What are Extensions in Sketchup?
Extensions enable you to add special tools and features to SketchUp. You can find extensions for a specific application (such as drawing or 3D printing) and industry-specific tools (such as extensions for architecture, interior design, construction, and more).
The .rb format has long been the staple method of delivering SketchUp Plugins. It is a simple text file written in the ruby language that is saved as a ruby file. These can come in varying complexity. Some are simply a single file which will add a menu item. While others contain folders with multiple files that are delivered in the zip format that may add toolbar functionality and all sorts of goodies. Some manually install these into SketchUp.
What are Plugins in Sketchup?
Plug-ins are tools developed by members of the SketchUp community who want to enhance the native tools or make SketchUp more useful by adding tools that are not available natively. Most are free and available for download in the SketchUp Extension Warehouse or in the SketchUcation plug-ins store.
Adding Extensions in Sketchup from Extension Warehouse
The Extension Warehouse and SketchUp were made to work together. In most cases, to add an extension on your local copy of SketchUp, you simply click the Install button on the extension details page and wait a moment while the software does the rest of the work.
Step by Step Guide to download extensions via Extension Warehouse
- In Sketchup, Select Extensions
- Go to Extension Manager (Extension Manager Window Appears)
- Click ‘Install Extension’
- In the open dialog box that opens, navigate to ‘.rbz’ file saved on your computer.
- Select the file and click ‘ok’
- Sketchup notifies you about installing extensions only from trusted sources, click ‘yes’ and proceed
Adding Extensions in Sketchup from Sketchucation Website
Since the release of SketchUp 8 M2 the clever folks at SketchUp made installing plugins a one click operation. They introduced a new file format (.rbz) which means that you can install plugins from within SketchUp itself.
Step by Step Guide to download extensions via Sketchucation Website.
- Under the Window menu select Preferences to display the following dialog box.
- Select Extensions from the sidebar lists all the active and inactive plugins currently installed.
- Click Install Extension allows you to navigate to the .rbz file you downloaded.
- A warning dialog asks to confirm that you want to install this plugin and that you are aware that it makes changes to your file system. No real need to worry here if you downloaded the file from a reputable source.
- The final dialog box confirms the installation is successful.
- If the extension requires additional installation steps, follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Once the extension is installed, it will appear in the list of installed extensions in the Extension Manager window. You can enable or disable the extension by checking or unchecking the box next to its name.
Adding Extensions in Sketchup from Plugin Websites for Paid Plugins
Step by Step Guide to download extensions via Plugin Websites for Paid Plugins.
- In Sketchup, Select Extensions
- Go to Extension Manager (Extension Manager Window Appears)
- Click ‘Install Extension’
- In the open dialog box that opens, navigate to ‘.rbz’ file saved on your computer.
- Select the file and click ‘ok’
- Sketchup notifies you about installing extensions only from trusted sources, click ‘yes’ and proceed
- If the extension requires additional installation steps, follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Once the extension is installed, it will appear in the list of installed extensions in the Extension Manager window. You can enable or disable the extension by checking or unchecking the box next to its name.
For more SketchUp tutorials you can check out https://sketchupguru.com/blog/
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