Can I tag an object with data and color the object....

not registered yet · 31 Dec 2007, 22:37

I guess this is a two part question. Is it possible to add custom fields to an object, for example an object name and color? Can I color an object based on the data in a custom field?

Basically I'd like to use sketchup to do some performance mapping. I'd like to import a file containing a number that identifies an object and a number representing it's performance. Based on that I'd like each object to be colored or shaded based upon that number.
Is this possible or practical?
Thanks,
Mark

[marsol]

RickW · 31 Dec 2007, 22:38

Generally speaking, attributes are the way to go for something like this.

TIG · 31 Dec 2007, 22:39

As RickW said - you'd import the ID and value list and in turn assign each to an instance of something in SUp - that could be a face or perhaps a component that is pre-inserted - with each located as also set out in the list ?

Then once they are all insertd and have had their attributes assigned - say you call them "Marsol's" "ID" and "Value" - your script would then loop through and gives each of them a material [colour] that matches the value it now has as an attribute. You'd need to set up some range rules since I expect you'll only want say 8, 16 or 32 colours, applied to more that that number of values... Say Bright-Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet and Dark-Purple for high to low, with the extra intermediate ones shades in between... You can readily make material/colours and give them names, then assign them to entities.

Once inserted then rerunning with a new list of the same things with that ID, but new values could update the colours to suit...

daiku · 31 Dec 2007, 22:39

One issue you may run into is wanting to color two instances of the same component with different colors. I've wanted to do that in my scripts, and haven't been able to find a way. If someone knows differently, I'd love to hear about it. CB.

TIG · 31 Dec 2007, 22:40

@daiku said:

One issue you may run into is wanting to color two instances of the same component with different colors. I've wanted to do that in my scripts, and haven't been able to find a way. If someone knows differently, I'd love to hear about it. CB.

Make the component with the default material - either manually beforehand as a component on a knowable path or better within the script - make a group, add faces etc (they'll have the default material 'by default' !), make that group into a component definition, place instances of that component as desired etc.
For each instance of the component you place, as you place it just set its material to the required colour...

component_instance.material="Red"

etc...
Here's how to make new colors/materials, that aren't the built-in ones like "Red"...

mat_new="My New Material"### or whatever name you like...
extg=nil
Sketchup.active_model.materials.each{|mat|extg=mat if mat.name==mat_new}
if extg ### it is made already
      mat_n=extg
else ### it hasn't been made yet
      mat_n=Sketchup.active_model.materials.add(mat_new)
      mat_n.color=[66,100,200]### adjust RGB colors here as desired.
end ### if
### then give that material to the instance...
component_instance.material=mat_new

...

daiku · 31 Dec 2007, 22:41

My Mistake. The problem I had been stuggling with was painting individual faces within an instance without changing the other instances. CB.

RickW · 31 Dec 2007, 22:41

Yeah, that can't be done. It would violate the rules of component definitions.

Your options: either paint the instance, or make an instance unique (but then you are creating a new definition).

Sorry I don't have better news...