Just came across this:

@unknownuser said:

Hi,

In the Ruby API docs, there is this ``hidden?'' method for components:

hidden?

The hidden method is used to determine if this component definition should be hidden on the component browser.

Is there a way to tell SU that a component is not to be shown in the browser?

http://groups.google.com/group/Ruby-API/browse_thread/thread/7fcd81914105b343/63f779a37291dbb7?lnk=gst&q=components#63f779a37291dbb7

So it looks like a ruby script might be possible.

Just did a quick test:

Imported components will hide their sub-components.

Creating a new component while within an existing component will not hide it.

I wonder... maybe a ruby script can access the properties that controls this..?

Maybe the component has to be created while inside the top component..?

I'll have a go and see what happens if I export an component and then import it. (this would still not be ideal as it makes for an awkward workflow...)

No, the expand button let you see the hidden components.

No, what I want to do is hide some components from the Component Manager. Similar to how the default SU components do it.

I noticed something while working with one of the components that comes with SU. When I place a car into the scene only the whole car appears as a component in the Component Manager. The nested components such as the tyres and side mirror and lights doesn't appear.

How can I do this to the components I make myself. Often they consists of sub components which I really don't have any of for being listed in the Manager.

Gotcha! It'd still be a good plugin though.
But what about the transparency?

So far I've not seen any textures in the models. Does it handle objects with textures as well? Or will it only work for coloured objects? What about transparent objects?

I second this suggestion.

Avast!
Personal edition is free.

NAV is the most dreadded AV I've every encountered. It even buggered by DHCP service when I installed it. I was good, about a decade ago.

Gif used to be patented and had to be licensed. But the patent expired some years ago now and is free to use.

So maybe this should be in the bug list instead?

Interesting.

I've found that you don't even have to rename it. Since GIF and PNG file formats got different structures I got an idea;
When you have the file dialogue window open, type in * in the filename textbox and hit the Enter key. Then all files will be listed and you can select and open your gif files.

So it appears that GIF support already exists, it's just the file dialogue that lacks the listing for the file format.

Ah right! I wasn't aware that there was ruby files in the Tools folder. I only looked in the plugins folder. Gotcha!

Ah, yeah. forgot about the animation it of gifs. that'd be nice as well.
however, I'm happy with static gif support as well. just so that I don't have to convert existing textures in gif format.

I was surprised to find there was no gif support. This would be nice to have.

I downloaded the scripts from http://www.sketchup.com/?sid=79
However, they all said to require a file "sketcup.rb". I found that file on another site. But then I finally notice the red bold text:

@unknownuser said:

*NOTE - PLEASE READ!
Google SketchUp 6 users: Please note that at this time, previous versions of the ruby scripts sketchup.rb and LangHandler.rb can NOT be used with Google SketchUp 6.

The scripts seemed to work fine. So can't I use "sketchup.rb" with SU6? seems to be working fine...

I see. I really need to have a look at Ruby. I'm familiar with scripting and programming. But It'd still be nice to have a visual editor as writing scripts for each component doesn't quite appeal to my workflow in SU.

I often experience that when I open a file with scenes the light is not correct. Appears that SU doesn't apply the sun lighting even though I've set it to do so. I have to slightly change the shadow settings before it activates again. Then I have to Update the scene. However, every time I reload the file I have to do this.

Also, some times the time range for the sun is odd. In the file I'm currently working on it only ranges from 03:28 to 12:37. Month is June. I can type in manually a time. But why is the time range so short? It that some sort of feature I don't understand, or is it a bug?

It'd be nice to be able to create components with stretching points. For instance, a window: you select the window frame and define stretching parameters. Then you can use this one component to insert into your drawing with various dimensions.

Same concept as Dynamic Blocks in AutoCAD.