@Dan,

thanks a lot for that, I went round in circles trying to get the pdf file to load using #{ENV['HOME']} but eventually just dragged the file in with out that there and it opens the doc on top of SU, but can I get it to stay on top while I use SU? I want to copy paste bits and bobs straight into ruby console.

john

#
#  helpmenu.rb
#  
#
#  Created by Dan Rathbun on 14/02/2010.
#  Copyright (c) 2010 @SCF. No? rights reserved.
#

# helpmenu.rb for PLAT=Mac & OS=OSX
module SU_User
  module Menus
    helpmenu=UI.menu('Help')
    helpmenu.add_separator
    # Edit the 'Your TextBook Title' Menu Item Title below
    # Edit the pathname to your textbook pdf file below
    helpmenu.add_item('TextBook') { 
      UI.openURL("file;//localhost/Users/johns_iMac/Documents/Learning_rubies/TextBook.pdf")
    }
    #   #{ENV['HOME']} inside a double-quoted string    ##### couldn't get  #{ENV['HOME']} to work, but just draging the pdf file into the double quotes works
    #   should return something like; '/Users/John' on the Mac
    #   For PC, the HOME variable must be changed to USERPROFILE
  end # module Menus
end # module SU_User

%(#004000)[So, that just open pdf in preview, but this does what I'm after a modal wd pdf, on a Mac you can work under show_modal

get_dialog = UI;;WebDialog.new 
get_dialog.show_modal
 
(get_dialog.set_url "file;//localhost/Users/johns_iMac/Documents/Learning_rubies/TextBook.pdf")

what I can't figure is how to get the help item (such a good place to put it) to trigger this??]

Hi,

a possibly naive question from one your target end users,

I'm teaching myself ruby on a mac

I have a very Ruby for SU text book that is in PDF format on my hard-drive, I want to access it through the reference menu on your console, (which does throw up some code errors, but still mostly works)

Is it possible, or could I put it on my website and read it from there (less preferable as the books not published yet)?

john

@unknownuser said:

@thomthom said:

Fredo: do we need these old versions around? I see several times people refering to these older versions without being aware of the newer ones. Can't we just shut them down and direct to the latest?

Tom,

We could remove previous versions in the general case. However, for RoundEdges by Bezier, the situation is a little bit differenet. It is not the same script as RoundCorner, and it does perform better the sharp junction with numerous edges (more than 5). Anyway, I already put a redirection to RoundCorner in the top message.

Fredo

I know this one works better for a lot of thing on the Mac...

john

@dan rathbun said:

Anyone want to make a Mac version out of this?
_

making one is out of my league, but I'd like to use it if someone does, I'm attempting to learn ruby as my first, ever, programming language, any tools that work with ruby, SU and Mac should aid may grasp on the mechanics...

any other recommendations welcome.

john

EDIT: I was digging around in systems library and came across this, can anyone shine a light on it's meaning and if it may be causing any of the many Mac ruby glitches that rear their heads.

Notes on building the stand-alone reader.

1. When trying to link with only MacWin and Utils, EqualTol came up as an unresolved external, so someone must be including Tol.h or something at the wrong level.

2. Text.cpp in Model includes BaseApp/BaseAppServices.h. It is calling GetActiveView(). It should be restructured so that it doesn't need to call this.

3. Model/MergeController.cpp is calling AppServices::GetUndoManager() which is not defined at the Model level.

4. InstancePath.cpp and SectionPlane.cpp both reference CPickRecord which is not defined at the Model level.

5. SteStatusText should be removed from PushPullController.cpp

6. The output variable for OpenDocument should be of type IDocument rather than IDispatch.

7. Need Mac implementations of OpenDocument and CloseDocument.
   (added in special reader version of XApplication.cpp)

8. OpenDocument and CloseDocument are not implemented in the standard version of XApplicaiton. I have copied XAxpplication to the Reader folder so that I can implement this for the reader without changing SketchUp. After 3.0 releases, these implementations should be merged.

9. IApplication::CloseDocument is a worthless method. There should really be a Close method on Document instead. Or at least CloseDocument should take an argument to tell you which document you should close. Maybe XDocument should delete the CSketchUpModel if it was created by a call to OpenDocument?

10. Some methods still return IDispatch* rather than the real type. For example, get_Relationships.

Working a treat..... cheers again

no problem,

I EExRxF is working although it does crash out if you do it wrong, and it is that one that wasn't even starting.

I was looking at the code for both (to see what I was doing wrong) when I saw the comment-out bit, then I got mixed up which was in error...

john

Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method db' for #<Object:0x3f319f4>> /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByFace.rb:359:in extrudeEdgesByFace'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByFace.rb:463

Hi Tig, more toys,,, excellent

EEbyRailsbyFace isn't working on my Mac, and when I looked at the code, line 632 comments out all lines through to 693 which look important to me.

might this be my issue?

cheers

john

been a bit distracted myself, let me know how get on, maybe we can put together a package for the community at large

john

@Pilou,

tested your .skp on mac and got two different results? first time I opened SU from your download file, 2nd time I opened it from inside SU, but that was the only thing I changed, something odd??

turn on colour by axis to see if your line is red and also make sure your clicking a 'single' straight line,

I often redraw a fresh line if I can't get it first click,

I am using it on a Mac and only get half the dialogues, but it still works.

@jmjira said:

Hello:
I'd like to write a ruby script for a pipe flange and rather than input the dimensions of the flange (pipe size, thickness, outside diameter...)

Thanks

Joe

Sorry can't help with the coding stuff, have you tried engineeringtoolbox.rb

Home

EngineeringToolBox - Sketchup Edition

(sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com)

or the piping ruby at

http://www.3skeng.com/

both work and are free

john

Thanks for all the comments, I been using Snagit a bit now and it's very useful,

@ chris- I also tried Skitch as it's made by the same crowd as ComicLife (which was a long winded way of doing what I need) Snagit has a lot more features at the moment, but as both are Beta's I keep tabs on both.

@dave r said:

will also record video as well as sound..

does the PC version do video? or do you use a sister product? I found Snagit while looking at Jing (for Video) which is also made by TeckSmiths

@Dave, it's the multiple captures that can then be edited back into one image that I need. As example, when you have a series of pop ups relating to different steps in a ruby, you can grab the dialogue boxes and paste them all on top of the end result, which can contain multiple versions of the model as well if needed. Saves posting six or seven individual grabs and can be annotated to show the step by step process.
See example, I didn't post this in the 'rubies' thread as it's just a test for Snagit and is covered by many individual grabs.

@Mike, my pleasure, and I like the joke...

cheers
john

http://www.techsmith.com/snagitmac/get-beta/thankyou.asp

just came across this while looking for an easier way of annotating illustrative bug reports, tutorials, ect...

anyone tried it?

PC user comments also appreciated...

john

@comedie said:

Might be easier if the straight line choice could be the centerline,?

Lines can be anywhere you want, but will effect the outcome, because it's a group you can put it's centre on a line, or directly above or below. keep your curve on the same plane as the control line, it's less confusing, even when you get use to it.... This is a sectional view to show you it's symmetrical, just in case...

AdamB,

cheers for the reply, before attempting to write any rubies myself I'm trying to analyze what I can and can't see using Xcode and Console (in combination)

it appears (to me) that if a ruby or it's loader.rb and subfolder reside in SU Plugin folder they will be initiated on start-up whether required or not and generate error reports if they have a prerequisite for "xxx" which is not available/selected prior to start-up(which, of course it's not)

This type of error does't seem to be generated for rubies that are placed inside their own sub-folder with a non-automatic step in their path i.e. rudy console, or a separate toolbar ruby that has it's own sub-folder that contains a on/off-button for an in-folder loader ruby that opens/closes the desired ruby.

Not even sure I follow that myself, but main lightup ruby (for example) appears to have to a degree of separation (for activation at least) and cannot generate errors and cause conflicts, unless it's actually being used and there's a problem.

What I think I'm after is a way to active/de-active any ruby, from within SU using a single(per ruby) external action.

Do you know if that's even realistic en-mass?

Which Xcode template is appropriate for SU rubies? or is there an importable or custom layout that's preferable?

cheers

john

I did not have too many, but can I remember a work-around that I think I used.
This may not be the one that worked [when traveling, I always remember the route to how I got lost and end up getting lost again]

I set up a new drawing using styles, model info, ect to get it how I like, I than used Mass Materials Importer to get them into the drawing, Save as template, use for default. Then one by one over time, when I used one of them in my models I saved them into my materials folder. It means you have to use colours in models a lot for a while and it's annoying if you purge your drawing and then need one that you haven't moved, but you can always open a new drawing from templates and import the model over.

anyway without being able to check my memory...

@joarek said:

Awesome tip on Painters Picker, i bought that right away :thumb:

If you would though when your beachballs(of doom) have finished, try to figure out what you did to automate the process i would be truly gratefull. Im about 5% done and will most likely cry myself to sleep traumatized tonight!

If you like PP you should try their 'Trampoline' (do the trial, some people don't like it) I want to get it working inside SU for my tool selections....

1 idea re: material library, if your prepared to post it someone on a PC might convert it and re-post, but it means sharing...

john

@joarek said:

By the way, what are those two extra icons you got there?

Don't know exactly which one's wind-borne has, but you can add different, colour wheels/chooses/pickers directly into the Mac library and they become available system wide, I really like 'old jewels softwares' 'painters picker' myself.
also, I fairly recently used mass material importer successfully, but I can't remember how and both SU mac's are tied up rendering at moment, so I can't refresh my memory,
I do remember it was annoying...
and I don't recall giving up and doing it manually,
but I can't check with 2 busy beachballs.... good luck

Even Likes Curves, but they will slow it down.