"I’m working on a SketchUp Ruby extension that requires automatically performing a Boolean ‘Subtract’ operation using BoolTools.
I need to trigger this action programmatically (via API), passing the Target body and the Cutter Stencil directly to the BoolTools function, without relying on the user selecting the button manually.
Does anyone know the specific Ruby method or API call for BoolTools (both the original DM::BoolTools and BoltCutterTools::BoolTools2 versions) that allows for non-interactive subtraction in a plugin environment?
I have tried:
Ruby
# Example of what I'm trying to achieve (but need confirmation/correction on the method signature)
DM::BoolTools.subtract(target_body, cutter_stencil)
# OR
BoltCutterTools::BoolTools2.subtract(target_body, [cutter_stencil])
Any guidance on the correct method signature or required arguments would be greatly appreciated."
If so, I am unaware of it and found no mention of it on mindsightstudios website.
If, on the other hand, you found these methods by unauthorized snooping into the extension’s encrypted proprietary code, don’t expect help here. This is not a hacker/cracker’s forum!
Either way, I think @Whaat (Dale M) would be interested in your question.
Thanks for the quick response and for the suggestion to contact @Whaat.
I want to reiterate my intention, which is purely technical:
My plugin requires the BoolTools Subtract operation to run in a completely automatic and non-interactive manner, without the user having to manually select the tool.
I am not interested in the internal mechanics of BoolTools or its regulating mechanisms; it performs the subtraction perfectly, and I only need to know if there is an official or supported Ruby command to trigger this single, specific function from within my code.
My search on this forum, based on empirical experience and developer common sense, was aimed at finding a stable interface for this automation. I brought the question here precisely to avoid relying on unstable or unsupported methods.
If anyone is aware of this specific command, the information is welcome, as the time loss resulting from manual handling is a bottleneck I am trying to resolve.
In any case, I will follow the advice and contact @Whaat (Dale M) directly for official guidance on the availability of an API method for Subtract automation.Carlo