I forgot about Matthew Scarpino's Skel Module - see page 278 in "Automatic Sketchup" - so I am having a go with that.

Thanks Gaieus but YouTube is not available in these parts. But I will look at it when I next go to Hong Kong.

• skp

Bodyshop.skp

I found an interesting mannequin/model in the warehouse. I want to see if I can use it to demonstrate comfort with models of furniture.

So there are two aspects: first to amend critical parts of the model quickly to personalise it to enquirers' body sizes; second, to change from standing, seating, arm resting, lying and probably some animation for the transitions.

I have made each part a component and experimented rearranging the original leg shown on the left. The ankle and foot on the right are detached and the leg, knee and thigh just rotated and moved by eye.

So I was wondering if there was an easy way to establish points to be able to use Ruby to rotate and connect the components, or if there was an open source web-compatible solution already available?

Thanks

Also found this written by the same guy specifically for hta's. I just wrote the input into my code so there is no need for any pop up window. Maybe useful for others ...

Thanks J + D. Very helpful as usual.

Thanks for both your notes Dan.

Would you tell me how to automatically open a webdialog on launching SU?

I should explain that I am trying to facilitate opening things from a single hta (as a prototype) with the minimum of clicks ... it could be an application, a web page, an html widget and so on. The choice would be up to the owner to set up.

So in terms of applications I'm thinking s/he would need to select the exe file in its directory in order to store the filename and path. I am looking at this example but are having some difficulty implementing it. If you or anyone else knows of a better way, preferably in js, please let me know.

Thanks again

I just found out that this works:

shell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.shell");
shell.run("file;///C;/Program%20Files/Google/Google%20SketchUp%207/SketchUp.exe");

but this doesn't:

shell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.shell");
shell.run("C;/Program%20Files/Google/Google%20SketchUp%207/SketchUp.exe");

I suppose it is because the hta is a kind of browser but that doesn't explain why winzip.exe and the others work ... or does it?

Thanks Jim for the copy of the launcher. I understand it better now. Is it possible to get the file name by browsing. (I can't remember how).

Also - a follow up question - is it possible to open a webdialog on loading SU and position off screen?

Thanks

@jim said:

Hello Chris,

You need to use the full path - the HTA knows not where to find "sketchup.exe"

You need to read the registry to get the actual path. I have a partially finished sketchup launcher I need to add this too also, so I will look at that today.

But it knows where to find iexplore, firefox and notepad.

Anyway I tried that but still no joy with or without double slashes. Also tried (blindly) adding %20 for the gaps. Can I have a copy of your launcher when finished - presumably it can launch anything and open files?

About full width code boxes, it seems to me, with all the code, images etc it would be better for the default to be full width with an option to "blockquote" text.

shell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.shell");
shell.run("sketchup.exe");

This works for winzip but not for sketchup (Error: The system cannot find the file specified.)

I have tried to launch several other exes but cannot see any trend for errors.

Does anyone know why and more importantly how to fix it.

Thanks

This is a proposal to develop the nameset interface and mechanisms as an alternative to Sketchup layers and a supplement to outliner and scenes. The first step I want to take is to seek help to test the basic functionality, stability and acceptability of the interface itself. It has been made as a plugin but for simplicity interaction with models is delayed until this step is deemed complete.

ANIMATION

As the interface is more machine than metaphor for paperwork, it needs to be read differently. The names in the grey row represent a navigable trail. All the other names in the white panel offer associated options to branch off onto others.

Selection of names activates horizontal and vertical animation to slide new options into view.

Selection of menu prompt opens available devices. (only one for this stage).

Selection of menu option opens the device (in this case nsetCreate.js)

Device prompts open but menu prompts remain accessible.

Device options. Note menu prompt to slide menu prompts back

Menu and device columns also slide vertically.

Selection in white panel slides menu prompts back.

FUNCTIONALITY

Functionality relies on the html and javascript (see attached files) but also on the key/value pairs in the record (as above). Each record is given a number label. Each record has a Forelink key which has an array of number labels associated with it. The other key/value pairs are explained with the device that creates them.

"Example_2" is a sharable nameset link. When it was created with the machineCreate device it was given "NSET" and "VIEW" as its Forelink array. It is saved in a file of the same name and its first two records are "NSET" and "VIEW" in order to make the coupling.

When another sharable nameset link is selected, the previous one is unhooked and saved and the new one coupled.

Sets and scenes have a different color to avoid confusion with NSET names. The NSET is temporarily attached to a scene in order to record required visibility of components. All components can be hidden with one selection.

And made visible again by selecting collections or components further down the trail.

Due to images restrictions Devices, Files and Planned are in part 2

Extract into plugins; check nameset extension

Part 1

DEVICES

Devices can be made by anyone just like ruby plug-ins for Sketchup. There are few rules:

Add name as an option to an existing menu prompt - e.g. Nset > Edit - or create new menu prompt and option - e.g. Animation > Create

Code in Javascript and save the file using prompt + option - e.g. nsetEdit.js, animationCreate.js.

Incorporate the functions described below.

Use the config global variable but delete any members introduced for the device.

The required functions are:

This is called by the device initiator in the machine code to display the main list in the device prompt slider.

This is called from a common function on selection of a prompt.

This is called from a core function on selection of an option.

This is called from the machine to clean up config file.

See FILES for an explanation of the file structure.

DEVICES FOR TEST

Machine devices enable manipulation of names that belong to its owner, at this stage adding and deleting either private or sharable named links.

Nset devices are similar but for use within in a sharable nameset. Additional options include specifying a Type.

View devices now only include the ability to toggle visibility on and off.

Currently all new names are via user input but later a set of functions will use the Type and other key/value pairs to store unique input and offer pertinent lists from which to select.

FILES

nameset.rb is called from its launcher in the plug_in folder. It needs to be activated from Preferences > Extensions > Nameset. For this test it handles only the webdialog and callbacks for retrieving and saving text and swapping sharable nsets.

zExample_x.json are text files in JavaScript Object Notation holding nset data for projects. Only zExample_2 has been extended beyond the automaticaaly added NSET and VIEW nodes.

nset.json holds both the machine owners private links and the current sharable nset (in this case, zExample_2)

mset.json holds the machine owner's menu of selected device groups and devices.

config.json holds the nametrail (which determines the names' animation) and a few other essential variables.

viewEdit, nsetCreate and machineSetup are device files.

ruby.js handles the callbacks and scripts that retrieve and save data including swapping sharable nsets.

machine.js controls the display and devices.

json2.json was downloaded from http://www.JSON.org

core.js contains many common functions that are used by machine and devices

nameset.css and nameset.html are pretty standard except for this div that enables devices to be swapped

by this:

PLANNED

Mac compatibilty
Importing layer, component and scene names
Importing scene properties
Copying and other nset and view editing tools
Resizing and column options
Model/machine interaction
Nset record output
Unique word store
Shortcuts
Machine configuration and preferences
Standalone application

If you find this interesting please download and try out the plugin and post any comments in this topic. Please note the idea is to test building hierarchies in the interface - interaction with models has been removed in order to progress step by step.

Thanks

Thanks

Extract into plugins; check nameset extension

@thomthom said:

I haven't seen this mentioned before - but I just came across how .execute_script works for Webdialogs:

It takes the string argument passed to webdialog.execute_script and appends it into a new SCRIPT tag in the HTML.

I found out about this quite by chance. What I have done is give all my script tags an id then call this function after the data has been transferred (written to memory) ...

function corePurge(){
	coll = document.body.childNodes;
	for(a=0; a < coll.length; a += 1){
		if (coll[a].tagName ===	"SCRIPT" && coll[a].id === ""){
			document.body.removeChild(coll[a]); 
                        a -= 1;
		}
	}	
}

I have no idea whether this is beneficial but it does not seem to do any harm.

Delivered today ...

same spirit I think even with though quite different support style.

Also made a platform bed base with elephantine legs and demountable undercart ...

and an experiment with kitchen unit units - this one for the back balcony (yet to be plumbed in) ...

Note wood door and drawer furniture. Doors have dowels instead of hinges.

All is camphorwood with raised grain and clear finish.

More experiments in hand including sofa, armchairs, TV trolley, wardrobes and so on.

That's very kind - perhaps when you get back from the other place.

However if anyone knows how to do it directly I would feel much better!

Thanks

I thought the Flash tag should be involved but I could not get that to work either...

Is it possible to upload a local .swf video and have it run in the post?

Thanks

@aadbuild said:

HI Chris Christmas has come upon me ...

This post is really meant for you Andrew but there may just be others who are interested in this type of thing.

Well I think the time has come to see whether our efforts can be merged in any way; here is a kind of wip video that may help consider how.

[flash=400,300:2mzchx54]http://screencast.com/t/ODIzNmQ3ZDgt[/flash:2mzchx54]

The Internet is a bit dodgy around here. So here is the Screencast link

Also a zipped avi

Animated UI.zip

Animated_UI.swf

Yes I agree with your caption.

Like your avatar much is disguised - remove the shades at least.

In China ads for new developments show a good looking female playing a violin on a tranquil lake - totally unreal. Your tasty renders ignore how to deal with rubbish and how to clean windows. Are you sure it is right to pursue such similar fakery?

@beepeng said:

Hi all.

Can I customize Outliner? If so, how can I do that? Are there any examples?

Thanks.

Ang Beepeng

@tig said:

No... BUT you could make your own version using a web-dialog - and so heavy-duty coding...

If you look at this post you will see some development work on the organisational aspects of Sketchup; it could do with some attention so that requests like yours can be satisfied.