[Plugin] DrawHelix14

[Jim]

This is a enhanced version of Peter Brown's DrawHelix13 script.

Main improvements are:

* Input box now uses the current model units.
* Previous values are saved between each use.

It is meant to replace the drawhelix13.rb file, but both can be installed without conflict.

Download (right-click, select Save As)
drawhelix14.rb

[dedmin]

Works fine - thanks, Jim!

[Rich O Brien]

Thanks Jim!

[shura]

Thank you Jim, useful improvement!

[Bob James]

Thanks for the improvement!

[utiler]

+1 Jim... simple is best!!!!!!

[Jim]

You're welcome. The small things can make all the difference.

[Gaieus]

The small things can make all the difference.

True. Thanks Jim!

[pilou]

Small is beautiful

[PeterCharles]

This is a enhanced version of Peter Brown's DrawHelix13 script.

Main improvements are:

* Input box now uses the current model units.
* Previous values are saved between each use.

It is meant to replace the drawhelix13.rb file, but both can be installed without conflict.

Download (right-click, select Save As)
drawhelix14.rb

There must be life in my old dog yet if someone thought to improve it.

[Jim]

Hi Peter,

Sure, it has plenty of life - I just made it a bit more friendly. Hope you don't mind the update.

[mitcorb]

Thanks, Jim.

[PeterCharles]

Hi Peter,

Sure, it has plenty of life - I just made it a bit more friendly. Hope you don't mind the update.

You have my blessing to improve it in what ever way you can.

[simon le bon]

Excellent!
Thank you Jim (and also for your revisited Didier's Double Line )

simon

[ATYRAUTONY]

Hi nice tool but is it possible to draw a helix that is not a whole number of turns for example 1.5 I have tried and nothing is drawn.

[pilou]

Yes you must enter an "Integer" number
So cut your volume at the end of the process

Make 3 turns and cut at the middle

[TIG]

Yes you must enter an "Integer" number
So cut your volume at the end of the process

Make 3 turns and cut at the middle

It's easily fixed by adjusting the code in the .rb file... on line #23 [edit with Notepad.exe or equivalent plain-text editor - NOT a wrodprocessor]
change
values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5, 24]
into
values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5.0, 24]
then save.
Now you can enter decimal values like 1.5 ...
The original code froze it as an 'integer' [default=5] and therefore prevented 'partial turn' values being entered... BUT since the rest of the code doesn't rely on it being an 'integer' there's no problems with making it a 'float'...
I already had that tweaked in the previous version in my installation...

[pilou]

Better and more generalist indeed
And always amazing as just 2 signs can change something!

We are few things in the univers, all is inside decimals

By Francesco de Comité

pi.jpg

[pilou]

@ TIG
I am in V6
Curious
I have an old version Draw Helix 13
make your 5.0 changment inside : works fine

I load the new DrawHelix14
nothing is drawing (same result with your changment)
I have this in the Ruby console

Code: Select all

Error: #<ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments(2 for 1)>
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:68:in `start_operation'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:68:in `drawhelix'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78:in `call'

[simon le bon]

It's easily fixed by adjusting the code in the .rb file... on line #23 [edit with Notepad.exe or equivalent plain-text editor - NOT a wrodprocessor]
change
values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5, 24]
into
values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5.0, 24]
then save.
Now you can enter decimal values like 1.5 ...

I'm very proud to annouce that this

Code: Select all

.0

added, is my very first rubby scripting (and may be also the last )
And then Oh! the problems begin

1)With or without this new code, I discover that DrawHelix14 doesn't work with my Su6
2)DrawHelix14 works fine with my Su7 but the new code (

Code: Select all

.0

) doesn't work! (if a decimal value is entered, no helix is drawn_ if an Integer value is entered: works fine)
3)If I come back in Su6 to DawHelix13_fr and add the (

Code: Select all

.0

)code, this time the helix is drawn.

4.5 rotations

Ouf! Hard time for new developper

simon

[pilou]

Cool to see that is the same problem

PS It's the same for the New Double Line!
Don't work inside the V6
When press Enter walls are not drawn !

same error message in the Ruby console

Code: Select all

Error: #<ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments(2 for 1)>
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/dline2.rb:157:in `start_operation'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/dline2.rb:157:in `onReturn'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/dline2.rb:157

[derei]

can't you filter that ? the script to catch the vcb value and remove the leading zero in incompatible version of SU ?

[TIG]

@ TIG
I am in V6
Curious
I have an old version Draw Helix 13
make your 5.0 changment inside : works fine

I load the new DrawHelix14
nothing is drawing (same result with your changment)
I have this in the Ruby console

Code: Select all

Error: #<ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments(2 for 1)>
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:68:in `start_operation'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:68:in `drawhelix'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78:in `call'

Line #65
if Sketchup.version_number.to_i < 7
changed to
if Sketchup.version.to_i < 7
will work in SUp v6 too !
Simple typo by Jim meant that you always got a version number in the tens of thousands and not a simple 6, 7 or 8 etc so it would always be > 7 and then try to start_operation with an extra argument and break the tool

[pilou]

Works now for the Draw Helix 14 in the V6
but now it's your modification 5.0 who don't works in the Draw Helix 14 ! (V6)
I have that

Code: Select all

values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5.0, 24]

Code: Select all

Error: #<ArgumentError: invalid value for Integer: "5.5">
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:31:in `inputbox'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:31:in `drawhelix'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6/Plugins/drawhelix14.rb:78:in `call'

[TIG]

OK looks like float and string clash ?
I assume the edited line #23 is clearly values = [300.mm, 300.mm, 100.mm, 5.0, 24] with no string delimter "" or '' around anything...
Perhaps your JLF::DrawHelix Registry entry is screwed or locked on the last used 'intger' values?
You could delete it...
BUT unless you are confident about messing around within a PC's Registry and risking disaster... then I suggest this safer fix...
Temporarily disable reading the Registry - go to line #24
v = Sketchup.read_default(reg_key, "values")
and add a leading # so it doesn't load at all
#v = Sketchup.read_default(reg_key, "values")
If you get an error also add a temporary line after it
v=nil
Run the tool once and close SUp, then remove that # etc from the .rb and retry - it should now be using the last entered values you used which are 'float'...

Also - in passing I now note that in line #36 there is
angle = 2*3.14159/sections
it would be better as
angle = 360.degrees/sections
as the over approximated value of 'pi' could produce minor inaccuracies otherwise...

[Jim]

Thanks. I've made the changes and updated the download. The version works on SketchUp 6, 7, and 8 for me.

[TIG]

Thinking about the earlier registry entry potentially messing integer and float, to be on the safe side you could add this

Code: Select all

        unless v.nil?
            values = eval(v)
            values[0] = values[0].to_l
            values[1] = values[1].to_l
            values[2] = values[2].to_l
            values[3] = values[3].to_f
            values[4] = values[4].to_i
        end

so that older values' classes are always correctly set?

[Jim]

Had the same thought... thanks.

[pilou]

Ok now that works like a charm in V6!
Bravo!
And sorry for the inconvenience

[simon le bon]

Ok now that works like a charm in V6!
Bravo!

(it is better if I don't touch even one line of code )

simon