@dan rathbun said:

The API docs say this won't work... because the file is already open (on PC,) by the time the AppObserver gets loaded.

Dan,
In my script:
When double-click on SU file

1. opening the model in SU
2. execute PRODUCE.sceneobserver (automatically)
3. A Appobserver is also created (which fires PRODUCE.sceneobserver again, but since there already is an observer there is no new one created)
4. When a model is then opened from the file menu the Appobserver is called

Logically and after testing this seems to work ok.

My code here is not complete though, since in my code there is another check to see if the framobserver must be created or not (depending if the opened model has some specific settings)

Dan,

I have done some testing with this and it seems to work yes.

Thx for cleaning up the script!

For me it's simple:

For registered users give the opportunity to comment on incorrect information/give more explanation and give possibility to add code examples. I always like the way PHP does it: http://php.net/manual/en/function.include.php

If you give us the tools, we help you with the content...

We needed a Sceneobserver being attached whenever a model is openend (through the menu item or when double clicking a skp file in Windows Explorer.
And did it like this:

Ath the end of the ruby file:

PRODUCE.sceneobserver
# Observer that watches the application for opening of models from the file menu and creates scenes observer automatically.
     class MyAppObserver < Sketchup;;AppObserver
       def onOpenModel(model)
			PRODUCE.sceneobserver
   end
end

This handles both possibilities.
Now to avoid creating 2 observers just check if there is already an observer present

def PRODUCE.sceneobserver #add the scene observer after PRODUCE.scenes or when scenes need to be reloaded
	#
	if ($xDframesobserverid==nil or $xDframesobserverid=='') #no frame observer existing or it has been removed
	#UI.messagebox ('make observer')
		$xDframesobserverid=Sketchup;;Pages.add_frame_change_observer(XdFrameObserver.new) 
	end
end

Hope this helps

'explains code to an inanimate object'
I'd prefer this:

Downside is that after a while you'll need to debug what you are saying

great, thank you both for the information!

ok, hitting 'Expand' would be a good idea

I use this code to list all used component definition names:

def TESTXD.listcompnames1
		$componentnames=[]
		Sketchup.active_model.entities.each{|e|
			TESTXD.listcompnames2(e)
		}
		$componentnames.uniq!
		$componentnames.sort!
		puts ($componentnames)
	end
	def TESTXD.listcompnames2(e)
		theclass=e.class
		if theclass==Sketchup;;Group 
			gen=e.entities
			gen.each{|gent|
				TESTXD.listcompnames2(gent)
			}
		elsif theclass==Sketchup;;ComponentInstance
			$componentnames<<e.definition.name
			e.definition.entities.each{|ent|
				TESTXD.listcompnames2(ent)
			}
		end
	end

This gives me a list in the ruby console.
Now if I compare this list with the list shown in the components windows I see that certain definitions are available in ruby but not in the components window.

Is this due to the fact that those component definitions are only used in nested component definitions? That makes no sense.
Or maybe I'm missing something.

Excellent information.
Thank you ThomThom, much appreciated!

@thomthom said:

What went wrong? Examples?

It goes wrong caused by the fact that the entities object is edited while executing the loop. So as you stated.

@thomthom said:

No, just when you modify it. If you just read states and properties there should be no problems.

Modify (like in push pull) or only when the entity is deleted?

@thomthom said:

The second - using .erase_entities.

In the second case I could use Sketchup.active_model.entities.each (without the to_a) Correct? And if so would that be faster then with to_a?

Thx again!

ThomThom

Thanks for the fast reply!
I did the test on a single box (not a group nor instance) and even then it went wrong
So I can assume that Sketchup.active_model.entities.each{|e|
...
}
can always be incorrect even when just checking for something (eg. check if the current entity has a certain value in it's attribute dictionary)?

On point 1, what would be faster

Sketchup.active_model.entities.to_a.each{|e|
check=e.get_attribute'x','y'
if check==1
e.erase!
end
}

or

test=[]
Sketchup.active_model.entities.to_a.each{|e|
check=e.get_attribute'x','y'
if check==1
test<<e
end
}
model.entities.erase_entities(test)

I'm a bit puzzled.

Sketchup.active_model.entities.each{|e|e.erase! if e.valid?}
works but doesn't delete all entities

Sketchup.active_model.entities.to_a.each{|e|e.erase! if e.valid?}
works and deletes all entities

Now, does this mean that to loop all entities in a model i always have to put them in an array first?
I never have run into any problems before using the first method.

Additionaly

f=0
Sketchup.active_model.entities.each{|ent|
	f+=1
	Sketchup.active_model.selection.clear
	Sketchup.active_model.selection.add ent
	ent.erase!
}
puts f

returns 4095 (on a 11200 entities model)
while

f=0
Sketchup.active_model.entities.each{|ent|
	f+=1
	Sketchup.active_model.selection.clear
	Sketchup.active_model.selection.add ent
	#ent.erase!
}
puts f

returns 11200 (on a 11200 entities model)

I must be missing something essential here...

a little bit more information:

Standard DC definition attributes (dynamic_attributes):
Retrieve with (for the selected instance):

xx=Sketchup.active_model.selection[0].definition.attribute_dictionaries['dynamic_attributes']
xx.each{|key,value| puts key.to_s+'-'+value.to_s}

Returns (app. depending on user set attributes of the selected instance-in this case LenX and LenY are 'user cannot see' and material is 'user can see'):
_formatversion-1.0
_has_movetool_behaviors-0.0
_hasbehaviors-1.0
_lastmodified-2012-02-21 10:13
_lengthunits-CENTIMETERS
_lenx_access-NONE
_lenx_formlabel-LenX
_lenx_label-LenX
_lenx_units-DEFAULT
_leny_access-NONE
_leny_formlabel-LenY
_leny_label-LenY
_leny_units-DEFAULT
_material_access-VIEW
_material_formlabel-Material
_material_label-Material
_material_units-STRING
_name-Huis1
lenx-393.700787401575
leny-393.700787401575
material-

When changing LenX and LenY to 'user can see':
_formatversion-1.0
_has_movetool_behaviors-0.0
_hasbehaviors-1.0
_lastmodified-2012-02-21 10:15
_lengthunits-CENTIMETERS
_lenx_access-VIEW
_lenx_formlabel-LenX
_lenx_label-LenX
_lenx_units-DEFAULT
_leny_access-VIEW
_leny_formlabel-LenY
_leny_label-LenY
_leny_units-DEFAULT
_material_access-VIEW
_material_formlabel-Material
_material_label-Material
_material_units-STRING
_name-Huis1
lenx-393.700787401575
leny-393.700787401575
material-

Standard instance attributes (dynamic_attributes):

xx=Sketchup.active_model.selection[0].attribute_dictionaries['dynamic_attributes']
xx.each{|key,value| puts key.to_s+'-'+value.to_s}

_has_movetool_behaviors-0.0
_hasbehaviors-1.0
lenx-393.700787401575
leny-393.700787401575

Now if you add an attribute on definition level eg. LenX this is accessible as lenx for both the comp. definition as the instance.
Important: to be able to access that value on instance level with _lenx_formula (eg. to change the value) the attribute must be set to at least 'users can see this attribute' . Otherwise it cannot be changed through ruby.

If I get out more information, I'll post it here.

Indeed.
I'm looking into DC but there's not a lot of info.
So maybe someone already developed something like this, so I can learn from it.

On the other hand, when I have a model in which 1 DC definition has two instances and I update on of those instances:
framing_wall_instance = Sketchup.active_model.entities[0]
framing_wall_definition = framing_wall_instance.definition
ad = framing_wall_definition.attribute_dictionary "dynamic_attributes"
ad["_lenx_formula"] = '275.447'
$dc_observers.get_latest_class.redraw_with_undo(framing_wall_instance)

The other one does not seem to change.
Even more when I place an new instance in the model, it shows the 'original' component, but when placing it (click) it updates and is then equal to the edited instance.
Probably logical but I don't see why

Just a question (before creating it myself):
Is there any plugin/script/... which updates an Entity/Component/Group when it's parameters are changed in an external 'interface' (can be a webdialog or an excell sheet)

Basically, when you update the parameters of the object by hand (type new values in a cell or input textfield) and hit a button in Sketchup the object is adapted.

Thx in advance!

brewsky and others

Based on your comments, there are two possible pathways:
BIM as in: be able to attach BIM properties and parameters to an entity. That's it, these parameters do not influence the entity when changed.
BIM as in: when changing IFC parameters/properties teh entity is changed accordingly, even more, when adjectent entities are influenced they also change if needed (bit like Revit)

As you can see, the first option is easy, but what is the added value?

brewsky, can you pm me your contact info, I'm located in Belgium, maybe we can have a chat.

It's a lot on how far do you want to go? And how many Sketchup users have the need for BIM?

Get/Send data from and to a database from Sketchup is not that hard, we already do it in our software.
Link images, costs, planning, resources can be done already. Show it in charts, automated powerpoints, movies, automatically created BOQ or BOM. We have prototypes developed for this.

I'm not trying to sell anything here, I'm just saying that the technical part is not the issue.
The main issue is the communication between all CAD/BIM software and Sketchup in both ways. And if IFC is the 'magic' format.

I'm very fond of the idea of trying to create a certain level of BIM into Sketchup, to have the opportunity to get the information you want into the model and get added value out of it. But the interchangeability is an important factor.

i got it, will post solution later

Thomthom, different operations
So there can be other commands in between.
With the object I mean a section plane
So I'll need to use transform_entities or transform_by_vector

some extra info:
it's a section plane i try to move