This is a simple to use plugin that draws a sphere. You enter the parameters in a dialog box. It creates a sphere component, and activates the component placement tool to position it in the model.

You can control exactly how much geometry is created by specifying the number of latitude lines and longitude lines. You can also create some interesting sphere shaped polyhedra with just a few latitude and longitude lines.

` # CHANGELOG

1.1 - July 4, 2010

* Remember dialog box parameters between sessions.`

The Sphere plugin is at regularpolygon.org/plugins/sphere.php.

Thanks

@watkins said:

Can you enter metric sizes too? Looks a useful plugin, so many thanks.

Regards,
Bob

You are welcome!

I think you can enter any length, (e.g. 100mm, 10cm, 1', etc.). The plugin remembers your input, and uses the last value entered as the default value the next time. How the length is displayed depends on the format that you have set in the Model Info - Length Units Manager. I am using the Architectural format, so it displays the lengths in feet and inches.

@chrisglasier said:

... it is customary to put new versions in the first post so the latest comes up in a search. Another post to notify its arrival is also good. Thanks.

Sorry about that, I am new to the posting customs here. I edited the OP so the the link points to the latest update Sphere 1.1. That does seem more organized, thanks for the tip.

@unknownuser said:

Please be kind enough to upload the .rb file to this topic, as blogspot is blocked in some countries.

As for my blog being blocked in some countries, I have to say that this was complete news to me. I suppose you are referring particularly to China. I did some research using this tool, Website Pulse, and found that my site was blocked in 3 out of 4 major cities in China! However, I still feel strongly about having my plugins downloaded from a single distribution point, and the logical place for that is my blog where they are fully documented.

Perhaps this problem can be resolved in the near future another way. Blogger is pretty limited, so I am considering moving to a different platform, where the URL would have my own domain name. Then my blog wouldn't be blocked anywhere, or at least it would be as accessible as this forum, so there would be no issue.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied. Hope you all find the Sphere plugin useful.

Also, there is a slightly improved version available, which I'll call version 1.1. The first version remembered the dialog box values entered, but only during each session. If you closed SketchUp and reopened it, your last values would be lost. This version remembers the parameters between sessions as well.

You can download Sphere 1.1 here on my blog.

Thanks.