@thomthom said:

I still don't understand what the difference between calling a method with :: vs . is...

That because of Tim Toady. When there are so many ways to do the same thing it makes learning the "thing" (in this case Ruby) extremely complicated. In Python we use the "DOT" to call modules, classes, methods, and functions. Also we use the identifier without parenthesis to get a reference to a class, method, or function. (no symbols needed!). Our built-ins have just enough methods and NOT too many for good reason. And we never have more than one method that does exactly the same thing ...like the following (Note: "S" is the Selection instance)

1. S#at(idx) and S#[idx]
2. S#count() and S#length() and S#nitems()
3. S#single_object? and S#length|nitems|count == 1
4. S#empty? and S#length|nitems|count == 0
5. S#each{...} and for x in selection...end
6. S#include?(obj) and S#contains?(obj)
7. S#first() and begin S#[0] rescue nil end
8. the unexpected rules for add and remove
   

Just image for a moment if instead of just 'Yield!' signs we also had "Look Out!", "Be Careful!", "Submit!", "Bend Over!", "FIFO", "VIP's first", "Take it Like a man!". Well at least then folks would have an excuse for not reading and obeying the signs!

Wow ThomThom this is a tough crowd tonight! . My connect speed seems to be on granny mode tonight (or your pdf is really large) but as soon as i can get an eyeall on that PDF i'll let ya know what i think

@box said:

8. When you keep trying to Orbit images, web sites and documents!

I do this all the time in my chrome browser!

When you realize SketchUp is the most ground breaking 21st century modeling tool ever invented...

However then you realize they forgot to include an API for the most ground breaking 21st century programming language ever invented...

And you lament about it daily...

@richmorin said:

My impression is that zoom_extents is working, but that the extents aren't getting saved by the save_as method.

Help?

I don't know anything about saving components as i've never needed to do that, however there is somewhere a method like "update_thumbnail" or something like that? It might be useful to you...? If i find the correct method i'll edit my post. But remember i'm just purely guessing at this point

Copied verbatim from the API docs...

@unknownuser said:

Introduction

SketchUp 6.0+
A set of the currently selected entities. Use the Model.selection method to get a Selection object. Note that the order of entities (selection[0], selection[1] and so on) in the set is in no particular order and should not be assumed to be in the same order as the user selected the entities.

However you could create a SelectionObserver and keep your own "nicely ordered" array of selected objects

@gaieus said:

Could you guys (me saying this "generalizing" for the time being) take a little break, go out for a walk in the fresh air and come back a bit more relaxed?

Hi Gaieus,

I don't think these discussions are heated at all. SketchUp modelers and scripters are by far the most laid back and good hearted bunch of folks I've had the luxury of dealing with. I admit that I myself over react to criticism -- it's human nature. Chris is a very good Ruby scripter and deep down he knows that what we are talking about is real.

@chris fullmer said:

I use that syntax Dan. As far as I know, I was the first to try to make multiple plugins all work under the same main sub-menu, so as to not clutter the plugins menu.

Thats not even what this thread is about Chris. We are talking about namespaces here NOT how many Plugins Menu "commands" your script adds. Your inability to understand what we are talking about is the root of the problem. I don't blame you for learning how to script in a poor manner (namespace wise!) i blame Google and the other pros here who have not stepped up to the plate and made the tough decisions for all of us.

@chris fullmer said:

If you have a problem with my coding, you can always PM me, or mention it in a specific plugin thread. But generalizing about all us noobs with bad habits or pros with bad habits, and talking bad about many of us who are trying hard to contribute is just bad taste.

Sorry Chris but that is NOT how a community works. If i have a problem with your coding style, or if Dan has a problem, or even if John Doe has a problem, we can and should voice our problem publicly. THAT IS OUR RIGHT CHRIS! You made the decision to release public scripts and your public scripts are available for our criticism. If you cannot handle the heat, then get your scripts out of the kitchen!

You act as if we are just making up lies and i can assure you that is not the case. The problems we speak of are very real and infect this community from top to bottom. Obviously the problem is real because you're acting out in a "knee-jerk" emotional way to real criticism. If we are lying then feel free to offer the truth and correct us.

@chris fullmer said:

Knock it off.

Don't you even dare try to use your moderator status to scare anyone away from free speech Chris. You will never scare me, I can assure you of that!

However i want you to understand that nobody is picking on you "personally". Heck, believe it not i like you -- even when your insulting me sometimes . You have given much to the community however you missed something very important. Everyone in this group is guilty of writing poor Ruby code and I want to fix that. Even i have written poor Ruby code because i did not know any better. So we must reign in this madness or it will get out control and sink the whole ship!

I would really like for you to get involved with this effort Chris. Bring some real discussion to the table and we can work it out. But instead of getting all emotional -- try to bring some logic next time.

@dan rathbun said:

Of course the next campaign.. when we get everyone to wrap there code.
Is to get them to change their $vars to @@vars.

Like $my_specific_plugin_menu_is_loaded

Dan you bring up another very important point. Too many folks have this knee jerk reaction to create a global when they should be creating either class level or instance level variables. And i don't think they realize the danger of such behaviors. There is a reason why we feel pain, it both protects and teaches us.

I am starting to think that you should be the captain of this lost ship. Too many bad habits are propagating throughout this community. Someone needs to step up and say enough is enough already!

@thomthom said:

What plugin was that? People can edit their own posts.

Hmm, i'll give a clue... the sum of his name is 1264. I'll let the advanced readers decifer the meaning

PS: I'm just glad it was not 666

@dan rathbun said:

Well yes I have been thinking about this.. but there are isssues. [...snip...]

Ok Dan, let me make sure i follow you. I going to summarize your post and tell me if i am correct...?

You want to create a "namespace manager" plugin (for lack of better term?) that works like a typical installation wizard. A user of such plugin would create a script by writing code in a "toplevel" manner without worring about modules or even nested modules. THEN they would run the plugin which would auto wrap their code into a proper nesting of module namespaces with their name being the toplevel module space. So in the end, the scripter no longer has to worry about the confusing aspects of Ruby modules and can concentrate on writing usable code that will be safe from invading outside namespaces.

Is this correct?

Hey, this plugin may even work nicely on a nested folder structure of scripts in which to base it's "module nesting" on..? You create a toplevel folder with your name, then maybe a tools folder full of tools, then maybe a lib folder, and on and and on.