Hello,

Maybe i'm missing something, but there are 100's of great simulations out there using sketchy physics with keyboard controls. The problem I am having is that when I try to use most of them, the simulation stops when I press certain keys.

For example, I'll run a tank simulation, and it will run just fine using the W key, but when I hit the M key, the Move tool gets selected and the simulation stops. Same with the L key which activates the Line tool.

I know lots of people are using these keys and they wouldn't be using these keys if it always did this...so, I guess the question is, how do I stop the simulation from stopping when I press a key like, L,A,R,C or really any Key that is a sketchup shortcut key.

I'm using a Windows XP system with sketchup 7.1, and sketchyphysics 3

Thanks everyone!

Joe

@chris fullmer said:

Well, how is it being made? Is your script going to make the object? Does it need to be remembered every time the model is opened? Or does this only need to work while your script is running? There are ways to do all of this, but some are considerably harder than others.

If your script makes it, then you can just keep the group referenced with a variable. And find it easily while your script is running, or even until SU closes.

But if you need to find it again when SU is re-opened, then its a little tougher. You will need to add an attribute to your group that marks it as yours. And your script will need to parse through the model each time a model is opened and it will need to search the groups and components for any that are marked with your attibute.

So which is closer to what you think needs to happen?

Chris

It will be an existing object that i'll need to find each time the model is opened. The group will eventually be used with sketchyphysics and will be moved by the user. I'll need to be able to get the groups x,y,z position at any given time.

In the 'entity info' box, can you give the group a name, such as 'mybox' and then be able to reference the 'mybox' group name somehow to locate it's x,y,z position from ruby?

Thanks guys...this is really helping!

@thomthom said:

Assuming that the grouped box is selected:

group = Sketchup.active_model.selection[0] bb = group.bounds

Now you can get it's center co-ordinates by:
bb.center

Or one of the corners: http://code.google.com/apis/sketchup/docs/ourdoc/boundingbox.html#corner
bb.corner(0)

That works! Now, though, what if it's not selected. Is there a way to reference the entity name so that at any given time (when it's not being touched) I could look up where it's location is?

@thomthom said:

hmm... need more info.

Is the box in a component or group? If so - is it nested? Do you know the nesting?

You need the absolute co-ordinates in world space, or relative to its parent context?

It's a group, non nested and i'd like to be able to find the co-ordinates in world space. I've attached a simple example of what i'm looking at. It's just a grouped box. I'm trying to find the real world co-ordinates of the bottom left corner or center point...doesn't really matter as log as I can check the same spot consistently.

Thanks again!

Joe

Hello,

Simple task, but I think i'm over thinking it. I have a box in sketch up and i'm trying to use Ruby to determine the location. it could be the center point of the box or the bottom right corner, I just need a consistent way to read the object location in X,Y,Z coordinates.

any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Joe

Thanks Guys!

Both methods worked!! I didn't even think about opening the Component by itself in Sketchup. I was working from the Component browser. And yes, once you open it that way, you can see it's not at the right spot on the axis. I assumed it would take the location/position when I 'made it a component' originally.

Anyways, great help. For anyone else looking, both adjusting it via the move tool in the component itself, or right clicking and re-aligning the axis works perfectly.

Joe

@xrok1 said:

could you post one of the problem components?

Sure. Attached is an image of what is occurring. looking closer, it appears as if the handle is at the center point of the object when I bring my custom components in. But with preexisting components, the handle appears at the bottom of the component, allowing placement on the 'floor'. Is there a way to set the 'default' handle position so that it starts at the bottom and not the center?

Also attached is a sphere that I am testing with. (I've tried several different shapes and components)

Thanks, this has been tough to debug.

Joe

Ball component

Hello,

When I use components from the library, when placing them in a drawing from the browser, then always seem to go the 'floor' or zero z axis, which is what I want. However, when I make my own components, when I drag them onto a new drawing, then always seem to go below the floor just slightly...like they are are the center point of the object. When I create the objects, they are at floor level. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? anyway to force them to always be at floor level when bringing them in to a drawing? Again, all the 'predone' components seem to work just fine, it's just items I make as components.

Thanks,

Joe

Ok, what about assigning the "Run Simulation" Play button to a different menu item, like on the plugins menu..then I can call it from a menu at least. I've looked at the code, and there is a StartPhysics() routine..but I can't get it to call from anywhere without errors.

@hobbnob said:

nope, but there's probably some way of doing it, just nobody knows how

Hey guys

Is there any way you know of that when Sketchup is started, to automatically have sketchy physics start too. So, it goes straight into the physics without the user having to hit the 'play' button.

Thanks,

Joe

@jblively said:

Hey Guys,

I can't seem to find it anywhere...

What's the syntax to call a Ruby function from within SP, like from the onTouch area?

Thanks

Joe

For others who might be looking:

It's very easy syntax, in the blue sketchyphysics boxes in the UI, just put

my_rubyfunction();

Although, if you use a UI.messagebox in the called routine, it seems to crash sketchup everytime...but everything else seems to work.

Joe

Hey Guys,

I don't know what I might be doing wrong here. I can't seem to get access to the scripting areas in the UI with Sketchyphysics. I can see and set the Magnet, Thruster and Emitters but right after the Lifetime and Rate Box, it goes straight to the Shapes section. No spot for the ontouch ontick or scripting!

I've reinstalled SP3 twice now, with no success. I got the Windows EXE from here: http://sketchyphysics.wikia.com/wiki/SketchyPhysicsWiki

I'm using Windows XP and Sketchup version 7.

Any tips?

Thanks

J

@alapalap said:

Could somebody help me please ?

Could you just use Ruby to write to a text file, and the have the VB app, poll and read the value from the text file and then do the communication to the port?

Kind of a non-direct route...but should get you going.

Joe

Sorry, SketchyPhysics

Hey Guys,

I can't seem to find it anywhere...

What's the syntax to call a Ruby function from within SP, like from the onTouch area?

Thanks

Joe

Hello,

Loving these tools...SU and SP! One bit of difficulty for me is drawing joints in the exact center points of my objects (Wheels, rollers, etc). It always seems to result in an off centered radial movement.

Is there a plugin or code set that would allow me to select the sketch up object and have it drawn directly on the face and in the center point? It would make things so much easier. I just can't image that everyone is having going about it the same way as me...trial and error.

Thanks everyone!!!

Joe

Very old topic i'm replying to...but relevant still.

I was looking for a method to control the Sketchy Controllers via a web dialog box in sketchup. I basically want to change the interface of the sliders to other controls....drop downs, or some other html control...and have it control the sliders or directly control the joints themselves...either way.

I'm sure this is possible now...but, I can't seem to find any references to it.

Thanks,

Joe

@hpnisse said:

Hey!
They are just hidden, so press "View" and then "Hidden Geometry". Then you will see all joints and stuffs.

Edit:
But I think is pretty hard to steer cause there is no diffrential att the rear wheels.

Thanks Man!!! It's the little things!

Hello,

New to Ruby and SketchyPhyics. I've looked and looked...and I can access Sketchup entities and layers and such from Ruby, but what I really want to do is be able to change parameters of the joints in 'runtime' via a web dialog. For example to adjust the min/max of a joint. Does anyone know of a example or article that talks about this.

Also, is there a sketchyphysics API definition like the one that Sketchup has on google?

Thanks guys for the help!!!

Joe

Hello,

New to Ruby and SketchyPhyics. I've looked and looked...and I can access Sketchup entities and layers and such from Ruby, but what I really want to do is be able to change parameters of the joints in 'runtime' via a web dialog. For example to adjust the min/max of a joint. Does anyone know of a example or article that talks about this.

Also, is there a sketchyphysics API definition like the one that Sketchup has on google?

Thanks guys for the help!!!

Joe