Posts made by BTM

OK, I have 2 issues, one with each script, that are holding me back from posting the next version.

1. With the current 'Merge Points' script, the transformation isn't always 'perfect'. since SketchUp only allows vertices to be transformed by vectors, and not able to be given a specific point to move to, the points don't always end up exactly in the same place. Sometimes they are off by an amount SketchUp barely even recognizes. This causes them to not be attached, and thus are annoying. This doesn't always happen, but it does happen on occasion. Does Anyone know of a way to get the transformation to be perfect every time?

2. The next script moves points to the closest position on the lines of the selected edges. The annoying part is that lines are infinite. I could probably figure out how to get it working properly, with the edges and not lines by using if functions, but it wouldn't be ready by tonight.

@mitcorb said:

BTM:
I have not tried the ruby yet, but I have some questions.
Is there an upper and lower limit to the selection radius?
From the description, this could be used as a seam stitcher, maybe? In other words, you construct a line or curve, or loop along which you can snap nearby vertices to it?

Today, I've made another script to do this… well, I think it does this.

http://www.screencast.com/t/zIfDNh5jG

You select a number of edges, and click the tool. It asks you for a radius, like in the other one. You select it, and any points within that distance from a selected line, are moved to the closest point on any of the lines selected. In the next release, most likely tonight, both of the scripts will be included in a submenu.

@chris fullmer said:

the problem with a script that keeps the client from changing anything - well all they would have to do is uninstall the script. Or more likely, never install it in the first place. There is no way to build that tpye of functionality into a model itself unfortunately.

… You sure? I remember once that CPhillips was going to try and embed sound files into skp files, maybe it's possible with ruby scripts. I'd have no Idea myself though, but you never know…

@unknownuser said:

BTM

I have tried you script and find it useful. However, is it necessary to pick a distance? Why not, pick point A, a point B, and have point A move to point B.

Thanks for all your work
Ken
Well, as I see it, I'd usually use the move tool to move a single point to another single point. This script was made for those areas with a bunch of points, that are mostly unnecessary, and you just want to make them all into a single point.

@mitcorb said:

…you construct a line or curve, or loop along which you can snap nearby vertices to it?
Not yet, sorry. maybe I'll add it as a feature eventually.

@unknownuser said:

Does it possible to make the same but collapse points on an axe (X,Y,Z) or on a straight line given?
Pilou, je ne sais pas exactement ce que tu veux dire, mais je pense que tu demande si c’est possible de changer la code, pour qu’il puisse attacher des points proches à une ligne sélectionner. Sinon, peux-tu expliquer plus?

@tig said:

To keep 'max_weld_distance' set during a session call it @@max_weld_distance, on activate set it to 1" at the start if it's not set in the form

@@max_weld_distance=1.to_l if not @@max_weld_distance

and in the inputbox use

defaults = [@@max_weld_distance]

to use it...
I've tried some similar things, but I always seem to get the error that @@max_weld_distance is an 'uninitialized class variable'.

@jim said:

…make it highlight each point within the weld distance so you know what is about to happen when you click.
I'll try. Visualization isn't something I'm all that good with yet.

... I didn't find it dark... then again, most renders i've done, i've had people tell me they were too dark aswell...

!!!! That's Incredible!!!!!

I'll make sure to do that in the next version, remus.

... Also, in order for it to work properly for selections, I'd have to find a way to select the entities in a component after exploding it. I've found a way to do it with groups, but not components. Any ideas?

DOWNLOAD FILES:
Point Merger Tools v 1.2
%(#800000)[download, unzip, and move the contents of the folder to your plugins folder.
When you open SketchUp, they can be found in 'Point Merger' in the Plugins menu, or in the 'Merge Points' Toolbar.]
———————————————————————————————————————————————
Merge Points

VERSION 1.2 (23/06/09)
Added proper undo function, a cursor, toolbar, it now uses the VCB for input, and other small changes were made.

Version: 1.1
~ Very small changes, now the current radius of the tool appears in the inputbox. Radius still isn't saved when tool is unselected.

Use:
This plugin is called 'Merge Points', and does exactly that. You first press enter/ return, and select the radius the tool will affect. Then you click where you want to merge points. It will take any points close enough, and move them to the position you clicked on.
This can get rid of those pesky areas with messed-up geometry, as-well as lowering the poly-count of a model manually (If you really wanted to).

Things I want to change/ add:
• Visualization while using the tool.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
Merge Points to Selection

VERSION: 1.2 (23/06/09)
~ Added ability to find edges and endpoints of selected faces, a proper 'undo' function, a toolbar, and slight changes.

Version: 1.1
~ Added the ability to chose between moving points to closest position on selected lines, or closest endpoint of selected lines.

Use:
This plugin is called 'Merge Points to Selection'. You select the lines you want the points to move to, or faces the lines are part of, and select the radius the tool will affect. Then you click OK. It will take any points close enough, and move them to the closest position on any any of the lines that were selected.
This can get rid of those pesky areas with messed-up geometry, and also for connecting things to lines, or connecting meshes together.

Things I want to change/ add:
• Visualization while using the tool.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
known issue: Sometimes when the points are merged, as i've seen sometimes when using other tools, sketchup doesn't realize they are in the same position exactly. When/ if this happens, it's best to use 'Fix Problems', and possibly 'Intersect'.

My guess is the person who's fridge it is has a pet snake or something. And Boo; what's that fish thing?

@unknownuser said:

...The Rogue Paramount Coupé would feature either a 210hp 2 litre V4 or a 260hp 3 litre straight 6. They would be fitted with a 4 or 5 speed manual gear box respectively. Rear wheel drive, fully independent suspension and all-round disc brakes are just some of the sporting features.

What about safety features?

... Just joking.

... More seriously though, you did a really awesome job! It's extremely detailed too!!

That's gotta be one of the best looking cars i've ever seen on the forums!

The plugin can be found in the window menu; it's not called found. Look for 'Sketchucation Search' in the Window menu. First post has been updated, sorry for the confusion.

A very simple script I wrote for myself today, but have decided to share here anyways.

http://screencast.com/t/8JODW7ty2G
I made the web browser window small, just so you can see it in the video. It will actually appear normal sized.

SCF_Search.rb

USE: It can be found in the Window menu (Under Sketchucation Search). It opens an inputbox, in which you can search for keywords, an author, and whether you want posts or topics displayed. when you click 'OK', your browser will open to the SketchUcation Community Forums search results page.

update: forgot a small line of text, fixed.

*next version should have the 'search in forum' (Ruby Disscussion, Newbie Forum, etc.) feature working, but for now, it seems to put %255 in the URL when it says %5 in the script. So the 'select forum' feature doesn't work for now.

@ben ritter said:

No offense, but I can't see how and for what purpose would you would use this script?

... And that's the evil part!
There is (almost) no (constructive) use!

One reason would be if you wanted to send a model to someone to see how it looks, without them being able to use it at all; see link.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=18227&st

... Another could be for fun...

... Or using the scramble effect on objects to make things like water, rocks, clouds, or other randomly shaped objects...

...or using it (minus the reverse faces) to make models appear old/ worn...

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=19782&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Thanks Chris; I'll try that

... I also (accidentally) found out another use for scattering points

... I'm now thinking of maybe putting in the option to either scramble selected objects, as-well as all entities...

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

•To change the part that takes groups and components and rotates them slightly, so that it rotates them around the center of the bounding box, instead of the axes.

http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/boundingbox.html#center ?

...I hope noone at my office gets hold of this script... smells evil...

I know about the group.bounds.center method, my biggest issue is how to rotate it around the center. I've tried a lot of times, and every time I fail miserably.

I finally figured out how to get the last part working, and now it can scramble your models a whole lot more!
=

... I'm still looking for Ideas to add more features, as-well as reports of anyone who's having problems with it.

Nice job! where are the puddles coming from though? I'd put some wet spots on the stairs, or on the ceiling above to puddles, just so they don't look like they appeared out of nowheres

Version: 1.0

Use: Rotates groups and Components slightly, explodes them, purges unused components, then takes all faces and reverses random ones, painting them as they were. each event can be turned on/off when the script is selected.

UPDATE June 11, 2009:
It is now able to explode all curves, and moves random points or all points by random vectors, based on a value input by the user, which dictates maximum distance in all directions ( I use 0.0001m).

Description: It's meant as a way to scramble a model, to make it harder to edit. There are other uses too though.

Things I'm trying to fix are:

•To get all the text to appear in the inputbox.

•To change the part that takes groups and components and rotates them slightly, so that it rotates them around the center of the bounding box, instead of the axes.

•To soften all new lines made by the point scattering part.

•... Suggestions?

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btm_Model_Scramble.rb