Manage trays, update component browser from Ruby API

[DanRathbun]

@m07t0m

From what I read Sketchup.read_default, Sketchup.write_default should let me to change
parameter “UserLibrariesComponentBrowser1” which contain setting for component browser.

Incorrect.

(1) These API methods have always been problematic with reading some of the Windows registry attributes.

(2) They are meant for reading and writing to YOUR extension key’s attributes ONLY.

(3) Most SketchUp native settings are read from the registry on startup, and on shut down overwrite any “hacked” changes made during that session.

@m07t0m

Eventually I could manually update
…\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\SharedPreferences.json

Same situation. Changing these settings whilst SketchUp is open, will likely not have any effect, and the changes will be overwritten by SketchUp when it shuts down.

@m07t0m

Which of these approaches you would suggest?

Neither.

@m07t0m

Any others?

There is a trick you can use on Windows. I just posted it a few minutes ago in another thread …

Component Definition from components window

@jelcynek, Well, since you said ANY … There is neat trick that is built-into MS Internet Explorer which is used on PC for the UI::WebDialog frames. IE has the ability to display a directory / ftp files lists that you can drag and drop SKP files from. wd = UI::WebDialog::new("Pick Components") wd.set_url Sketchup.find_support_file("Components/Components Sampler") wd.show The user can scroll and drag from the list, but not navigate out of that folder. You might be able to use this feature in…

… although this is in a separate webdialog “floating” window.

Another alternative is to create a extension component collection, buy copying components from your plugin resource subfolder (called a distribution folder) to a sub-folder of the user’s “Components” folder.
Even SketchUp itself does this for the base set of extensions and classifications, etc.

@m07t0m

I’m trying to force my Sketchup interface to display my own customize tray
with component browser already set on correct folder. I would like to be able to
customize tray by running my extension.

This is a “no go”. The SketchUp trays (which are MS Windows only,) are not exposed to the APIs.
The same for the tray panels. No exposure in the APIs.

If you know C programming and are familiar with the Windows SDK, you might be able to “shoehorn” a window object into SketchUp’s trays, but SketchUp would not expect this, and it could cause issues when SketchUp goes to shut down and save all the tray position information.