") { pipe_along_path }### 
   UI.add_context_menu_handler{|menu|menu.add_separator;menu.add_item("Pipe Along Path"){Sketchup.active_model.select_tool pipe_along_path.new}}

Hope this helps everyone enjoy this excellent piece of code.

Thanks again TIG

Kelly

stefx

Sorry guys....
I'm a little bit new with sketchup plugin and ruby script....
so...
I can't understand how I can install this tool..
Could someone help me?

many thanks,
Stef.

remus

You need to download the file form the link in the OP. Once youve done that you need to move it to the plugins folder in the SU system file -> \google\google sketchup 6\plugins

Once youve done that the plugin should be in the 'plugins' menu next time you start SU up.

stefx

Hi Remus!
Thank you for your answer.....
but...
usually I download a file (with .rb file) and I put in plugin folder....(as you told me!)
I don't understand when you say "You need to download the file form the link in the OP"

Is there a link where I can download the file?
(I can find just the script text and I'm not able to use it)

Probably it is a silly request...I know, I'm very new of sketcup's plugins!...sorry!
Could someone help me?...Thanks!

Stef.

Gaieus

Hi Stef,

Yes, that is the script itself actually.
Select all the text and copy/paste it into a plain text editor (such as Notepad or something - no MS Word or anything like that!) then save the text file as TubeAlongPath.rb into the Plugins folder.

rv1974

Hi TIG!
Is it possible to extend the existing .rb by adding 3d\cross etc. line conjunctions handling?
It'd be a real killer!

stefx

Hi Gaieus,
Thnak you very much for your answer.

I got a problem.
I get copy and paste in a notepad and then save it with the name "tubealongpath.rb" in the plugin folder (so i can see a txt file with that name) but also after a restart I cannot see anything in the plugin menu...
have you got any idea about the mistake?

Thanks.
Stef.