[Plugin] Flatten and Extrude (1.0.1) — 10 November 2009

[Pilou]

Cool!
Does your plug can generate roof from surface like this? (1001bits don't

[thomthom]

Cool!
Does your plug can generate roof from surface like this? (1001bits don't

No, not from just a flat face. You need edges defining the shape and height of the roof. The starting geometry is a bunch of wireframe edges of the building, where the layer of the edges defines their role.

RoofBuilder.png

[Pilou]

My surface was "Flat" on the ground
Just with some flat round arc lines
So your plug manage only straight lines?

Or I missunderstand : you must have first roofs or these are calculated?

[thomthom]

My surface was "Flat" on the ground
Just with some flat round arc lines
So your plug manage only straight lines?

It shouldn't matter if they are curves. But observe the edges in my screenshot. They are above the ground level. And you also need to specify the layer the edges are on.

Also - note that I've not released the version that generates the roofs yet. Screenshot was only a teaser.

But what I'm trying to explain is that it won't make a roof from a flat surface. You need the wireframe of 3D lines.

[TIG]

I think he means a bit like my manual method for making an even 3D roof from a 2D plan [ viewtopic.php?p=200498#p200498 ], BUT you'll just tell this tool which are the ridges by picking them, plus entering a ridge height or one slope's angle... and it automatically does the rest for you ?
If you have drawn all of these lines in 3D then you could simply use 'make-faces' on them to generate the roof without doing anything else and messing on with layers etc ?

[thomthom]

If you have drawn all of these lines in 3D then you could simply use 'make-faces' on them to generate the roof without doing anything else and messing on with layers etc ?

That's the thing - the edges are not clean planar edges that you draw yourself. It's from CAD plans done by mapping companies. The examples I have shown in the screenshot are particular clean and neat geometry, often it's much worse than that. And I often get these plans where there a hundreds or even in the thousands of buildings on the plan. Doing that manually is horrible boring work.

[TIG]

If they are already a set of co-vertexed 3D edges for each roof then why not use 'make-faces' on them all to make the roof ? They are layered so easy to select... I'm not clear to me why you need extra tools for this.
I can see that a tool to convert a 2D plan to a 3D roof might have uses for unequal roof slopes etc...

[thomthom]

If they are already a set of co-vertexed 3D edges for each roof then why not use 'make-faces' on them all to make the roof ? They are layered so easy to select... I'm not clear to me why you need extra tools for this.
I can see that a tool to convert a 2D plan to a 3D roof might have uses for unequal roof slopes etc...

Because often they aren't connected. You just have a non-planar loop making up the building boundary with an edge hovering in free space above it to indicate the roof pitch.

[utiler]

Cool!
Does your plug can generate roof from surface like this? (1001bits don't

Yes, it does, Pilou....

[TIG]

Cool!
Does your plug can generate roof from surface like this? (1001bits don't

Yes, it does, Pilou....

My 'Roof Tools' will make a roof from a surface like that... IF it's possible - but it is quite possible to have a plan form that can't take an equally pitched roof - so then it fails - a tool like the one mentioned in this thread could allow you to define the 'plan form' of the roof and make it from that, varying the slopes to suit...

[Pilou]

Yes, it does, Pilou....

I don't believe
Plug can't finish calculation

too_complex.jpg

Result must be something like this

result.jpg

[TIG]

Pilou

Here's a Tutorial on using my Roof Tool with Odd Shaped Plans that could never have a single pitch hipped roof without some manual intervention !

viewtopic.php?p=200836#p200836

[Pilou]

Funny it's exactly my model
I will study that with attention

[Junglejonas]

(Yes, I know. The settings isn't persistent. Will see if I can get around for a quick update for that later. Until then - modify line 120 yourself.)

Flatten-Extrude.png

I think I'm missing an important step... neither flatten nor flatten + extrude works for me. I've tried it on a 37 and 97 meg file, follwing your instructions exactly. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to enter into the layer filter though. The layers I need to include are called "S-BLDG and S-TRAILER", they are all by default under Layer0... I tried separating them with the pipe/vertical line and everything with no avail. And where is line 120? Please help... this would save me HOURS!

With that said, I think you are doing a great thing with this tool! I'm an architecture student and this cuts some serious time and I can't wait for your roof app... although I have to say that most topo-scans are much "dirtier" than what you have. Mine don't even have any indication of where gables would/could be...

Props and Thanks!
(Sketchup 6.0515)

[thomthom]

(Sketchup 6.0515)

I have no idea if this plugin works on SU that old. You could PM me your file and I could have a look at it though. This plugin is still a Work In Progress.