Thanks TIG that worked

TIG,
Do you know of any .stl batch importers? I have found two .stl importers but nothing with the batch capabilities.
Thanks

Well I've been using the "solid" tools for the last few days and it is a whole lot easier than what I was trying before. It would be nice to find a non-Pro version, for home use. The following is my test_code. I will re-write using Dan's previous post as a guide. It's a little over my head at this moment and I'm still trying to completly understand it.

module PMA_INT_TEST
	require('sketchup.rb')
	
	l = 1.50
	w = 1.50
	t = 0.078
	h = 20

	model = Sketchup.active_model
	ents = model.entities
	
	#Just test geometry
	pt1 = [0,0,0]
	pt2 = [l,0,0]
	pt3 = [l,w,0]
	pt4 = [0,w,0]
	object_group = ents.add_group()
	object_group.name = "OBJECT GROUP"
	cpt = object_group.entities.add_cpoint(ORIGIN)
	face1 = object_group.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4
	cpt.erase!
	pt1 = [0+t,0+t,0]
	pt2 = [l-t,0+t,0]
	pt3 = [l-t,w-t,0]
	pt4 = [0+t,w-t,0]
	face2 = object_group.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4
	face2.erase! 
	face1.reverse!
	face1.pushpull h
	
	#Creating Test Cutgroup1
	cut_group1 = ents.add_group()
	cpt = cut_group1.entities.add_cpoint(ORIGIN)

	pt1 = [0,0,0]
	pt2 = [l,0,0]
	pt3 = [l,w,0]
	pt4 = [0,w,0]
	face3 = cut_group1.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4
	face3.reverse!
	face3.pushpull h
	t1 = Geom;;Transformation.translation [0,0,10]
	ts1 = Geom;;Transformation.scaling [l/2,w/2,0], 10
	tr1 = Geom;;Transformation.rotation [0, 0, 0], [1, 0, 0], 10.degrees
	cut_group1.transform! tr1 * t1 * ts1  
	cut_group1.name = "CUT GROUP1"
	cpt.erase!
	
	#Creating Test Cutgroup2
	cut_group2 = ents.add_group()
	cpt = cut_group2.entities.add_cpoint(ORIGIN)

	pt1 = [0,0,0]
	pt2 = [l,0,0]
	pt3 = [l,w,0]
	pt4 = [0,w,0]
	face4 = cut_group2.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4
	face4.pushpull h
	t2 = Geom;;Transformation.translation [0,0,1]
	tr2 = Geom;;Transformation.rotation [0, 0, 0], [1, 0, 0], -10.degrees
	cut_group2.transform! tr2 * t2 * ts1  
	cut_group2.name = "CUT GROUP2"
	cpt.erase!
	
	#Create "NEW" group from cut group and from object group
	UI.messagebox("CUTTING")
	
	cut_group = cut_group1.subtract(object_group)
	cut_group = cut_group2.subtract(cut_group)
	cut_group.name = "NEW NAME"

end #of module PMA_INT_TEST

Thanks TIG. I am still working on this and will post my results.

On a side note:
I tried to create a function in the module I wrapped everything in and it won't load in Sketchup but works fine outside of the function block.
ex.

module PMA_INT_TEST
 ..code here to create geometry
end #of module

load PMA_INT_TEST.rb into Sketchup works fine

then I changed:

module PMA_INT_TEST
create_geometry()

def create_geometry()
 exact same..code here to create geometry
end
end #of module

load PMA_INT_TEST.rb into Sketchup get:
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method `create_geometry' for PMA_INT_TEST:Module>

@dan rathbun said:

Bookmark that page.

Done, thanks for the link.

I remember doing the tutorials when DC's first came out but have forgotton the majority of what I learned so I guess I will be spending some time there first.

@dan rathbun said:

But of course the coding means is not documented because the Free license users are not supposed to do it. (... or at least use a wizard interface.)

That's a bummer. I like the concept of dynamic tools for locking up variables and documenting the components, but I hate the user interface! It would just take me too long through traditional means to create a workable library. And of course if I wanted to change something I would have to do it in multiple places. I will do a more active search for creating/modifying dynamic components through Ruby. So far what I have found has not been that helpful besides holding/setting attributes. Any tips on where to start?
Thanks!

Thanks for the plugins, TIG! Those are awesome starting points for me. I will need to modify them so that they work for any plane that is non-orthogonal to the orgin. But I think that's just a matter of creating a "plane" through code and not choosing it like the plugin. Thanks again!

Thanks TIG,
I will definitely give that a go. I'll have to start up my work computer to give it a try though. I use the "free" version on a mac at home and the Pro windows version on my work laptop.

Dan your thoughts are exactly where I wanted to go with being able to pick a direction for the cut. I envisioned a future user prompt to pick a side. I still think I could make it look like a plane being cut using TIG's described method by creating the geometry after the pick. But as a tool it would only be usable on a Pro machine it sounds.

I thought using the array comparisons would be a quick check of the entities created, but actually it didn't work out well because it looks as though Sketchup "redraws" entities like lines and faces when the intersect_with happens even if it's basically the same location. That's why I started down the checking edges, then checking vertices, etc.

So I am attempting to use planes to cut a hollow object. I am having trouble with the weird conditions such as:
Plane cutting a line in the object

The array comparisons don't seem to work on faces and entities reliably? any thoughts?
I did some Array math to help myself out but I think I'm confusing how Sketchup creates entities.

array1 = [1,2,3,4,5]
array2 = [1,3,5,6]

array3 = array1 | array2
array4 = array1 & array2
array5 = array1 - array2
array6 = array1 + array2
array7 = array2 | array1
array8 = array2 & array1
array9 = array2 - array1
array10 = array2 + array1
array11 = (array1 | array2) - (array1 & array2)

puts "array1 = " + array1.to_s
puts "array2 = " +array2.to_s
puts "UNION 1&2 = " +array3.to_s
puts "INT 1&2 = " +array4.to_s
puts "Diff 1-2 = " +array5.to_s
puts "Add 1+2 = " +array6.to_s
puts "UNION 2&1 = " +array7.to_s
puts "INT 2&1 = " +array8.to_s
puts "Diff 2-1 = " +array9.to_s
puts "Add 2+1 = " +array10.to_s
puts "UN 1-2 - int 1-2 = " +array11.to_s

=begin
ARRAY MATH EXAMPLE
array1 = 12345
array2 = 1356

UNION 1&2 = 123456 same but order changed UNION 2&1 = 135624
INT 1&2 = 135 and INT 2&1 are SAME!
Diff 1-2 = 24
Add 1+2 = 123451356 same but order changed Add 2+1 = 135612345


Diff 2-1 = 6

UN 1-2 - int 1-2 = 246
=end

module PMA_Intersect
	require 'sketchup.rb'

	mod = Sketchup.active_model
	ents = mod.entities
	
	#Just test geometry
	pt1 = [0,0,0]
	pt2 = [10,0,0]
	pt3 = [10,10,0]
	pt4 = [0,10,0]

	group = ents.add_group

	face = group.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4

	off = 1
	pt1_in = [0+off,0+off,0]
	pt2_in = [10-off,0+off,0]
	pt3_in = [10-off,10-off,0]
	pt4_in = [0+off,10-off,0]
	face2 = group.entities.add_face pt1_in,pt2_in,pt3_in,pt4_in
	face2.erase! 
	face.reverse!
	face.pushpull 20
	
	#Creating Test Cutgroup
	cut_group = ents.add_group
	cut_group.entities.add_face pt1,pt2,pt3,pt4
	t1 = Geom;;Transformation.translation [0,0,10]
	t2 = Geom;;Transformation.scaling [5,5,0], 3
	tr1 = Geom;;Transformation.rotation [0, 0, 16.5], [1, 0, 0], 10.degrees

	cut_group.transform! t1 * t2 * tr1

	cut_tran = cut_group.transformation
	group_tran = group.transformation 


#Entity to cut will be transformed based on the cutting cut_group
#provided. Both entity and cut_group need to be a group passed
  original_faces = []
  original_edges = []
  group.entities.each do |e|
    original_faces << e if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Face
    original_edges << e if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Edge
  end

  cut_trans = cut_group.transformation
  entity_trans = group.transformation
  
  #entities.intersect_with recurse, trans1, entities1, trans2, hidden, entities2
  result = ents.add_group(cut_group.entities.intersect_with( true, cut_tran, group, group_tran , true, group))

	cut_group.erase!
  result.erase!

  new_faces  = []
  group.entities.each do |e|
    new_faces << e if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Face
  end

# Array Union and subtraction to find the unique faces
  unique_faces = []
  unique_faces = (original_faces | new_faces) - (original_faces & new_faces)
  
  face_selection = []
  new_faces.each do |e|
    unique_faces.each do |eo|
      if eo.vertices == e.vertices
        face_selection << e
      end
    end
  end

  face_selection.each do |e|
   e.erase!
  end

  left_faces  = []
  left_edges = []
  group.entities.each do |e|
    left_faces << e if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Face
    left_edges << e if e.is_a? Sketchup;;Edge
  end
 
  to_erase = []
  left_edges.each do |e|
    if e.faces[0] == nil
      e.erase!
       #to_erase << e
    end
  end

end #of PMA_Intersect module 

I will check into the mixin module approach also the dynamic components. Are dynamic components "create-able" through Ruby code or only through the Sketchup interface?

The only info/tutorial I could find was:
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=17888&p=145120&hilit=dynamic+component+tutorial#p145120