Add support to specify circle dimensions via Diameter

Another seemingly low hanging fruit enhancement request…

It would be very handy to be able to specify the size of a circle using the Circle tool in the Measurements box by prefixing it with a “d” to indicate the value is a diameter versus the default radius.

Since drill bits are specified by diameter, not radius, I’m reasonably sure people think “diameter” when specifying a hole (woodworking, construction, machining, etc), not “radius”.

I realize it’s relatively easy to translate something like a 7/16" diameter hole to a 7/32" radius (double the denominator). But, not so much for a 1-13/16" diameter, which is a 29/32" radius. Why not have SketchUp do the “divide by 2” for a diameter to radius conversion versus making the human do it —right Aaron :wink: ?

Also, for the metric minded people, specifying circles by diameter versus radius using the “d” prefix can still help a lot (37.35mm diameter versus a radius of 18.675 mm).

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I’m afraid that the information of a circle in Sketchup is only by radius. Look in the entity information

This is a feature request to have the option to enter and retrieve circle diameters. The Dimension tool can give circle diameters already so the information is there.

Just as a point of interest:

dia_integer
.
.

Disadvantage: Only works with integer numbers.
(e.g.:
100/2 works,
100.1/2 not working)

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But ruby Api has no that option, so I imagine that is not possible. Maybe the dimensions are taken from geometry.

You’re imagining it wrong.
Replication of Circle tool is possible and enter radius or diameter can be achieved in a several different ways. Have you heard of the mathematical operations of multiplication and division? :innocent:

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That was something about Pi and stuff like that… :wink:

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You don’t need to use Pi to calculate radius from diameter or in opposite way…:wink:

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And yes, SketchUp will even do this job for you (the user). Enter any desired value as radius. Then apply the ‘Scale’ tool on that circle with factor 0.5 to have your value as the diameter.
Even works with inches, feet, … yards fathom, elbows, … or whatever units.
Bottom line: let SketchUp do the job.

p.s. this can all be done in a separate environment: in right click > (context menu) make group > create circle etc. … scale > close group

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By the way, the Circle tool asks for the radius quite logically. You start at the center and end at the perimeter. This length is the radius.
If two points of the diameter were the starting and ending points, then it would be more logical to enter the diameter…
… and yes, still the request makes sense :wink:

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I know how circles are created. OP wants to enter diameters instead of radii.
It makes sense yes, with the (say) d_value (optional units). But as it is now you’r still able to create circles to exact diameter without worrying about any math.

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The problem is its 18 steps when if could be (should be) one. No different than math in the dialoge box should be (14.3125*3 enter) like any other cad/design program.

Been SU since 08 and all these things that can be done in SU have to be done multitudes of steps. The limitations of Ruby are well and good but defending a several step process that should be far fewer, if not one, isnt getting things any better. The solution will be left to an extension developer as usual

Did you know you can just write the diameter and divide it by 2, for example you want a circle 6m diameter, just type 6/2 and hit enter

Metric system and integers

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Only integer values work as pointed out by dezmo above. Not every circle is going to have radii that are whole numbers.

Since '07 here but what does it matter

Wow, 18 steps, that’s a lot. I myself count only something like 2 steps.

I’m not defending anything and was hoping not to frustrate developement of the program. Just saying that you can enter radii and scale down by 0.5 instead of (what might be in future) entering diameters as d diameter) That is one step against typing d or whatever.

In OP’s example I entered 1 13/16" and scaled down by 0.5 resulting in diameter 1 13/16"

see:

p.s. the fact that I mentioned groups has nothing to do with the few steps needed to get the exact diameter. And no math involved either.

I’d just calculate the radius in my head. Not difficult and good practice. :wink:

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Wait till you’re 70+ or 70++
And in fact you’re not calculating anything. It’s just that record song playing in your head.
Metric is the way to go.

I’m getting close. Hoping that doing it now allows me to do it then.

why not ise the entity info to have some additional modifier options eg

radius
segments
diameter
circumference
area

and when the circle is created, the info tray could display other values as its being created, even if radius is the only possible input.