Sorry if this question is confusing as I’m totally new to SketchUp.
We are in a project to create 3D model of a Data Center room. There’re rows of racks and each rack has several servers. We have enough data to draw this room. We want to use the Ruby API to draw this 3D model, taking the data in JSON format and output .skp file. Can this be done automatically by scripting without using the SketchUp GUI?
Yes. But, of course, you will have to develop the script which likely won’t be trivial.
Yes, and no.
There is a sketchup sdk that allows you to read/write .skp files without SketchUp. SketchUp Developer SDK | SketchUp Extension Warehouse
But, this is not the ruby api.
I can help creating such application if needed.
I have to come back after evaluating various solutions. Isn’t SketchUp Ruby API enough to draw 3D objects and save them in skp files? I’m referring to File: Exporter Options — SketchUp Ruby API Documentation .
Not trying to digress from the main point, and apologies for my ignorance if I misinterpret the term “data”. But unless this data is not in a comprehensible format - like dimensions. What would be the advantage of (going to the trouble of) creating a script, when normal drawing practices seemingly would suffice. It would seem at face value to be a massive over complication of the task.
The ruby api only lives in sketchup, so you would need to run your script in sketchup and thus do your conversion in sketchup. The c sdk is a standalone interface to consume and create .skp files.
We are talking about massive amount of racks and hosts which have limited types. Also, racks & hosts in a data center changes from time to time.
I see. Thanks for your comprehensive answers in my other questions as well.
C is the 2nd language that I’d learnt over 20 years ago and I really don’t want to go back. When saying ruby api lives in sketchup, do you mean that I have to open the SketchUp GUI to run the script? I hope the whole thing can run in background.
Also, I’m curious how you can help creating such application. Since we are in different companies I assume that we have to go through some processes.
Well, I am a consultant. Creating tailor-made software for companies all over the world is what I do every day…
I see. Let me check with managers to see if this is possible. BTW, for my questions above, are we able to run ruby scripts in background without human intervention?
Yes, it is possible to start sketchup, from commandline for example, and automatically start a script.