[Plugin] ProLine (RC-2019_0205_1636)

[dezmo]

Motto: I hope you will enjoy using it half as much as I enjoyed creating it!

MAC experimental "support" added!
Other changes: viewtopic.php?f=323&t=69965&p=644952#p644952

Release Candidate version available in Pluginstore!

00animation-protractor.gif

There is a better way with ProLine:

00proline_benefit1.gif

intro.gif

Description = 'The LINE tool combined with Protractor & more
Version = "RC-2019_0205_1636"
Creator = "Dezmo (dezmo at freemail dot hu)" (Coffe)
Copyright = "2018-2019, Dezmo"

Usage:
Run from: Menu>Draw>"ProLine © by Dezmo" or use Toolbar: "ProLine © by Dezmo"
Please open the Menu>Window>Instructor to see more instructions and how the modifier keys work!
(or check the 2nd post below)

The idea:
In the recent versions of SU we do have a "Rotated Rectangle" tool, so called protractor assisted rectangle creation. In the other hand reading the forums some people are asking to snap the line not only to length, but to angle as well...
Why should'nt we have a "Line" tool with protractor assistance?
This is a reason I'm created a tool: Protractor Line. The name is shortened as "ProLine", so it is also representing some more, hopefully useful, functions to create a line in SketchUp in advanced way.
I'm not a programmer or 3D designer, I just like to discover Ruby & SketchUp.

Features:
Draw edges or Line entities like in a native Line Tool, but Draw edges / curves / clines / cpoints entities with special protractor and inference assistance!
~ Can be act similar as an original Line tool. (My intention is to completely replace it.)
~ Type a value of length
~ Type an absolute or relative coordinates
+ Type a value of angle (or angle lock)
~ Instructor window like in other native tool.
+ Snap to angle, defined in Model info
+ Snap to angle, defined in ProLine Settings
+ Can create/remove guide line & point "on the fly" for better interfering e.g. :
....Angle snapping
....Face normal -:- centroid
....Arc/Circle/Polygon -normal -:- center
....Arc/Circle/Polygon - real tangent
....Bisector and point as proportional division between of edges other end
....Midpoint (Line to "recorded" point, and midpoint in between)
+ The protractor automatically placed and easy to adjust. (Improved.)
+ The protractor can be resized
~ Can snap to length, defined in Model info
+ Can force length snapping, overriding some interfering (be careful with this)
~ Create edges
+ Brake edge if intersecting can be switched off
+ Crate faces can be switched off
+ Start over when create faces can be switched off
+ Crate curve (polyline)
+ Create point to point guide line
+ Create infinity guide line
+ Create guide point only or guide point together with above mentioned line types.
+ Show extended information in a tooltip (can be disabled)
+ Show coordinates on top left of screen (can be disabled)
+ Show angle to last line (can be disabled)
+ Show angle to protractor x-axis (can be disabled)
- No "drag and drop" line creation


The tool is in Release Candidate stage. However I did my best to give it out without serious errors, an unexpected problems may occur... download and use it on your own risk.
Tested: SketchUp pro 2014 on windows 7, SketchUp pro 2015&2018, SketchUp make 2017 on windows 10.
Finaly on unstable hackintosh Virtual Machine with Sketchup Pro 2016 trial.
It was created and only tested in a windows environment and may not (properly) function on a MAC.
I tried to look at the MAC specific things, but had just a "little more than nothing" to test... Any feedback of MAC users is welcome!

Know issues:
-The keyboard shortcuts defined in Proline can be conflict of your predefined keyboard shortcuts...
Context menu has been added. Use that if you have a conflict...
Check Release Notes notes too.

This tool currently only available in PluginStore:
Dezmo ProLine

How to open hepl file:

how to get help.gif

OR:
Download help folder (Download, unpack and open help.html)

[dezmo]

ProLine Tool

Draw edges or Line entities like in a native Line Tool butDraw edges / curves / clines / cpoints entities with special protractor and inference assistance!

Tool Operation

(LMB = Left Mouse Button, RMB = Right Mouse Button)
• (optional) Position the Protractor by hovering the cursor on face/edge/vertex and carefully moving around.
• Click at starting point of line.
• (optional) hold Ctrl (or Ctrl+Alt or Ctrl+LMB or Ctrl+Alt+LMB or Ctrl + Shift) and move cursor to set protractor direction.Release the pressed button(s) to set current position and direction of protractor.
• (optional) click & hold LMB at start point, then Move cursor over the "spokes" to set Angle lock direction then release LMB
• (optional) hit Alt key to toggle Angle snap/lock method's /loop switching/:
...Snap to angle('s) & lock to protractor plane
...No angle snap, but lock to protractor plane
...No angle snap or lock (as in a 'normal' Line tool)
• Move cursor.
• ...click at ending point of line...
...or type the desired length value and hit Return key to get desired length to the current direction
...or type comma[,] (on non-English keyboard semi-colon[;]) and the desired angle value and hit Return key to get 'lock guide line' relative to protractor X-axis in a protractor plane
...or type the desired length value then comma[,] (on non-English keyboard semi-colon[;]) and the desired angle value to get line relative to protractor X-axis in a protractor plane
...or just hit Return key to use last used length and/or angle value (if any).
• (optional) Move cursor.
• (optional) Click to create connected line.
• (optional Hit ESC key to start over from the beginning (with new line set)
• (optional) Repeat step above to create connected lines, or return to starting point of first line to create a face.
(Drag and drop method to create line does NOT work here!)

Modifier Keys
•TAB (or RMB double click) = Settings dialog (Toolbar )*
•Shift = Lock line to the current inference direction
•Arrow keys = Lock line to specific inference direction (Up=Blue, Left=Green, Right=Red, Down=Parallel/Perpendicular to the previous line)
•Alt = Toggle Angle snap/lock method
•Ctrl = Orient the Protractor 2D (around Protractor Z axis)
•Ctrl + Alt = Orient the Protractor 2D (around Protractor X axis)
•Ctrl + LMB = Orient the Protractor 3D (around Protractor origin by Protractor Z axis)
•Ctrl + Alt + LMB = Orient the Protractor 3D (around Protractor origin by Protractor X axis)
•Ctrl + Shift + hover over face = Orient the Protractor Z axis to face normal
• **Ctrl + "F" = Create Guide line & point (Face normal, at centroid )*
• **Ctrl + "R" = Create Guide line & point (Arc/Circle/Polygon normal, at center )*
• **Ctrl + "T" = Create Guide line & point (Arc/Circle/Polygon real tangent, at tangent point )*
• **Ctrl + "B" = Create Guide line & point (Bisector, and point as proportional division between of edges other end)*
• **Ctrl + "D" = Create Guide line & point (Line to recorded point, and midpoint in between )*
• Home = Toggle Protractor size*
• End = Toggle extra Angle snap*
• PgUP/PgDown = Toggle line type to draw*
•LMB click on Protractor origin = Switch off Angle snap / Delete last guides
•LMB click on Protractor origin than hold LMB while move cursor and hover over Protractor's spokes = Set Angle lock direction (Create Guide line)
•Esc = Start over from the beginning (with new line set)

*The events occurs when you release the key
** From Context menu too!
(LMB = Left Mouse Button, RMB = Right Mouse Button)

animation-proLine.gif

prol_02_menu.gif

prol_20_tetrahedron.gif

[Frederik]

Looks great...
I'll definitely need to give this one a go...
Thanks!

[juju]

This looks interesting, thx!

I guess you know of the typo now?

proline.JPG

length

[dezmo]

I guess you know of the typo now?
length

I did not even find it when I checked 100 times ... Thanks!
I hope, this will be the "biggest" problem.

[dezmo]

Looks great...
I'll definitely need to give this one a go...
Thanks!

Hope you will find it useful! Please report any problem!

[pilou]

Very cool for lovers of precision!
Seems a new "indispensable"!

PS Have you a special file for translation ?
I can make the French one!

[dezmo]

Thanks for the Nice worlds!

PS Have you a special file for translation ?
I can make the French one!

There are no special file for translation, but better to wait at least until RC stage... some changes may will come. The "Instructor" file (index_1.html) is almost done, but the help file (help.html) will come later...

[dezmo]

This tool now available in PluginStore:
Dezmo ProLine!

The 1^st and 2^nd post have been updated!

Enjoy!

[CadFather]

Thank you Dezmo, really great plugin!

[Ahmed0007]

Thank you for plugin
how i can snap to the face center?

[dezmo]

Thank you for plugin
how i can snap to the face center?

Hi Ahmed0007,

You can not really snap to it but you can get a guide line for intersecting or interfering.
As described in the chapter: "16 How to:Get special inference lines" in the help:

While mowing your mouse over the faces, lines or vertices's you will see a small:
[Braun or yellow triangle with F]=[the Centroid of face]
The color is Yellow if the face have an inner loop, otherwise Braun
....
Just Hit CTRL button followed by F/R to get a normal of face/circle ...

face normal.gif

Than you can use this guide line intersecting or interfering.


Just in case: I heve been added a link of help content to the first post. This is exactly same as a build in help. Please download and read it if you have not done yet...

[rv1974]

Dezmo, thanks for sharing!
Do you have plans to add most important ones:
1. midpoint between 2 points
2. bisector between 2 edges
?
Edit: I looked at your first 2 gif animations. Well both ways take roughly the same amount of time to comlete the task. So why bother and memorize tons of new shortcuts?

[dezmo]

Dezmo, thanks for sharing!
Do you have plans to add most important ones:
1. midpoint between 2 points
2. bisector between 2 edges
?

Hi rv1974,

Yeah, I have some more ideas to implement, but can't promise any deadline... Randomly I can find time, but I can't feel any obligation to do it. Besides sometime I have to learn before I can do what I imagined... it takes time.

I'll definitely take your suggestion into consideration, however I have to think how to implement :
1. I can not hover on 2 points simultaneously, so I need an other method to do it. (I have some idea, but have to rethink more... )
2. Angle bisector guide line could be relatively easy to do...

[dezmo]

Edit: I looked at your first 2 gif animations. Well both ways take roughly the same amount of time to comlete the task. So why bother and memorize tons of new shortcuts?

Wich one You looked? In the help file or in my posts?

Have you been tried or just looked?
Did you read the help file?
Actually you are not obligated to memorize...
Lot's of sorcut can be done by the Settings an other you get a letter on screen (F, R, T) to remember more easy...

[rv1974]

First 2 gifs in this thread. Ironically Proline takes longer.
Frankly all is needed is a standard no-brainer line tool with one simple addition of degree '<' input.
Example:
Start line tool->Make first click ->Hoover over existing edge-> Enter say <30 (to get 30 degr direction)->
enter distance->Enter
Thats it. Simply replicating Autocad input + tracking.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
BTW Some of Proline shortcuts conflict with existing (of mine) ones.

[dezmo]

First 2 gifs in this thread. Ironically Proline takes longer.
Frankly all is needed is a standard no-brainer line tool with one simple addition of degree '<' input.
Example:
Start line tool->Make first click ->Hoover over existing edge-> Enter say <30 (to get 30 degr direction)->
enter distance->Enter
Thats it. Simply replicating Autocad input + tracking.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
BTW Some of Proline shortcuts conflict with existing (of mine) ones.

It is in my to-do list: able to enter length;angle
Curently ProLine can not evaulate onto which plain the 30 degrees line you want to put. Unfortonately AI has not been implemented yet here.
So until I find out evaoulation of the "best plain to draw" you have to use your brain and a protractor. Or simply use Autocad in 2D.

BTW: you did not answered to my questions...

EDIT:
I beleve your "Simply replicating Autocad input + tracking." works only if you draw the line in 2D in Autocad. Don't you think?

[pbacot]

Looks Great! Thank you!

[dezmo]

.
BTW Some of Proline shortcuts conflict with existing (of mine) ones.

Can you please explain more which ones are conflicting and how?
They are breaking the function of Proline or breaking the function of your associated function?
Thanks!

[dezmo]

Looks Great! Thank you!

Hi pbacot,

I'm happy if you like it...

I see you are from MAC. Since I do not have a chance to test on it, I'm curious how it is looks like on MAC, especially:
- the icons and the cursor pictures. Can you please post a screenshot!
- Are the sorcuts (Ctrl + "T" ; Ctrl + "F" ..ect.) working as described? Don't you get some problems or conflicts?

Thanks a lot in advance!

[rv1974]

.
BTW Some of Proline shortcuts conflict with existing (of mine) ones.

Can you please explain more which ones are conflicting and how?
They are breaking the function of Proline or breaking the function of your associated function?
Thanks!

For example, I use the End key for another (s4u divide) command. it just switches to s4u divide when hit. There were other collisions, I can't report exactly because I uninstalled

[Ahmed0007]

Thank you for plugin
how i can snap to the face center?

Hi Ahmed0007,

You can not really snap to it but you can get a guide line for intersecting or interfering.
As described in the chapter: "16 How to:Get special inference lines" in the help:

While mowing your mouse over the faces, lines or vertices's you will see a small:
[Braun or yellow triangle with F]=[the Centroid of face]
The color is Yellow if the face have an inner loop, otherwise Braun
....
Just Hit CTRL button followed by F/R to get a normal of face/circle ...

face normal.gif

Than you can use this guide line intersecting or interfering.


Just in case: I heve been added a link of help content to the first post. This is exactly same as a build in help. Please download and read it if you have not done yet...

Thank you for you quick respond

[dezmo]

.
BTW Some of Proline shortcuts conflict with existing (of mine) ones.

Can you please explain more which ones are conflicting and how?
They are breaking the function of Proline or breaking the function of your associated function?
Thanks!

For example, I use the End key for another (s4u divide) command. it just switches to s4u divide when hit. There were other collisions, I can't report exactly because I uninstalled

Ok. Thanks. I'll try to find a better way to avoid such a conflict.

[Oxer]

Hi,
I'm a Mac user and there is a problem with the keys, the Tab key doesn't work, if I hit TAB key the Settings Toolbar doesn't appear but if I move the mouse with TAB key pressed I can draw a line continuously (see the above gif).

prueba.gif

[dezmo]

Hi,
I'm a Mac user and there is a problem with the keys, the Tab key doesn't work, if I hit TAB key the Settings Toolbar doesn't appear but if I move the mouse with TAB key pressed I can draw a line continuously (see the above gif).

Hi Oxer,

Thanks alot for feedback! And so sorry about the issue
I think you have a problem most of the keyboard shortcuts...on Mac.

I had no chance to test on that sytem. On the mac the keyboard codes are different and differently handled.
Unfortunately I heve been used the wrong documentation and/or wrongly coded the Mac 'part'.
A good news is that most probably a have the right docu now.
I'm on the way to implement it and there is a very good chance if the keyboard will work properly on MAC too.
But beside that there will be a context menu (mouse right click) to handle a most important task, like open the settings and insert guide lines.
There will be some more special inference line too. But it will take some days (or weeks..)

Stay tuned...

[Oxer]

Thanks for the reply, when you publish the update I'll test it and I'll inform you about issues on Mac.

[dezmo]

New version RC-2019_0205_1636 available in Pluginstore!

1st & 2nd post updated too.

Changes( after vRC-2019_0105_1209: )
MAC experimental "support"; I hope it will work much better now...
I tried only on a super unstable hackintosh VM with SU2016Pro trial)

# (SIL:= Special Inference Line)

# change: Toggle guide points to draw = "G" >>> REMOVED

# change: Toggle line type to draw = PgUP/PgDown (or RMB double click) >>> PgUP/PgDown

# change: Settings dialog (Toolbar) = TAB >>> TAB(or RMB double click)

# change: Ctrl + LMB = Orient the Protractor 3D (around Protractor origin) >>>
Orient the Protractor 3D (around Protractor origin by Z axis)

# add: Ctrl + ALT + LMB = Orient the Protractor 3D (around Protractor origin by X axis)

# add: Ctrl + move mouse over face + SHIFT = Orient the Protractor Z axis parallel to face normal

# add: indication of special inference lines with dashed colored lines

# add: beside the guide lines a guide point on it also created
(both will disappear when you click or use Esc. and does NOT recorded to Undo stack)

# add: bisector inference line : Ctrl + "B" ("Shaking hands" are not preferred )

# add: Hovering a mouse over a vertex or inference point more than 2 sec >> "recorded" point
(bit flawed, you have to get used to it)
("Shaking hands" are preferred )

# add: midpoint btw "recorded" point to cursor, inference line: Ctrl + "D"

# add: color settings for SIL (hidden settings to be able to hide SIL
( Guess where it is: 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 001 )

# add: context (right click) menu for SIL

# add: can type into VCB : length(eg. 25,4 or 25,4mm or 1")
or angle in degrees(eg. ;45 )
or length and angle(eg: 25,4;45)

# add: can type into VCB: absolute or relative coordinates
the last typed length and angle will be "remembered"
(to use for next "Return button hit: use last values")
the last clicked length will be "remembered"
the last clicked angle will NOT be "remembered"
the last typed coordinates will NOT be "remembered"

# add: show coordinates on top left of the screen (if show extended tool-tip is enabled)
(I'm curious how the users will like it...)

# change: "better" guessing how to place/orient the protractor

# tuned: The VCB text and values (still have to check)

# bug: during first point selection the cursor had inference to ORIGIN too Resolved
after Esc pressed the cursor still had inference to last point too. Resolved

# bug: saving the length and angle snap settings has not been restored correctly:
now it is saved as restored and the native snap status/values restored back
as before the tool has been started

# Other: small things here and there...


Known issues:
# Your predefined keyboard shortcuts may override keyboard shortcuts in ProLine. Still.
But all of the "non modifier key" functions are possible to reach via toolbar or context menu

# If your system have regional seating to use ; for list separator and you have to use AltGR to type:
you will see the cursor icon changes and protractor appearing during typing.
It does not harm the function - as far as you don't move your mouse - but looks ugly and annoying...

# On the border lines or vertices of group/components where they are touching each other
or drawing elements outside, sometimes the SIL can't work properly

# When one of the SIL is visible and you are doing some other change e.g. delete something
it will "disturb" my Undo stack... Solution: Do NOT do it.

# Other: small things here and there.

# Please: report!

[Gildaspaspro]

Bonjour,

Trés bon outil mais un peu complexe. SketchUp a su faire la différence en préférant la simplicité aux "fonctions qui peuvent tout faire mais demandent 15 manip et beaucoup de pratiques" (c'est mon avis).
La gestion des inférences par contre est absente. J'aurais aimé pouvoir sélectionner, comme dans Rhino ou Autocad, intersection, fin, milieu, ortho etc...
Merci en tout cas pour le travail réalisé.