Ah, interesting! I would rather have tried TIG's workflow but i can see tricky traps: exploding components anywhere could merge lonely geometry (yes, that's bad but it happens), cleaning all unique components afterwards can be akward too...
But creating a side SKP file can also be weird...( especially when working on networked shares or Onedrive directories... Windows related problems almost impossible to solve)...

Xtov

@rv1974 said:

basically the first part of his plugin saves the selected component in the separate skp file right next to the file you are currently in. PLUS it creates text file with coordinates of all its instances. In the second stage you just select this newly created skp file and the script would put (context free!) the component instances based on coordinates listed in txt file. If you could unify 2 stages in a singe operation it'd improve things even further.

Yes, i searched and can see that he has left and removed all his plugins. Maybe he has other plans or turned the page... I will not bother him with that.
Thank you for your time.
I will try to code it myself (good training) or maybe other SU guru's will take a look at it.

regards,
xtove

@rv1974 said:

He left SU plugins scene and deleted all his plugins from web. This clearly demonstrate s his attitude. But if you'd get his OK I'd gladly post it here

Thank you rv1974
If you are able to ask him if it can be published (even as is, as a snippet code) this would be great. It could help me and all the community

regards,
Xtov

@rv1974 said:

I have an old free and super useful plugin made by Jim (based on my private request, he never published it I guess it wasn't too important for him). It does what you need with 2 clicks BUT I'm not sure I can share publicly.

Yes, it works! Great. But it is quite complicated.
And with deeper nested components you will need to explode root component multiples times...
I guess there is no easy solution, even with code.

Thank you very much anyway.

Regards,
Xtov

@tig said:

Select all of the nested component#1 instances - by fence, or using the Component Browser trick...
Move + Ctrl and copy then all a set distance away.
While they are still highlighted right-click > context-menu > Make Unique - they are now not linked to component#1 - named component#NNN [incremented to suit]
Now edit one of its instances and delete everything but component#2.
All instances of component#NNN will now contain just component#2
Next select all of the instances of component#NNN using the Component Browser trick...
Right-click > context-menu > Explode - the instances of component#2 are now relocated into the expected context.
They are highlighted so you can move them etc as desired...

If you want to actually 'move' component#2 outside of component#1 then move it's still selected instances back in place, snapping over component#1, next edit an instance of component#1 and delete component#2 within it - it should all vanish from that context...

To tidy up Purge unused components - or simply delete component#NNN in the Component Browser as it's no longer used...

Thank you Tig and Cotty for your fast answers.

Tig, the problem is exactly that I can not select all instances. If B is nested in A, when I open A and select B, it highlights all B components but only one is really selected. Same in the outliner, all B components are higlighted but only one is selected and I can not CTRL+click another one to add to the selection

Cotty, i will investigate Curic plugin but i think is doing the opposite as my request (it adds a component in a component).

regards,
xtov

I have a Component#1 containing a nested Component#2.
I would like to select all Component#2 and copy them outside.
How can you do that ?
The only way i figured is to copy all Component#1 in place, open them and delete all geometry except Component#2... weird because this only a test case. In real project my components are nested very deeper...

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regards,
xtov

Damned !
Exactly what I need.

Thank tou TIG for this quick answer.
I know i can "save as" to an older version but if i forget to do so or only CTRL+S, i end up with a 2020 version.

I know and have the wonderful Eneroth plugin to open a newer version in an older SU software (invaluable plugin!) but i will check the one you mention.

regards,
Xtov

Does anyone knwow a way to automatically save a SKP file in the same version as the original file?

I work with SU 2020 but most of my other CAD sotware accept only (for now) 2019 or less. When i open a 2019 SKP file i woud like to save it in 2019, not 2020.

regards and stay safe
Xtov

And for the fog set up i higly recommand Enertoth Fog tool...