Does anyone have a way to create similar components from a spreadsheet or csv file? Many of the spec's are the same, would need unique names, etc?

Any general help with exporting data in csv form needed, such as the option to change the file name each time. Is there a way to export the data and link to it from a unique Excel workbook, without opening the source file?

Then I put these guides on a separate layer whose visibility you can turn off any time. Guides are handy for other reasons, too, as their visibility can be toggled on/off in the View menu globally as well as you can delete all construction geometry (when finished and they are not needed any more) in the whole model from the Edit menu (although keeping them on a separate layers can always be better as you may need to revise your model later)

That gives me an idea, I could add something (on a separate layer) to aid the layout process and turn off that layer later....

[attachment=3:756gjb1f]<!-- ia3 -->PanelsWithGuides.png<!-- ia3 -->[/attachment:756gjb1f]
Still not sure if this is what you need however... [/quote]

(One hour later)
Brilliant! The simplest things are always the best! The ovals are on their own layer for final presentation, etc. Check out the .skp, works best in Front View. Thank you!

It would be interesting to be able to prevent a surface from passing through another, make it literally solid. Perhaps in Version 12.

panels_registrationpoints.skp

@jim said:

Can yoiu be more specific?

I'm not entirely sure you need/want a DC just for that. You can use the Move Tool to create equally spaced copies of entities.

If you do want a DC, then there is a built-in Copies attribute which can be set to the number of copies you need. Then each position can use the built-in COPY variable. For example, to space out the copies in a DC along the X axis:

X: =COPY*5

will position the copies every 5 inches. Each copy has a built-in COPY variable which equal to its unique copy number. (starting at 1 and going to whatever is set in Copies)

Confused?

Yes, as soon as I posted this I figured out the hold down ctrl and copy ability. Very Cool! That should be sufficient for what I'm up to, thanks for the help.

@gaieus said:

Hi Whit,

Sorry - I may be tired tonight - but I don't really understand your problem.

Could you elaborate it (or maybe attach a a couple of images supporting the problem)?

Thanks, I'll try. I am developing a plugin to speed up my architectural drawings. I am a solar energy salesman/designer and think people could really benefit from having the panel attributes (output, size, cost, etc) embedded in the component and then export out to the csv/excel. I have a handle on that part but, being lazy and always in a hurry, I wish I didn't have to take the time to exactly position each copy of the panel when building an array on a roof. When designing you want to move the panels around easily.

In the pictures you see the front of the panels and the rear with the racking sections already attached (this gives me total materials list, cost per panel) What would be cool is if the attach points on the racking would either snap to each other or act like a magnet somehow. I'd still need to separate them at will, but just want a quicker way to line them up. Any ideas?

Anybody know how to assign a surface to "stick" to another like a magnet? When making an array I want the first copy to stick or attach to the original at two small surfaces, and the other members of the array to come in the same way.

@jim said:

Hi Whit,

Welcome to the forum.

For DC's, it all starts from here:

• Getting Started.

The Function Examples provides a comprehensive list of available functions for DC's.

We also have a forum dedicated to Dynamic Components, so if you have a question - please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks Jim.

I may be going about this all wrong, but I'm trying to make something very specific.
What I want is: to generate copies of a component which land in the model on the same plane as the original and equally spaced apart. I see how to do the stretch function, but I need individual copies, in AutoCad it is the array function. Can you point me in the right direction?

Hi All- thanks in advance. I've been working with SU/Pro for about one month. I am by no means a programmer so bear with me.
I have built a DC and figured out the attribute ability, but really want to better explore this. I have started writing formulas and understand the basics, but need to take the next step. Does anyone have a list of what SU will recognize? Darned if I can find it anywhere.