this is how i did it.....

	model = Sketchup.active_model
	a = []
	counter = 0
	file = File.new("trial.txt", "r")
	while (line = file.gets)
		a[counter] = line

		if counter % 4 == 0.0     # lines 0 , 4, 8 etc
			 machine = "#{a[counter].strip}.3ds"
		elsif counter % 4 == 1.0   # lines 1 , 5, 9 etc
			x = a[counter].to_f
		elsif counter % 4 == 2.0     # lines 2 , 6, 10 etc
			y = a[counter].to_f
		elsif counter % 4 == 3.0    # lines 3 , 7, 11 etc
			rot = a[counter].to_i
			
		### processing			
		end
		
		counter = counter + 1
	end
	

and also i need to save the first line in variable machine

and where do i write the name of hte file?

ok sorry so let me explain better. So I did a text file containing the following:
milling
500
400
0
drilling
650
100
90
etc....
then the sketchup plugin opens this text file and read line by line. the first line is the name of a .3ds file and it is imported. 500 and 400 are the x and y coordinates where the model will be taken and 0 is the rotation of the model. then it starts again..imports the file drilling.3ds and takes it at 650, 100 and rotates it by 90 degrees.
Till then it's ok.
Now what i had to do is generate the text file using Mathlab and I managed to do that. However when I load this file (generated by matlab) in sketchup it tells me import failed. Then, if I delete the name of the first model, it's x and y coordinates and the rotation ie as below

drilling
650
100
90
etc

It imports al the models correctly.. I don't know if the error is from matlab's side or sketchup's. I hope i explained myself wel now...

This programm is actually making me crazy. What I am doing is that Matlab gives me a list example like this in a text file.
milling
500 (x axis)
400 (y axis)
0 (rot)
drilling
600
.....etc
and then I use this text file in the program above. However it gives me an error: Failed import. strangely enough when I remove the first name and its coordinates and rotation and moves the second one in its place, it works. Do you think this is a problem about the matlab code or sketchup?

This is my code where im getting information from a text file. it is a loop like this: 0th line in variable machine (string), 1nd line in variable x (integer), 2rd line in variable y (integer), 3th line in var rot (integer), 4th line in machine again etc. however if in the string line there is "floor" written, those 4 lines will be skipped and go to the next string line (therefore counter = counter +4). However when i run it, nothing happens

	a = []
	counter = 0
	file = File.new("trial.txt", "r")
	while (line = file.gets)
		a[counter] = line

		if counter % 4 == 0.0         # lines 0 , 4, 8 etc
			if a[counter] = #{floor}
				counter = counter + 4
			 else machine = "#{a[counter].3ds"
			end
		elsif counter % 4 == 1.0    # lines 1 , 5, 9 etc
			x = a[counter].to_f
		elsif counter % 4 == 2.0     # lines 2 , 6, 10 etc
			y = a[counter].to_f
		elsif counter % 4 == 3.0    # lines 3 , 7, 11 etc
			rot = a[counter].to_i

ok thanks both!!

ok sorry TIG i saw your post now

hmmm this worked now...but I didn't understand why you did 1% 4 = 1.0 etc?

a = []
	counter = 0
	file = File.new("trial.txt", "r")
	while (line = file.gets)
		a[counter] = line

		if counter % 4 == 0     # lines 0 , 4, 8 etc
			machine = "#{a[counter]}" 
		elsif counter % 4 == 0.25      # lines 1, 5, 9 etc
			x = a[counter].to_f    
		elsif counter % 4 == 0.5    # lines 2, 6, 10 etc
      			y = a[counter].to_f    
		elsif counter % 4 == 0.75     # lines 3, 7, 11 etc
			rot = a[counter].to_i
end
end