[Plugin] Component Stringer UPDATED Nov. 16, 2009

[Chris Fullmer]

clf_component_stringer.rb

This script will take a component and apply it to a series of connected lines.

Select a series of connectd edges, they can not form a closed loop. Also have a single component selected (it will not work on groups).

Then activate this script in Plugins > Chris Fullmer Tools > Component Stringer.

It will show you wich end of the edges is the start and the end. It will ask if you want to reverse their direction. It then asks if you want to use a uniform scale, or just stretch the component.
Please watch the video for a demonstration.



Chris

clf_component_stringer.rb

[CadFather]

Thanks Chris

it's funny how many different angles you land on sketchup from..

[thomthom]

Ok - I want to see someone making a dinosaur skeleton with this!

[Gaieus]

Hi Chris,

interesting and very cool plugin again, thanks!

I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.

(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)

[TIG]

Hi Chris,

interesting and very cool plugin again, thanks!

I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.

(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)

Make half chain link (U) and use this tool then edit that chain and copy/hand the U geometry into an O loop of say 2.2 the original length, now you have your links; us 'make unique' on one of the links, edit it and rotate its contents 90 degrees. Select every other link and replace with this rotated one... a chain... done.

[Pilou]

Well: a new killer plug indeed
Axis of component must be adequate

[mitcorb]

Verry interesting.
I must test this. And thank you. You have become a formidable ruby master.

[MALAISE]

Hi Chris

Not only you're a quite good teacher, but I begin to think that you get also a lot of fun when writing ruby's.

MALAISE

[EscapeArtist]

Hi Chris,

interesting and very cool plugin again, thanks!

I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.

(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)

I gotta second this idea. I don't know if it's even possible. I made a 3d spiral in which the line segments decrease in length linearly towards the center, and applied the script. That created components that followed the size decrease. I'd like them to rotate "X" degrees per segment, along the lines of "follow me and rotate" or FFD, but those only work with connected faces; I'd like to see if it can be done with individual components along the axis of the path followed. Any way you can think of to do that, with or without the plugin?

Either way, great plugin! Thanks!

[simon le bon]

Dear Chris,

A lot of people are waiting for long a set of tools to make copy of objects along a path.
With this Component Stringer, we get one of them. A cool one.

It is very easy to do various necklaces with it.
I have played it and threw an eye on some corners of it's possibilities.






What it is not made for:

>>It is not made to make chains when links are imbricated together.
I have tried TIG solution (not exactly the same) with a rather poor result..

Make half chain link (U) and use this tool then edit that chain and copy/hand the U geometry into an O loop of say 2.2 the original length, now you have your links; us 'make unique' on one of the links, edit it and rotate its contents 90 degrees. Select every other link and replace with this rotated one... a chain... done.

Also this tool is not made to mix more than one component on to the path. If we need to do that, we have to do another way.

Thnk you again for this tool! you have a great talent to concoct easy but useful and strong tool..

My respect, Simon.

[TIG]

Simon

Looks like a chain to me... I hadn't tried it... simply an approach to the 'problem'...

[Chris Fullmer]

Great comments and feedback. I agree there are lots of great possibilities on this one. The main things I would like to tackle first are:

Major to do list

• Make it work with closed loops!
• Also it can crash if you select edges that are connected to other edges that are not selected - fix that!
• The scale is messed up if the component axis is set in the middle of the component - fix that.

After that

• Add multiple component support - random and ordered placement
• Rotation - overall rotation and each component rotation settings.
• Branching edges support
• Edges that are not connected support
• Add some pre-made dinosaur bones to the plugin folder for Thom

Those are the main things that come to mind and that I've seen suggested that I think are good suggestions. I think that covers most things?

So I should probably go write this instead of sitting here on the forum.

Chris

[Ecuadorian]

• Add a Paypal link in the plugin folder

[EscapeArtist]

• Add a Paypal link in the plugin folder

Thanks Chris!

...and ditto Ecuadorian's post.

[Chris Fullmer]

I've been thinking about that. As of right now, I am not selling any of my scripts (in time that will change). But for now, I might implement a paypal link.

I also really want to add a link to my all my plugins page, and also a link to my YouTube channel where I'll be uploading all my video tutorials from now on. I want people who download these to have quicker access to the video tutorials I make for my scripts.

So plan on seeing a few items like that being added to my plugins folder eventually.

Chris