How to set x,y dimensions for component?

Developers Ruby API
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1

I wante to add some tree textures around my model to create forest. I decided to add the texture to cylinders or pipes 10m high.

Normally when the cylinder is not in component and I need to copy it I duplicate it using move tool and move it up +20m. Then I rescale every circle of the cylinder down by 0.98. Then I move the cylinder down -20m. This way I copy the cylinders to be a bit smaller than the previous one. But now I decided to add the cylinder to component.

When it is in component, I cannot rescale it as in the previous example. If I would rescale so the height of the cylinder would be samaller (0.98*10). Hence the trees would be smaller. This is not what I want.

So I need to set the dimensions on horizontal plane to scale it, excluding z axis. Any idea how to do it?

2

Create a transform for scaling (i.e., scale = Geom::Transformation.scaling(0.98,0.98, 1)) and apply it to the instance of the component you’ve created (i.e., componentinstance.transform!(scale))

3

IDK how to define componentinstance. Is it possible to start with selection? There are two components having the same definition name.

My code:

ss = Sketchup.active_model.selection;
scale = Geom::Transformation.scaling(0.98,0.98, 0)

That’s all I have

4

Assuming that just one instance is selected, use…

componentinstance=ss[0]

The transformation only affects the one instance.
Any other instances of the same definition are unaffected.

If you want to actually change the entire ‘contents’ of a component [or group] you can a similar transformation thus:

definition.entities(scale, definition.entities.to_a)

This will change the definition itself, so that all of its instances will then change to match…
Where you have set: definition=componentinstance.definition

5

I tried this:

comp = ss.grep(Sketchup::ComponentInstance);
comp.transform!(scale)

Error: ArgumentError: (eval):2536:in `transform!': wrong number of values in array
(eval):2536

That was just try. Why did not work?

6

In your example comp will be an array.

So logically I’d rename it comps and then iterate its array…
comps = ss.grep(Sketchup::ComponentInstance)
comps.each{|comp| comp.transform!(scale) }

7 
comp[0].transform!(scale)
#<Sketchup::ComponentInstance:0x97f1c38>

It’s strange I had 3-4 tubes and now I see only 2. I cannot find out where the component tube disappeared.

This is what I see:

728×427 165 KB

When I double click on the polygon it disappeared.

Also I did not want to change the content of the component but this changed it (erased the content) so both components disappeared.

Note: In the undo menu there is: Undo Move. Not Undo scale.

All actions result to the same behaviour.

Edit:
I upload the sketchup test.skp (88.9 KB)
file

8

@jimhami42 Could you please correct your answer?

not 0.98, 0,98, 0 but
scale = Geom::Transformation.scaling(0.98,0.98, 1)

Because 0 erases the object.

This does the right job:

ss = Sketchup.active_model.selection;
scale = Geom::Transformation.scaling(0.98,0.98, 1)
comps = ss.grep(Sketchup::ComponentInstance)
comps[0].transform!(scale)

Thank you

9

You are correct … I’ve corrected my entry. Sorry about the mis-info ;(

10

Thank you. I asked because I gonna confirm your answer as solution.