In the situation where door/window components are inserted into a wall, the glueing axis of the component is red/green plane parallel to the wall. However, when you wish to animate the window/door the component axes need to be changed to match the global model, ie red/green plane parallel to floor. Is there a smarter way to all this, or am I missing something?

Sonder - Sketchup to Layout?

JQL How do you split geometry across inside and outside layers of the building? Are external doors and windows residing on both internal and external layers?

What book are you referring to Sonder?

I'm looking for an architectural layer naming convention to use, rather than re-invent the wheel I wondered if anyone has any suggestions for ones that work for mainly residential type work?

I know I'm missing something basic here but trying to get the vertices of a selected faced....

@mod = Sketchup.active_model
      sel = @mod.selection
      verts = sel.grep(Sketchup;;Face) {|f|f.vertices}
      v = verts.position

Doesn't give me an array of 3d point values as expected?

Spotted my error.... p0 = [org] , should be p0 = org
I had 0,0,0 in there before changing it to a variable. Apologies for wasting forum time!!!

Trying to follow your example from the holeinthewall!!
I seem to get hung up on the simplest of things!! I am getting Error: #<ArgumentError: wrong number of values in array> between p "ok" and p "ok2" lines of code!! Grrrrrr

module DeanBy7
	module Stair_Builder
		def self.main
		    @tht = 2600.mm if(!@tht)
			@wid = 900.mm if(!@wid)
			@trd = 32.mm if(!@trd)
			org = [0,0,0]
			mod = Sketchup.active_model			
			xa = X_AXIS
			ya = Y_AXIS
			za = Z_AXIS
			ents = mod.entities
			str_grp = ents.add_group()
			str_grp.name = "dbStairs"
			sents = str_grp.entities
			prompts = ["Stair Height Total", "Stair Width", "Tread Thickness"]
			results = UI.inputbox prompts, [@tht,@wid,@trd], "db Stair Builder"
				if results
					@tht,@wid,@trd = results; mod.start_operation "db Window Opening"
					p @tht
					p @wid
			        testrisers = @tht / 220.mm
					risers = testrisers.ceil
                    p testrisers
                    p risers
                    riser = @tht / risers
					p "Riser = " + riser.to_mm.to_s
					tread = riser / Math.tan(42.degrees)
					p "Tread = " + tread.to_mm.to_s
					p0 = [org]
					p "ok"
					p1 = p0.offset(xa, @wid)
					p "ok2"
					p2 = p1.offset(ya, tread)
					p3 = p0.offset(ya, tread)
					step = sents.add_face(p0,p1,p2,p3)
					step.pushpull @trd
					
					mod.commit_operation
			    end
		end
	end
end
unless file_loaded?("dbstairbuilder")
	UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("db Stair Builder") { DeanBy7;;Stair_Builder.main }
	file_loaded("dbstairbuilder")
end

I want to offset points along the x, y and z axes and want to setup vector variables. The following doesn't work in Sketchup 8.

xa, ya, za = Sketchup.active_model.axes.axes

The Ruby API shows 2016+ in the reference document.
Is there another way of doing this?

The last code is exactly what I want. Thanks.

Gary K - They look interesting, I will check these out!
With TIG and sdmitch's very informative help I have succeeded with my little script!
Posted here for information. Cheers guys.
Now to look at automating the move of window component with its associated reveals! Hmmm observers?

dbwindowwallopen.rb

I am trying to add a Brick_Antique material to a face with Ruby. The material is in the model already, but will not apply the material with this code....

mats = Sketchup.active_model.materials
brick = mats['Brick_Antique']
......
oface.material = brick

However, if I make the Brick material current in the model and then use this....

current = Sketchup.active_model.materials.current
.....
oface.material = current

It works!
I assume from this that the display name cannot be used to reference the material. So how would I get the internal name of any in-model material if you only know its display name?

I take your point. The sides of the reveal are good enough. The bottom is usually covered by a window cill, and the top reveal could be adjusted if needed but could be adjusted but is not as visible as the sides in views of a building. Your door looks good. Was it created with your own plugin? I'd like to play with that! I have a quick and dirty window builder which I created as my first Ruby project. The code is nor pretty, but it works!!

By using the pushpull, the reveals inherit the materials of the main wall faces. In the case of the outer face the reveal brickwork pattern is maintained round the corner, which is good! However, it appears that moving geometry with Ruby is a no-no. Therefore if I want to group the reveal geometry for later ease of movement of window etc then I will have to create it as you say within a group. But I will have to add the material and probably align the texture to suit. It's a trade off I think! Unless anyone has a solution!! Here's hoping

It's the faces produced by the pushpull operations (the reveal faces "rev_faces") that I want to group together. Can this be done?

Here is an image of my test wall opening!

After the pushpull operation, I've tested the face entities to see if they connect with 2 vertices i've offset into the middle of the reveals (diagonally opposite corners of opening). These faces then reside in rev_faces. I'm trying to create a reveal group within the wall group.

I now have the two pick points working from sdmitch's code. I will study the linetool.rb script to fathom getting the cursor to snap to geometry! Something tells me this will be easy task!

Me again!!
Trying to group the reveal entities to make it easy to move a window and it opening if I need to. I have managed to create the group but it ends up being transformed and its not inside the wall groupd as expected. I also get a copy of the elements (not grouped but within the wall group transformed to the wall group origin. Also get a BugSplat! Anyone have an idea what I've done wrong?

module DeanBy7
	module Window_Opening
		def self.main
		    @olt = 103.mm if(!@olt)
			@twt = 315.mm if(!@twt)
			@wfd = 70.mm if(!@wfd)
			@wdi = 50.mm if(!@wdi)
			
			mod = Sketchup.active_model
			sel = mod.selection
			unless sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance).empty?
				prompts = ["Wall external leaf thickness", "Wall total thickness", "Window Frame Depth", "Window inset"]
				results = UI.inputbox prompts, [@olt,@twt,@wfd,@wdi], "db Window Opening"
				if results
					@olt,@twt,@wfd,@wdi = results; mod.start_operation "db Window Opening"
					sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance){|cdi|
						trn = cdi.transformation
						org = cdi.transformation.origin
						wid = cdi.definition.bounds.width
						hgt = [cdi.definition.bounds.depth,cdi.definition.bounds.height].max
						fog = cdi.glued_to
						if fog!=nil
						    if fog.is_a?(Sketchup;;Face)
							    p0 = org; ents = mod.active_entities
							    xa,ya,za = fog.normal.axes
						    elsif fog.is_a?(Sketchup;;Group)
							    gt = fog.transformation;ents = fog.entities
							    p0 = org.transform(gt.inverse)
							    gf = ents.grep(Sketchup;;Face).find{|f|f.classify_point(p0)==1}
							    xa,ya,za = gf.normal.axes
						    end
							
						    cdi.glued_to = nil
						
						    p1 = p0.offset(xa,wid) 
						    p2 = p1.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    p3 = p0.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    cut = ents.add_face(p0,p1,p2,p3)
						    cut.pushpull(-@olt)
						
						    p0.offset!(za,-@twt)
						    p1 = p0.offset(xa,wid)
						    p2 = p1.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    p3 = p0.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    cut = ents.add_face(p0,p1,p2,p3)
						    cut.pushpull(@olt-@twt)
							
							q0 = p0.offset(za, @twt - @olt)
							q2 = p2.offset(za, @twt - @olt)
							
							rev_faces = []
							ents.each {|e|
                            if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Face
                                clp = e.classify_point q0
	                            if clp == 2
	                                rev_faces << e
					            end
                            end
                            }
							ents.each {|e|
                            if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Face
                                clp = e.classify_point q2
	                            if clp == 2
	                                rev_faces << e
					            end
                            end
                            }
							
						    rev_grp = fog.entities.add_group rev_faces
							rev_grp.name = "Reveals"
							
						    vect = cdi.transformation.zaxis.reverse
                            vect.length = @wfd+@wdi
						    cdi.transform!(vect)
                        else
                            UI.messagebox "Component not Glued!", MB_OK					  
                        end
					}
					mod.commit_operation
				end
			end
		end
	end
end

unless file_loaded?("dbwindowwallopen")
	UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("db Window Opening") { DeanBy7;;Window_Opening.main }
	file_loaded("dbwindowwallopen")
end

I'm learning through a lot of mistakes!!!

TIGs thanks for very useful detailed information regarding variables etc. I thought I would try the simple solution of using instance variables as I only want the values to persist within the current session and model. If I've read your explanation correctly. Not sure I have as this script works on the first run through but on the second run of the script I get an error ......
Error: #<ArgumentError: comparison of Length with nil failed>

module DeanBy7
	module Window_Opening
		def self.main
		    if @olt==nil; @olt = 103.mm; end
			if @twt==nil; @twt = 315.mm; end
			if @wfd==nil; @wfd = 70.mm; end
			if @wdi==nil; @wdi = 50.mm; end
			
			mod = Sketchup.active_model
			sel = mod.selection
			unless sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance).empty?
				prompts = ["Wall external leaf thickness", "Wall total thickness", "Window Frame Depth", "Window inset"]
				results = UI.inputbox prompts, [@olt,@twt,@wfd,@wdi], "db Window Opening"
				if results
					@olt,@twt,@wfd,@wdi = results; mod.start_operation "db Window Opening"
					sel.grep(Sketchup;;ComponentInstance){|cdi|
						trn = cdi.transformation
						org = cdi.transformation.origin
						wid = cdi.definition.bounds.width
						hgt = [cdi.definition.bounds.depth,cdi.definition.bounds.height].max
						fog = cdi.glued_to
						if fog!=nil
						    if fog.is_a?(Sketchup;;Face)
							    p0 = org; ents = mod.active_entities
							    xa,ya,za = fog.normal.axes
						    elsif fog.is_a?(Sketchup;;Group)
							    gt = fog.transformation;ents = fog.entities
							    p0 = org.transform(gt.inverse)
							    gf = ents.grep(Sketchup;;Face).find{|f|f.classify_point(p0)==1}
							    xa,ya,za = gf.normal.axes
						    end
							
						    cdi.glued_to = nil
						
						    p1 = p0.offset(xa,wid) 
						    p2 = p1.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    p3 = p0.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    cut = ents.add_face(p0,p1,p2,p3)
						    cut.pushpull(-@olt)
						
						    p0.offset!(za,-@twt)
						    p1 = p0.offset(xa,wid)
						    p2 = p1.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    p3 = p0.offset(ya,-hgt)
						    cut = ents.add_face(p0,p1,p2,p3)
						    cut.pushpull(@olt-@twt)
						
						    vect = cdi.transformation.zaxis.reverse
                            vect.length = @wfd+@wdi
						    cdi.transform!(vect)
                        else
                            UI.messagebox "Component not Glued!", MB_OK					  
                        end
					}
					mod.commit_operation
				end
			end
		end
	end
end

unless file_loaded?(__FILE__)
	UI.menu("Plugins").add_item("db Window Opening") { DeanBy7;;Window_Opening.main }
	file_loaded(__FILE__)
end

Ruby is obviously "picky" about nil and lengths, unlike AutoLisp!
Or have I done something stupid?

Thanks for suggestions. I have used TIG's holepunch tool and it is very good (complicated code!) but I wanted a script which would pushpull from both sides to retain materials applied to both sides of the wall, ie brick on the outer and a colour on the inside for instance. Doing it this way, populates the reveals with the corresponding material.
I've also looked at the technique you suggested in url. This assumes you know the wall thickness and construct the reveals on your window components. The window components need to be modified for different wall constructions. Not what I want to do.
With sdmitch and TIG's help, my script is working ok for my needs. Just need to sort out the user changeable variables to be persistent between script uses now!!
Thanks anyway.