Appears to no longer be available on link provided - I get a Google Docs message:
"Sorry, the page (or document) you have requested is not available."
This is whether I use the Google docs link provided above or the link from [link removed]
May be a "not USA web address" issue? I'm in AU.
Background:
I use SU to lay out features and models on terrain imported from GE.
Most of the features are on the terrain surface and I need to transfer these into a Mathlab clone (Scilab) as xyz arrays. Some of it I want to automate with a Ruby script, some I do as direct measurements.
Pretty simple, and I'm well on the way to "my" first Ruby, with code stolen from all over, especially weld.rb. But the SU XYZ is based on the World Origin, and I have an origins issue.
GE terrain imports with the World Origin near the centre of the terrain, but for my purposes, it is preferable to have the origin close to one of the corners.
That way, the Scilab modelling output graphics are easier for my clients to understand (no +ve/-ve numbers). When doing it manually, I change the axes to an appropriate location and set a datum plane, and read off XYZ using the tape tool.
What I'd like to do is relate the XYZ to these changed axes. Three methods occur to me
I can solve it with post processing, and that works fine, but means i need to do a bit of set up (I'm thinking of adding a "choose Origin" dialog to perform this, but its less clean than 2 & 3)
If I can source the XYZ of the current axes origin, then the solution is a simple transformation (I don't think Current Origin point is available - I've been searching all over the forums and API)
If I can import GE terrain with another origin point specified, then my current Ruby script works. But I'm pretty sure this can't be done.
I'm proceeding with 1), but would appreciate any suggestions or insights.
Thanks in advance.
Not yet. Probably never.
Simple sketch figures work best for me, often as overlays with Photomatch.
I use SU a lot, but mostly for geo-location with Google Earth and overlaying golf course architect grading plans.
... I could really use this!
To fix the black screen problem with SU under WINE with Intel and ATI graphics cards, see this comment, and following ones.
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=9687&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30#p83956
It works - but you have now disabled acceleration in the X Windows config.
There's been some recent discussion in the Ruby forum (because the initial query related to problems with Ruby).
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=9687
In summary ... There is no native Linux version.
It can be done (see below), but its not perfect. I would not want to use it as my main SU setup, but I am interested in getting it working as an insurance policy.
SU Windows runs in the Linux Win emulator (known as WINE), with varying degrees of success. If you have an Nvidia/Geforce graphics chip, then it works Ok with some minor Windows registry changes (see the other threads). Just install the windows version from within wine, make the refistry changes reboot and launch SU.
Some problems have been encountered with exporting and with Ruby scripts.
On the positive side, some report "better than Windows" performance.
ATI and Intel graphics chips have a problem that seems to be solved by editing one of the Linux/ X Windows config files.
As this change affects the graphics acceleration, its clunky. There's a comment from the WINE lists (yes, yes) that suggests it may be fixable.
I wonder if a better start point might be the Mac version? As OSX uses X, it would appear to be an easier adaptation (ie closer to a native Linux environment) than running through a more general Win emulation?
But that might be a theological issue (Mac -> Linux vs Win -> WINE -> Linux) and would probably need Google's intervention.
You probably don't need it now ... but here's the WineHQ reference.
It's the second item in the list, the heading is "Black Screen".
Open Source Software for running Windows applications on other operating systems.
(appdb.winehq.org)
The interesting comment there is the last item in the black screen thread.
@unknownuser said:
RE: Black Screen
by Alexander Sabourenkov on Thursday August 7th 2008, 1:21
Ok.I'll try to track down the source of the problem. Seems likely that it is something missing from both intel and ati open source drivers, but present in non-accelerated driver and proprietary ones (nvidia at least).
I did a little testing. I don't have the white box problem (cursor looks normal).
Onscreen operations seem Ok, but horribly slow (to be expected) as the hardware acceleration is compromised.
Export to 2D graphic (PNG) was unsuccessful.
OK - have it working with my 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller. In the WINE forums, there was a suggestion that there was an issue with the Intel and ATI OpenGL drivers under DRI and that turning it off would work.
Requires a mod to the xorg.conf file - add the following line under the
Section "Device"
...
Option "DRI" "False"
EndSection
And I now have a non-black screen, and visible drawings. Not tested comprehensively, but will report back.
Another data point.
I understand that the SU install works for some NVidia graphics cards, but not for others?
Anyway, I thought I'd give it a go. I run SU on a WinXp laptop that's in hospital.
My other system is a Shuttle m/b with integrated/on-board Intel graphics chip (82865G Integrated Graphics Controller), Mandriva 2008.1, & Samsung 940bw monitor at 1440 x 900 - 24bpp.
X driver (Intel 810 and above),
Wine 1.1.2. I haven done any MS registration tho'.
SU Pro (licensed) installs successfully after making the registry changes and Gecko.
Icon appears on desktop. Launches fine EXCEPT the window is black - menus are fine and appear to work. If I draw lines/rectangles (even though I can't see them) SU appears to have done them, as it then wants to save on exit. So it appears to be a screen drawing problem?
Any suggestions?
Thats great!
I always learn something new here.
Thanks Panga.
My guess is that Panga wanted to use the points cloud triangulation - trying to covert lines to points, for example. I've had this problem with survey data, so I was interested in finding a solution.
I thought the problem could possibly be helped by creating lines between points - these would not be true contour lines, but would produce the desired surface. This does require a little care with the lines but works OK. I searched for a ruby file to do this (Join selected points with lines) but came up empty.
His solution gives a better result, I think. It is a bit more work to do manually , but probably simple enough to script. I'm no programmer - but I'll give it a shot.
For "quick and dirty" stuff, there's a number of old command line utilities ... free.
I've used "gawk" with considerable success extracting data from various proprietary/COBOL datasets of 100,000s of lines. Its a really simple regular expression script language, well documented (O'Reilly or The AWK book http://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/manual/gawk.html), available for Windows (http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/gawk.htm) Mac (http://gawk.darwinports.com/) etc.
It reads a line of text, does the parsing, writes it out. Fast.
If you have formatted printout type data then I've also had success with Monarch (but its expensive) http://www.datawatch.com/
Good luck
Thanks Didier, it worked perfectly, and is exactly what I was looking for
Thank you Didier.
Yes. That is it exactly.
I have a series of XYZ points from an arbitrary "origin" 000.
I want to overlay this on a Google Earth terrain, but the centre
of the terrain (global origin) is not where I want to have my points origin.
Currently, I do a translation in Excel before importing, but this seemed like an interesting way to get into SU Ruby, and save myself some double handling!
I use the "Import points cloud" ruby plugin a lot and find it extremely useful. I believe it uses the original axis (world axes?) position as its start point for the XYZ position.
I also tend to move the origin around my models, and would like to be able to use the new "origin" rather than the original file origin.
Not to infringe DB's copy/right/left, but to learn a little. Who knows, he might even add it!
I'm no programmer, but digging around in the API docs, I think this is the operation of the SU Ruby API Point3d.new. I know there are various vector transform tools in the API, so if I can identify the new axes origin point, then the rest is simple ...
How do I identify the new origin? Closest I can find is ...
axes - Geom::Transformation.axes - this will translate form world axes to new axes (but I've already done that).
Any hints appreciated!
PS - it seems that this may be difficult. So I'm looking at being able to mouse-click a point as the point cloud origin. Any thoughts?
My use of SU rather specialised and not representative, but I have greatly benefited from
My thanks to the respective authors.
I have also used curve stitcher and angular dimension to good effect.
And I love the go 2 school training videos!
The first part is easy - Excel can save a file as various text formats - when you "Save As ..." there's a CSV option in the Save as Type box under the Filename.
Wow!
Thanks Didier ... 24 hour turnaround is impressive!
I'll try it out tomorrow.
I'm enjoying the new version of Layout and find it much improved.
Couple of things to ask/suggest:
Is there a way to change the page order? I see Add/Remove/Duplicate in the menu. I've tried seaching the forums and a generic Google search, but I guess the User group is pretty small at present.
when inserting pictures (jpegs, pngs etc) it would be very useful to have a thumbnail pic in the insert select box to help decide which image I want. Not a big deal (Irfanview works fine), but as its beta ... :esmile:
