# How to access existing toolbars and call existing commands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby API\ **Tags:** toolbar, command\ **Created:** [March 20, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388 "2020-03-20T14:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypercube](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/hypercube/32/86408_2.png) [@Hypercube](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Hypercube)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/1 "2020-03-20T14:31:38Z")
Hello Everyone! I am trying to build a better toolbar interface as a plugin. It should work like this: 1. Access all existing toolbars. Gather information about all commands (icon & tooltip) in each toolbar. 2. Hide all existing toolbars. 3. Show all commands in my plugin’s own window (a webview window), so the user can easily arrange and use them. 4. When the user clicks on a command in my plugin’s own window, call that command. So it should look exactly like the user clicked the original command in the toolbar. I know how to do step 2 and 3 with Ruby API. But how can I get all existing commands? And call any one of them? I did not see such API in the document. Am I missing something due to not being familiar with Ruby language itself? ---
**Author:** ![eneroth3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/eneroth3/32/1222_2.png) [@eneroth3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/eneroth3)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/2 "2020-03-20T14:46:57Z")
You can check out Sketchup#send\_action for performing the actions themselves, but you can’t fetch the names or descriptions. Those have to be redefined. ---
**Author:** ![john\_drivenupthewall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@john\_drivenupthewall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_drivenupthewall)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/3 "2020-03-20T15:04:52Z")
fetching all the names… ```ruby puts ObjectSpace.each_object(UI::Toolbar) { |tb| p tb.name } puts UI.toolbar_names.map { |n| p n } nil ``` john ---
**Author:** ![eneroth3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/eneroth3/32/1222_2.png) [@eneroth3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/eneroth3)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/4 "2020-03-20T15:38:38Z")
There are Ruby objects for native toolbars? 😮 ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/5 "2020-03-20T18:14:33Z")
> [@eneroth3](#): > > There are Ruby objects for native toolbars? **No there are not** , AFAIK. The 2nd module method (of the `UI` module) that John shows simply return names (`String`) of the native toolbars. As it’s [documentation](https://ruby.sketchup.com/UI.html#toolbar_names-class_method) says … > The toolbar\_names method is used to return the name of all the available native toolbars (this differs between PC and Mac). These toolbar names do not include Ruby toolbars. So this is the reason for John showing the first iterator filtering the `ObjectSpace` for the Ruby toolbar objects. > [@Hypercube](#): > > I am trying to build a better toolbar interface as a plugin. Have you looked at [Aerilius’ Toolbar Editor](https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/e413511f-0517-4115-8d81-90039a20a72c/toolbar-editor) extension ? Yours would have to do similar things as his, and they might not be compatible with one another. > [@Hypercube](#): > > When the user clicks on a command in my plugin’s own window, call that command. So it should look exactly like the user clicked the original command in the toolbar. **This is a challenge**. When menu items or `UI::Command` objects are created they get assigned an integer ID number. `Sketchup.send_action` can take these ID integers, but **only** on the MS Windows platform. The API does not expose an ID getter, nor getters for the command proc, or validation proc. This means you would have to do a “no no” which is to “tap” into (and modify) the `UI::Command` class’ methods to “grab” references to the Proc objects as they are passed into the methods. You **could** iterate the `ObjectSpace` and get a listing for **all** `Proc` objects defined, **but** it is very difficult to pair up the procs knowing only the source file and line number with the `UI::Command` objects that “own” them. For the native commands, you’d have to create the `UI::Command` objects (or simply methods that duplicate the native commands functionality.) The images (SVG for Windows and PDF for Mac) are in the SketchUp application’s “Images” subfolder. On Windows … ```Ruby Sketchup.find_support_file("Images") #=> C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2020/Images ``` This would be a different path on Mac platform. ---
**Author:** ![Hypercube](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/hypercube/32/86408_2.png) [@Hypercube](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Hypercube)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/6 "2020-03-21T04:38:54Z")
Thank you! Your reply helps a lot. So what I understand is, that I only need to “tap” into `UI::Command` to get all I want (icon, tooltip, proc objects…), and Aerilius’ Toolbar Editor already did this, so I can learn from reading its source code. Am I right? P.S. Although unrelated to SketchUp, could you please give me some hint about how to tap into a Ruby class? I am quite familiar with this kind of meta-programming with other languages like Python, but some examples or links with Ruby would be very helpful! ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/7 "2020-03-21T15:31:50Z")
> [@Hypercube](#): > > So what I understand is, that I _ **ONLY** _ need to “tap” into `UI::Command` to get all I want (icon, tooltip, proc objects…), … It **_may_** not be that simple. Ie, there are **other** things you may need to **do** and **know**. > [@Hypercube](#): > > P.S. Although unrelated to SketchUp, could you please give me some hint about how to tap into a Ruby class? I am quite familiar with this kind of meta-programming with other languages like Python, but some examples or links with Ruby would be very helpful! Normally, you need to be very experienced with Ruby in order to do the modifying correctly without causing issues for other extensions. The SketchUp Extension Warehouse regulations **do not allow** extensions posted that modify any API or Core Ruby modules or classes. (Such extensions will be rejected.) I looked at his code and Aerilius so far I do not see that he actually “tapped” into or modified the `UI::Command` class. He didn’t need to as his extension only creates custom **native** toolbars, which the user will fire by clicking buttons. So his extension is only a helper to create custom toolbars (using buttons from other toolbars and new buttons with custom code snippets.) So he did not actually need to fire the command procs from code. But if you will be creating HTML buttons and needing to fire the Ruby commands of other coder’s extensions, you’ll need to be able to do this. Your choice is either to modify an API class and risk having your extension shunned, … …or … Perhaps publish a guideline on allowing other coders to “register” their extension’s command methods with YOUR extension. (This also requires the other coders to use good coding practice and have their `UI::Command` procs do nothing more than call a command method. This is good coding practice because the method can be redefined “on the fly” during development and testing, but `UI::Command` procs **cannot**. Ie, [**`Proc`**](https://ruby-doc.org/core-2.5.5/Proc.html) objects are a snapshot of the calling environment. See the Ruby Core docs for more information.) If you only intend to use your extension **in house** , then it’s up to you not to interfere with any other extensions you will be using. And the prohibition on API and Core modifications doesn’t apply. (However if you cause issues for other extensions, especially commercial extensions, those extension companies will not be pleased to spend support efforts debugging such situations. If you were to release such an extension via your own retail portal, you could incur legal troubles if your product interferes with one of the big commercial extensions.) I will **not** specifically publicly post an example of modifying an API class. I’m sure you will understand such an example (given your Python experience.) I can send you an example via a PM if you like. **But you will assume all legal liability**. > [@Hypercube](#): > > … and Aerilius’ Toolbar Editor already did this, so I can learn from reading its source code. He has **not** encrypted his source code, but the extension registrar script states that it is copyright. Please **discuss with him** any code sharing. At one time I think he was asking if anyone wished to help maintain the code. (The version posted in the [SketchUp Extension Warehouse](https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/e413511f-0517-4115-8d81-90039a20a72c/toolbar-editor) is newer than that posted at SketchUcation.) Perhaps your extension could be an add-on to his. (Ie, his extension already creates a singleton `UI::Command` index that your code could query.) But then again, creating an index isn’t that difficult and **if** you do “tap” into the `UI::Command` class, your code might as well push the proc reference into an index at the same time. * * * I recall many years ago, discussing doing this (perhaps as an open source Community Library extension) that **all** or **any** extension could use. It would eliminate situations as we are discussing here and now. * * * > **All this aside, ... there is another hurdle to overcome ...** > > All this aside, … there is another hurdle to overcome in trying to use Web Dialog command buttons. > > (You are not the first to attempt this.) And this challenge is one of **window focus**. You need to give the main SketchUp application window the focus just after the user clicks the command button in your Html Dialog. > > Although long requested, such an API feature has not yet been implemented. So coders have to employ “hacky” workarounds which _might_ differ with platform. > > Please search this forum category and perhaps the Dev forum over at SketchUcation for discussions on focus. (As it’d diverge away from this topic.) ---
**Author:** ![Hypercube](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/hypercube/32/86408_2.png) [@Hypercube](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Hypercube)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-to-access-existing-toolbars-and-call-existing-commands/119388/8 "2020-03-27T16:09:49Z")
Thanks for your great answer! Now that I know all these options and difficulties, I am going to reconsider my requirements.