[Plugin] Draw Boundingbox

[thomthom]

Overview
By request: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtop ... 23&t=29375

Draws a box from the selected Group/Component. Skewed instances supported.



# CHANGELOG
# 1.1.0 - 04.07.2010
# * Support for 2D instances.
# * Option between Faces or Construction geometry.
# * Processes all groups / components in selection.
# * Changed menu text.
# * Fixed namespace name.


Access
Draw -> Boundingbox
(Supports ThomThom's Menu)

Download

[dedmin]

OOOOhh! The plugin is ready even before think about it!! Big thanks!!

[dedmin]

Now we can position component's axis where we want on the bounding box and align the Fredo's scale and stretch with the bounding box!!! And easier dimensioning!!

2010-07-04_134830.png

[simon le bon]

Top Thomthom !

and very useful

thank you once more
++simon

[thomthom]

So, are the faces not what you will be using? But instead just construction points for the boundingbox edges?

Could easily make it draw the boundingbox with constructions lines and constructions points.

[dedmin]

Both! But option like this is welcome!!

[thomthom]

Update to 1.1.0

# CHANGELOG
# 1.1.0 - 04.07.2010
# * Support for 2D instances.
# * Option between Faces or Construction geometry.
# * Processes all groups / components in selection.
# * Changed menu text.
# * Fixed namespace name.

[Didier Bur]

Hi Thomthom,
I was wondering if it is really useful to store options in the registry (read/write_defaults).
Adding more and more reg keys will slow down the computer or not ? What do you think ?

[thomthom]

I don't think the overhead of extra registry items is that significant. I'd rather use the registry and the built-in API than to start littering small preference files about and adding extra complexity. Processing many small files also has its overhead.

[thomthom]

Are there alternatives?

[dedmin]

[bagatelo]

Why the boundingbox is not attached with object? Why we cannot make boundingbox with only edges?

[thomthom]

Why the boundingbox is not attached with object? Why we cannot make boundingbox with only edges?

No one asked...

[dedmin]

Why the boundingbox is not attached with object? Why we cannot make boundingbox with only edges?

No one asked...

Oh yes, please!

[ken]

Thomthom

Designing and fabricating large but still truck-able steel equipment, I find your plugin an easy to use method to determine the width, height and length of each section for the trucking company. You have made it easier to determine how to arrange a load on the truck bed to minimize the requirements for oversize load permits.

Thanks

Ken

[thomthom]

huh - again the simplest of plugins turns out to be of wider usage than I thought. I figured it was a rather obscure request.

[agamemnus]

Very useful for my game -- to center models or stretch them appropriately utilizing the length/width/height ratios. Thank you.

[pilou]

That can be used for packaging too

Next step will be optimisation of placement of some objects for minimize the Bounding box

[ken]

That can be used for packaging too

Next step will be optimisation of placement of some objects for minimize the Bounding box

Now, that would be very useful.

Ken

[Ben Ritter]

Thanks for sharing

[mitcorb]

@ThomThom:
Just out of curiosity, is the bounding box you create even distantly related to the method of producing a convex hull--or is this even relevant?

[thomthom]

Nope - it just uses the corner of the boundingbox SketchUp provides.

[Gaieus]

Hi Thom,

Great plugin (again) but blah-blah... you know that.

I have noticed however that it can be launched when only primitive geometry (i.e. no group/component) is selected then I can even tell the plugin to create a bounding box but of course nothing happens.

Of course, I know why this is happening ("not" happening) so not too big problem but maybe some warning dialog would be best so that users do not get confused.

[TIG]

Couldn't you simply make a temporary group of all selected and then get the bounds of that?

Code: Select all

ents=model.active_entities
ss=model.selection
enta=ss.to_a
gp=ents.add_group(enta)
bb=gp.bounds
### store that data
gp.explode
### make the bbox
ss.add(enta)
### OR whatever...

[thomthom]

hm... I thought I had some message system that warned about no valid selection. Must have accidentally removed it as I rewrote it

[Gaieus]

I do not mean to create a bounding box for loose geometry - what for? - it's just for other users to avoid confusion.

Also, how about an option that the bounding box is inside/outside of the group/component? (Would be easier to move them together with just one click selection). Of course, in this case there would be the risk of loose geometry merging inside...

[thomthom]

Couldn't you simply make a temporary group of all selected and then get the bounds of that?

Code: Select all

ents=model.active_entities
ss=model.selection
enta=ss.to_a
gp=ents.add_group(enta)
bb=gp.bounds
### store that data
gp.explode
### make the bbox
ss.add(enta)
### OR whatever...

I could just add up the bounds from all the "loose" geometry.

[thomthom]

Also, how about an option that the bounding box is inside/outside of the group/component? (Would be easier to move them together with just one click selection). Of course, in this case there would be the risk of loose geometry merging inside...

I was thinking adding to the input box:

Option to group the generated geometry
Option to generate the geometry inside the components they represent.

[Gaieus]

OK, I'll stop nagging you now...

[cmeed]

I just downloaded this plugin and its a very useful addition, I'm using it, thanks to 'dedmin's recommendation for use with Layout. Its difficult sometimes to use the dimensioning tool in LO on rounded or odd shaped geometry. this tool certainly helps! Thank you

grouping the resulting boundary box would make a great simple plugin more streamlined. if at all possible.... please ... maybe