Path Copy Sketchup Download
Ronaldo Maffei
PathCopy is a very simple SketchUp Extension designed to help you copy objects along paths. Applications for this include architecture, landscape architecture, woodworking, and much more. From copying trees along roads to balusters along stair paths, this extension is great for many different applications.
I have recently installed the PathCopy plug-in in order to array some panels around a path, unfortunately when the component arrays, it doesnt rotate in line with the path. Is there any way to fix this or another plug in that works better?
Thanks for that, I already have the UCS set up as you described yet it still doesnt line up. also note that the shape isnt a circle. I have 1000mm wide panels along 1000mm sections. For sake of the argument, the path could be an octagon yet the component isnt snapping to the correct rotations.
's get placed here -->XReplies mrossk Jun 09, 2022 03:05pm #1you can make multiple copies around your radiused section with the rotate tool using the "array function" of the rotate tool, like you can make a linear array with the "move" tool. After you made your first copy hit "x" then how many copies you need. There's a lot of online help about make arrayed copies. or perhaps Dave R. will be along to tell you all that you need.
Alternatively, look up a plugin called "Path Copy". I believe that will do what you need as well
Thanks guys. I was searching by the wrong name. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be fully compatible with the 2022 version of sketchup. It is loaded in the extension manager, but doesn't seem to really function. Very well may be user error, so I'll keep at it. When I select the tool it prompts me to click on the path. After selecting the path, it asks me to select and place the component. It will then place a single component and change to the move tool. I'm a bit stumped. Any further help would be greatly appreciated. I'll continue watching video tutorials in the meantime.
Thank you very much! I made a version using 'copy along curve' and a version using a radial array via the rotate tool. You guys were right, a copy array was the most straightforward way, and I'm excited to now know the rotate tool has that function. How cool! Thanks again.
how do you do this in Bricscad? I've tried the 2 different divide commands and i can't figure it out to make this easy or to make it work at all for that matter.
.... see my sketchup video
Grab entity, move/copy/paste and then when it gets to where I want it to, I add "/10" and it adds 10 entities in between the 2 initial ones divided equally.
Does that make any sense? help please
You can also do it with the ArrayPath command, but then you have to pick an entity instead of two points to represent the array path. But that's only one click instead of two, so if the line is already there it's easier. And it allows you to use other types of entities as the array path, not just lines. But with polylines, arcs, etc, there's also the question of whether to change the alignment of the items as the angle of the path object changes. And you have to type a lot of option letters to make this one work: AS, N, M, D, A, N, I.
AS = ASsociative array
N = No, not associative array
M = Method to use in creating the array
D = use Divide as the Method
A = Align items tangent to the path object
N = No, don't do that (though in some cases you might want to)
I = number of Items in the array
Here's a custom version that inserts all those letters in the right order so as to make it work like in Sketchup, except using a path object instead of the start and end points. I just wrote it, but it seems to be working so far:
; Sketchup-style Array command ; using path object instead of pick points (defun c:SA () (setq ss1 (ssget "Select objects to distribute along path: ")) (setq e1 (entsel " Select path object: ")) (setq x1 (getint " How many? ")) (command "arraypath" ss1 "" "" e1 "AS" "N" "M" "D" "A" "N" "I" x1 "X") )
Here's one that works exactly like CopyDivide above (i.e. like Sketchup), but without using ExpressTools. Only straight-line paths are allowed, and the path is specified by picking two points rather than by picking a path object.
; Sketchup-style Array by Points ; The ArrayPath command wants us to pick an object as the path. ; But we want to pick start and end points. ; So we'll draw the object, use it, and then delete it. (defun c:SAP () (setq ss1 (ssget "Select objects to distribute along path: ")) (setq p1 (getpoint " Base point of path: ")) (setq p2 (getpoint p1 " End point of path: ")) (setq x1 (getint " How many? ")) (command "line" p1 p2 "") (setq e1 (entlast)) (command "arraypath" ss1 "" "" e1 "AS" "N" "M" "D" "I" x1 "X") (command "erase" e1 "") )
Then put a reference to that lisp file in your on_doc_load.lsp file, which should be in the Support sub-folder of your Bricscad program files folder. The reference is one line of that file, and it's just the (load) function with the path and filename, like this:
(load "C:/Lisp Routines/SketchupArrayByPoints.lsp")
Here's another variation, using the rotation feature. It looks like it might come in handy sometime, though maybe so rarely that it makes more sense to just use the ArrayPath command and figure out the option letters on the fly.
; Sketchup-style Array by Path Object with rotation ; This version accepts arcs, plines, etc, as the path object, ; and rotates the copies with the path object's changing slope. (defun c:SR () (setq ss1 (ssget "Select objects to distribute along path: ")) (setq e1 (entsel " Select path object: ")) (setq x1 (getint " How many? ")) (command "arraypath" ss1 "" "" e1 "AS" "N" "M" "D" "A" "Y" "I" x1 "X") )
You can use existing snap points on the entitiy that you want to copy (or even snap points that are on an entity you don't want to copy) as the base point and the dynamic dimensions will show up, if however you pick an arbitrary point not on a snap point like you can with the copy command or move command etc. then the dynamic dimensions don't appear.
@Anthony Apostolaros Hey, how are you? hope you're keeping safe. So, I was using the copym and then hit D and put the number of copies I wanted between the 2 entities. It no longer works???? Am I doing something wrong or it's been removed?
I tried but every path except albedo which is nativly saved in sKetchup is lost.. So if You want to share it You will need every map for Bump and Roughness as well as ies profiles. With my colleague from work I did a trick cos I copied my texture folders to his PC so all the paths are the same.. but he rarely renders so we do not have to updates it almost at all.. If You want to share it with somebody for modelling best would be to copy every needed file in some local directory and zip it together. Though either You or the other person will have to redirect the paths..
If You want the other person to view it only You could use executable..
I requested for ENScape some long time ago at least for the function that Renderer would look in local directory (folder in which Your sKetchup file is) if it could not find file in specified path. This way You could save all needed textures and IESes in one folder and all would be reconnected automatically.. But I am guessing this feature got little attention, though it is one extra line of code.. Ye I just checked.. not implemented.
What do You want to do when materials have the same name? Copy in the model and replace? Without being overwritten by not set up material? Change name.. If the native sKetchup settings of both materials are the same sKetchup will not import copied material, it will assign the one it already has. So I don't give specific names at the beginning or use a snippet to change names of materials before copying ENS materials..
Just past into Ruby Consol.. Then I use Material Replacer plugin. But Mostly I just copy materials at the beginning as I need them.. I guess You however talk about case when somebody without ENScape models and then passes to You for render?
Example: Created a proxy and full geometry file (Sketchup) and textures. These are saved to a folder location (proxy folder) same as the project file. If I need to share the Sketchup project file that has the proxy file in it with another user or copy the Sketchup Project file to another location on same computer, will the link to the full geometry Sketchup file and textures be broken when Enscape needs to load it for rendering? Please explain how this works, and how absolute vs relative links may affect this.
We will soon release a new extension that aims to fix this issue. It is a file browser that automatically rewrite paths when importing assets in SketchUp. It will be released in a few months/weeks (along with Skatter 2.0).
I am a rhino amateur and hope I am using the correction terminology. I have two non-parallel curved paths, which I would like to copy array a rectangular element along. Since these paths are non-parallel, is there a way to constrain the rectangular element so that it is automatically adjoins both path, stretching between the two, like a loft? Please see the attached image (which is modeled in SketchUp).
Thank you for reading!
Copy Array.JPG574587 20.1 KB
Among its many functions, this hugely useful plugin enables you to create an array along a path. A series of components can be quickly placed in a predefined arrangement, perfect for balustrades like the one shown above. A full tutorial can be found here, and you can download the plugin here.
One of the most ingenious plugins on this list, Helix Along Curve enables you to create helix tubing along a predefined path. When combined with Bezier Spline and Component Stringer add-ons, you can also model a perfect chain with individual links. A full tutorial on constructing the form above is available here, and you can download the Helix Along Curve plugin here.
As you probably know, the Move tool is used to move objects, and the Rotate tool is used to rotate objects. For both tools, when you press the Ctrl/Option key, you will make copies. For linear copies, you can adjust the spacing and number of copies, and for rotated copies, you can adjust the angle between copies and the number of copies. For both kinds of copying, you can make these adjustments as many times as needed while the tool is still active. Keep in mind, however, that after you start a new Move or Rotate action, or activate a new tool, you can no longer adjust the spacing, angles, and so on.
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