Looks like I have been wasting my time if FAK already does this.

Andrew, Just like Sketchup's FollowMe, select the entire path first then run the plugin and select the profile.

Thanks for the tips, it is definitely a work in progress.

Didier, If XY plane is selected then the value would represent a specific Z to look for and select.

Andrew,

1. No, not without editing the file.
2. Ok.
3. Reversed? How so?
4. Yes, for some reason an enternal face doesn't get grouped.
5. Currently by the riser. How should it be determined.
6. As I like to say, "Anything is possible"

No, you can select any number of connected edges or a curve.

Ron, I have just posted a plugin on the Resources>Plugins page that I think will do what you want.

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=39735

Colors faces and edges baseed on direction, slope, layer, or plane.

Color By direction,slope,layer or plane

Kristoff, thanks for sharing your test model. The "loopy" one just reqired reversing the line before selecting the profile. The large rectangle exposed a bug in the code which I was easily able to fix. The mis-match at the start/end point is as expected since I have not yet attempted to compensate for. It is on the todo list.

There are only two things of importance you have to do when using this plugin and that is make sure the profile is at the start of the path and is oriented properly. The profile will parallel the path if it is not on the path. When you selected the "loopy" path with the profile on the wrong end, the extrusion was offset by that distance.

Edge Follow Me Test

Kristoff,

@krisidious said:

I've been putting the profile right on the path at the start. it still offsets. and the square was closed.

The problem with squares is that the start and end points are the same so you have to guess right or undo and try again and use the right/left arrow keys to flip the direction. The extrusion will not be complete because at present closed figures are not accounted for.

Would you post the model you have been using so that I can better understand the problem. I personally haven't seen the offset problem when the profile has been connected to the path.

Kristoff, If the profile is offset from the path, the extrusion will also be offset. I don't assume that it supposed to be moved to the start point of the path. The profile should be at are near the start point of the path and oriented so that its' plane is perpendicular to the path's first edge. Not even Sketchup's Followme can handle every conceivable path.

I designed the plugin for the profile and the path to share a common end point since that what the request talked about.

rpaul, do you want find and color all edges on a given plane, XY for example, at a specified Z or just all edges on the XY plane at any Z?

In response to http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=39280

Now handles closed paths fully.

The profile to be extruded, must be made into a curve. Use Weld or simuliar
plugin to combine the entities defining the profile. The profile should be
at the start of the extrusion path. If a path is pre-selected, the start
and end will be labled. Use right or left arrow keys to reverse the line
if needed. A warning will be given if either the plane of the profile is not
perpendicular to the path and/or if the profile is not at path startpoint.
You may accept or reject any of these warnings if you want the profile to be
offset or tilted.

If a path is not pre-selected, click on the profile and drag
to extrude the profile to any length and direction. The resulting surface
is grouped and you are given to option to soften and smooth.

UPDATED EdgeFollowMe3

Andrew, Try this plugin, hopefully it will do what you need.

The profile to be extruded, must be made into a curve. Use Weld or simuliar
plugin to combine the entities defining the profile. The profile should be
at the start of the extrusion path. If a path is pre-selected, the start
and end will be labled. Use right or left arrow keys to reverse the line
if needed. If a path is not pre-selected, click on the profile and drag
to extrude the profile to any length and direction.

FollowMe using an Edge

In response to http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=39280

Creates simple staircases of three varities, straight, spiral, and u-shape.

THE STAIRS CREATED BY THIS PLUGIN ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO MEET ANY STRUCTURAL OR BUILDING CODES

Update:20160422
Plugin should now work with comma or period decimal separator.

Update:20120924
Added "L" shape stair option.

Update:20120120
Added input option for step angle increment for spiral staircase.

Update:20111217
Stair Height corrected for U-Shape so it matches normal and spiral usage.
Added additional input checks and cleaned up input dialogs so they are more consistent.
Enter zero for height, riser or steps to calculate it.

Update:20140319
Made 2014 compliant.

Pilou, I'm sure their will be a lot of "glitches" but hopefully it works in a majority of cases.

Andrew, I think I have incorporated all the changes you suggested except make the treads components. Maybe in version 3.

Stair Maker

Andrew, I'm working on them plus a plugin that does a Follow Me with an edge. Both are 90%+ complete.

Andrew, Are you still looking for a solution to this problem?

Andrew, I will take a look at your suggestion and see what I can do. Some are trivial like asking for and using a given gap between the runs and the height and offset for the handrail. The "in-situ" option not so trivial but I'll see what I can do.

Pilou, The component may "Always Face the Camera" but the bounding box doesn't follow plus the bounding box is considerably larger than the figure.

EarthMover, Try the attached plugin. I think it does what you want.

Intersects the bounding box of component or group with face