[Plugin] SketchyFFD (Updated 20130203)

[TIG]

In all currently supported versions of SketchUp, you [almost] NEVER need to install files into your Plugins folder "manually".
Almost all extensions/plugins come in an RBZ archive format [e.g. all downloads from the SketchUcation PluginStore or the SketchUp EWH]
This needs to be 'installed'.

Users normally leave their RBZ downloads in their Downloads folder - if you have moved any move them back there...

The installer automatically extracts the contents of an RBZ archive [actually a specially-suffixed ZIP file!] and puts the files/subfolders into the correct location[s] and then loads the tool...

In early versions of SketchUp the installer is accessed from Preferences > Extensions > Install... button.

In newer versions of SketchUp the Install... button is now found on the dialog opened from Preferences > Extension Manager...

Both of these tools require you to select the RBZ, it is then installed...

If you have installed the SketchUcation Toolset it has a menu item to also Install Archive... from RBZ [or ZIP].

Also if you have installed the SketchUcation Toolset, then the Toolbar's first button [red] launches the SketchUcation ExtensionStore³ dialog, from that dialog you can browse and AutoInstall any of the extensions/plugins listed in the SketchUcation PluginStore, all without having to first download an RBZ.

The SketchUp EWH has a similar tool to load/enable automatically its Extensions listed.

[Mister Fab]

Hi,

I'm trying to use the plugin, but the part I try to modify disappears when I double click the dots.

Example, I draw a cylinder, make it a group, apply 3x3 FFD, and when I double click one of the FFD dots, the cylinder disappears.

Am I doing something wrong? Using sketchup 2017.

Thanks for reading

[TIG]

As these things are inside separate containers I suspect the disappearance is due to your SketchUp settings ?
Ensure that View > Component Edit > Hide Rest of Model... is set OFF...

[Mister Fab]

Thank you for your answer TIG.

Ok, after I set that parameter of, now I can see the cylinder.

But moving the dots with the scale tool still has no effect on the part.
I'm doing exactly what I found in that tutorial video, except I work on a simple cylinder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBLX1SFKULU&t=13s

[coolhub786]

i cannot find 3x3 node nor 2x2 node
when i select the object > right click ffd > it shows lock unlock and make patch

[boofredlay]

i cannot find 3x3 node nor 2x2 node
when i select the object > right click ffd > it shows lock unlock and make patch

The object has to be a group. Not loose geometry, not a component.

[Mister Fab]

I found my problem using another tutorial video from Youtube.
What wasn't explained in the video I used is that the model has to be subdivided. In the video, the object is already subdivided many times.
In my case, I just had to select N x N FFD, add my grid size and select subdivide!

[Einstein]

Hi!

FFD generally works fine with me but in certain cases I get strange results of transformation. Could someone, please, take a look at my model and tell me if there's something wrong with my geometry. It's just a mesh, nothing special.
I moved a vertical row of 3 control points (selected yellow and yellow arrow on screenshot) but geometry went to the opposite side (white arrow).

[pilou]

Same result that your but if draw vertical lines for "close" the sides
that works as that must be
So maybe FFD don't love open surfaces ?

GIF_closed.gif

[pilou]

In fact your first object is not "clean" !
(lines coplanar, faces multiple etc...)
Use CleanUp by Thomthom and all will be fine!

ffd_ok.jpg

[Einstein]

Closed the mesh, did some cleanup, my group is a solid, but still the same

[pilou]

As you can see on my last image : after cleanUp seems all works fine on the good way!
(and without close sides)

[thegenius]

plugin not working in sketchup 2018. Dont know where is the problem. Please guide.

[TIG]

Please give details of your SketchUp version, OS etc.

Also please explain the steps you are trying to use with this tool...
Double-check you are following the guidance given in the early posts...
Also run it with the Ruby Console open and report any error messages...

Remember that this tool is now five years without any support or updates...

[majid]

Any update or replace for su 2018 please?

[TIG]

Any update or replace for su 2018 please?

As far as I know, if you install the current RBZ from the PluginStore it should work in v2018.
You must carefully follow the usage steps.
Your Extension Manager Loading Policy must be set to 'Unrestricted' to allow older [unsigned] extensions to load and run...

[pascalk]

i am getting an unsigned copy problem any help ?

[juju]

i am getting an unsigned copy problem any help ?

set your load policy to unrestricted, will load fine then

the extension will work the same whether it is signed or not, it is purely a mechanism to give the end-user some control over extension running on their system, in the end you (as in yourself) must make sure the extensions (and their sources) are trustworthy

[Einstein]

Hi!

I have a problem with this plugin. I'm trying to match an FFD "box" to my group, which local axes are different from global axes of the model. I mean, they are rotated. I created an FFD group and it doesn't match my target group's axes. How can I match FFD group to local axes or my group? Instead, it matches the global axes. I could just reset rotation of my group, I know. But I don't want to do this.

Even if I change my model's global axes, FFD box orientation won't change. It will stick to initial orientation.

[dindoborlaza]

hi everyone,

newbee here, downloaded the .rb and .rbz file, couldn't see the plugin yet...using 2016...help!!!

THANKS

[TIG]

It's a context-menu based tool - read the usage guidance...

[ahmd66]

This plugin can not work (error load) in sketchup 2019. How I could install this plugin correctly?

[TIG]

This is an old script.
Somethings have changed in v2019...
Please try running it [following the earlier guidance] with the Ruby Console open and post any error messages you might get...
If it's a simple issue perhaps we can fix it...

[Fillister]

This is the message I am seeing in conjunction with 2019


Error: #<SyntaxError: C:/.../SketchUp/SketchUp 2019/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:32: Invalid return in class/module body
return nil
^~~~~~>

And a sincere thank you TIG, as this was not your plugin originally

[TIG]

Try this fix...

Find the file in your user's AppData tree C:/.../SketchUp/SketchUp 2019/SketchUp/Plugins
named SketchyFFD.rb
Edit it using Notepad[++] - a plain-text editor...
Find line#32, and add a # to the start of the line, so that it reads:
#return nil
and is now ignored as it loads...
Save the file, and restart SketchUp to see if that helps...

The latest version of Ruby now shipped with v2019 is more unforgiving of simple syntax errors - previously this was just ignored !

[db11]

The latest version of Ruby now shipped with v2019 is more unforgiving of simple syntax errors - previously this was just ignored !

TIG - will this required syntax discipline actually reduce certain types of issues with plugins, or is it simply an added annoyance for extension developers?

[Fillister]

Thank you for the quick reply TIG.
Your suggestion took care of the error message I was seeing. No error messages at load time now, but does not actually load. I saw your previous post:

Please try running it [following the earlier guidance] with the Ruby Console open and post any error messages you might get...

Wading through the 13 pages of posts associated with SketchyFFD to try and find the guidance. I will do my best to get you some more clues.

May have to learn Ruby.

[TIG]

You seem to be using v2019?
The Extension Manager should show if its loaded.
It might show it's loaded but blocked because it's unsigned [it is very old after all !]
Try resetting your Extension Loading policy to "Unrestricted".
Restart SketchUp.
See if that helps...

Also be sure you understand how the tool works through menus/context etc...

[Puco]

File load error (C:/Users/pucon/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2019/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb):
Error: #<SyntaxError: C:/Users/pucon/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2019/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchyFFD.rb:32: Invalid return in class/module body
return nil
^~~~~~>
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:1288:in `install_from_archive'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:1288:in `rbzInstaller'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:1503:in `rbzDirect'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:1376:in `loadHandler'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:476:in `loadFromURL'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:1264:in `set_choi'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbs:535:in `chooseplugins'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbs:485:in `autoinstall_dlg'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbs:415:in `set_autoinstall_choice'
c:/users/pucon/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2019/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbs:81:in `block in new'



This is what I get in Ruby on fresh install SU 2019! If anyone knows how to fix the code of the SketchyFFD.rb file, it will be nice to get this addon in a working state.

[Fillister]

Puco, please notice the posts above yours from me Fillister, dated 13 FEB and in particular TIG's reply.
I was receiving the same "return nil" message and TIGs helpful suggestion resolved the error message associated with SketchyFFD.

After the return nil ^-----> . in your post, I am not sure you noticed, the error messages are no longer associated with SketchyFFD.

Six lines refer to scf-rbztools
c:/users/pucon/.../plugins/sketchucation/scf-rbztools.rbs:

Four lines refer to scf_dialog
c:/users/pucon/.../plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbs:

Sadly I am unable to speak to those issues.

TIG my apologies.
In my excitement at having the return nil error so easily fixed, I rushed in to try SketchyFFD carelessly.
I can now confirm there seems to be nothing wrong as far as I can tell with SketchyFFD running in SketchUp 2019 on Windows 10.