Architectural_Design_with_SketchUp

Architectural Design with SketchUp
Length Units in SketchUp
Because SketchUp works with actual dimensions for lengths, locations, and so on, it is important
to understand how to use them in Ruby Scripts, too.
Many examples in this book use plain numbers such as [10,10,10]. Since SketchUp’s
default unit is the inch (independent of which local version you are using!), these numbers
default to inches. Therefore, “10” automatically means “10 inches” in the software.
If you are using a combination of feet and inches or are working with a different unit
system altogether (e.g., using meters in the metric or SI system), you must enter units differently.
One method is to give SketchUp the length, including its unit, as a string. Fortunately,
there is a built-in method (of the Length object) to_l, which attempts to convert any length
to SketchUp’s internal default unit. Here are some examples:
new_length = “1m”.to_l
=> 39.3700787401575
new_length = “2’6”.to_l
=> 30.0
Alternatively, you can use some of the methods of the Numeric object. The following is
a complete list of all of its methods:
Numeric (Parent: Object)
.cm .degrees .feet .inch .km
.m .mile .mm .radians .to_cm .to_feet
.to_inch .to_km .to_l .to_m .to_mile
.to_mm .to_yard .yard
Examples of this approach are as follows:
2.cm+4.inch
=> 4.78740157480315
(24).to_feet
=> 2.0
Links to Further Reading
The following list features books and websites that you can use as further reference for both
the language Ruby and SketchUp’s Ruby API. Keep this list handy as a reference.
For Ruby:
NN
Clinton, Jason D. Ruby Phrasebook. Boston: Pearson Education, 2009.
NN
Fitzgerald, Michael. Ruby Pocket Reference. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2007.
NN
www.ruby-lang.org/en—The main website for the Ruby language.
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