SketchUp .ldr importer
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SketchUp .ldr importer Jim 10-17-2006
Posted by Jim on October 17, 2006, 3:47 pm
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Hello,

I've made an importer for the ldraw file format for SketchUp. I'm not
sure if anyone uses, or would use SU for lego modelling, but who knows.


It's in the very early stages at the moment, but works fairly well. I
would caution against doing any large-scale projects for now.

Features:
+ Imports .dat or .ldr files
+ creates components for each part and nets them for a well organized
model.
+ auto-colors components (but not well tested.)

Bugs:
- Does not handle the .mpd file format yet
- Probably buggy

If you'd like to play with it, feedback/bug reports are appreciated.
I'm still working on the web site, also.

Links can be found at http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/

--
Regards,

Jim


Posted by Anders Isaksson on October 17, 2006, 4:56 pm
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Jim wrote:
>
> I've made an importer for the ldraw file format for SketchUp. I'm not
> sure if anyone uses, or would use SU for lego modelling, but who
> knows.
>
> Links can be found at http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/


This sounds very interesting! I downloaded it, updated SketchUp, and tried
it. Doesn't work for me (yet!).

The first obvious thing was that I have my LDRAW files at
"C:DosappLdraw", but as far as I could see, it was an easy fix in the
ldraw.rb file (just changing the dir name).

But, when I try to import CAR.DAT, which is in the Models subfolder, I only
get four empty boxes in the Components window (4-4edge, 4315, CAR and
stud3). Trying to place the empty box with the hint "CAR" just gives me a
Bug Splat :-(

What are the assumptions made by this script? What should I expect to see in
the Components window?


--
Anders Isaksson, Sweden
BlockCAD: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/proglego.htm
Gallery: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/gallery/index.htm



Posted by Anders Isaksson on October 17, 2006, 4:58 pm
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Anders Isaksson wrote:
>
> But, when I try to import CAR.DAT, which is in the Models subfolder,

I just tried with a copy of CAR.DAT in the LDRAW folder, and

> I only get four empty boxes in the Components window (4-4edge, 4315,
> CAR and stud3). Trying to place the empty box with the hint "CAR"
> just gives me a Bug Splat :-(

Any ideas?

--
Anders Isaksson, Sweden
BlockCAD: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/proglego.htm
Gallery: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/gallery/index.htm



Posted by Jim on October 24, 2006, 12:10 am
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Anders,

Have you tried the latest version I posted?
http://jim.foltz.googlepages.com/sketchupldrawimporter

Anders Isaksson wrote:
> Anders Isaksson wrote:
> >
> > But, when I try to import CAR.DAT, which is in the Models subfolder,
>
> I just tried with a copy of CAR.DAT in the LDRAW folder, and
>
> > I only get four empty boxes in the Components window (4-4edge, 4315,
> > CAR and stud3). Trying to place the empty box with the hint "CAR"
> > just gives me a Bug Splat :-(
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --
> Anders Isaksson, Sweden
> BlockCAD: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/proglego.htm
> Gallery: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/gallery/index.htm


Posted by Anders Isaksson on October 24, 2006, 11:51 am
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Jim wrote:
>
> Have you tried the latest version I posted?
> http://jim.foltz.googlepages.com/sketchupldrawimporter

The same problem occurs, BUT.. I know the answer now!

My computer is configured for Swedish, which means I use a decimal *comma*
not a decimal *point*. If I change the Windows setting to decimal point the
import works! Yay, you've fixed the colors too - great work!

Two suggestions:

LDRAW files *always* use decimal point - ignore the Windows setting and
always expect DP when converting.

The Configure dialog is all well and good, even better if the settings were
persisted :-)

You can also look for the environment variable LDRAWDIR - this is an
acknowledged standard. On Win XP at least, this can also be accessed through
the registry "HKCU/Environment/LDRAWDIR".

(I know, that's three things, but two of them are almost the same :-)

Thanks for a very nice plugin - I will now start testing it a little more.

--
Anders Isaksson, Sweden
BlockCAD: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/proglego.htm
Gallery: http://web.telia.com/~u16122508/gallery/index.htm




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