What Is Ruby for SketchUp?

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Ruby for SketchUp is a powerful scripting language that allows users to extend the functionality of SketchUp, a popular 3D modeling software. With Ruby, you can automate repetitive tasks, create custom tools, and add new features to SketchUp.

What is Ruby?

Ruby is a dynamic, object-oriented programming language that was created in the mid-1990s by Yukihiro Matsumoto. It has gained popularity among developers due to its simplicity and readability. Ruby’s syntax is elegant and easy to understand, making it a great choice for beginners.

Why use Ruby with SketchUp?

SketchUp provides a user-friendly interface for creating 3D models, but it has its limitations. Ruby for SketchUp allows you to overcome these limitations by writing custom scripts that interact with the SketchUp API (Application Programming Interface).

With Ruby, you can automate repetitive tasks such as applying materials or creating groups and components. Instead of manually performing these actions on multiple objects, you can write a script that does it for you with just a few lines of code.

Ruby also enables you to create custom tools and extensions for SketchUp. You can build dialog boxes, toolbars, and menus to enhance your workflow and improve efficiency. Whether it’s generating complex geometry or analyzing model data, Ruby gives you the power to extend SketchUp’s capabilities.

Getting Started with Ruby for SketchUp

To start using Ruby with SketchUp, you’ll need to open the ‘Ruby Console’ window within the software. This console allows you to enter and execute Ruby code directly within SketchUp.

  • Step 1: Launch SketchUp
  • Step 2: Go to ‘Window’ in the menu bar
  • Step 3: Select ‘Ruby Console’ from the dropdown list

Once you have the Ruby Console open, you can start entering Ruby code. SketchUp provides a comprehensive API documentation that lists all the available classes, methods, and properties you can use when scripting with Ruby.

Examples of Ruby Scripts for SketchUp

Here are a few examples of what you can achieve with Ruby for SketchUp:

Example 1: Creating a Cube

To create a cube with specific dimensions, you can use the following code:


model = Sketchup.active_model
entities = model.entities
cube = entities.add_face([0,0,0], [1.m,0,0], [1.m,1.m,0], [0,1.m,0])
cube.pushpull(1.m)

This script creates a cube with sides measuring one meter and adds it to the active model’s entities collection. The last line uses the pushpull method to extrude the face by one meter.

Example 2: Applying Materials

To apply a specific material to all faces in the model, you can use this script:


model = Sketchup.entities
material = Sketchup.active_model.materials.add('My Material')
entities.each do |entity|
  if entity.is_a?(Sketchup::Face)
    entity.material = material
  end
end

This script creates a new material named ‘My Material’ and assigns it to all faces in the model. It iterates through each entity in the entities collection and checks if it is a face before applying the material.

Conclusion

Ruby for SketchUp is a powerful tool that allows you to extend the capabilities of SketchUp and automate repetitive tasks. With Ruby, you can create custom tools, add new features, and enhance your workflow. Get started with Ruby today and unlock the full potential of SketchUp!