How do I add a plugin to my sketchup?

edwin_folk

Jim,

I am trying to add a plugin made by TIG into sketchup. Excuse my novice question, but since I am not the most adept at these things I need some help adding the plugins. Basically how do I a plugin to my sketchup?

TIG

@unknownuser said:

Jim,
I am trying to add a plugin made by TIG into sketchup. Excuse my novice question, but since I am not the most adept at these things I need some help adding the plugins. Basically how do I a plugin to my sketchup?

First I recommend that you post the question in the thread relating to the actual tool itself - you're more likely to get a response.
Then explain what your problem is - currently we don't know what tool you are trying to install, or what problem you are having...
Most plugins come with some simple installation instructions...
Very simple plugins [e.g. single files ending in .rb] are simply placed in the Plugins folder of Sketchup.
[Tip: ensure you have full access-rights on your PC to write to folders within the Sketchup folder as you will often want to 'save' plugins, components, materials, styles etc]]
When you restart Sketchup the new tool will auto-load and be available to you...
You need to read the tool's download page on how you use the tool.
Some are support for other tools - e.g. Smustard.com's 'offset.rb' - and do nothing on their own, rather they offer additional methods to several other tools.
Some rarely used tools run by typing a short command into the Ruby Console.
Some add a menu item to the Plugins menu that then runs the tool.
Some add the item to another menu like Tools or Draw.
Some add submenus will drop-down items to choose from - e.g my 2dTools.
Some only work through the right-click context-menu - e.g. my SectionCutFace or HolePunchingTool - if certain conditions are met - e.g. you have selected a Section-Plane...
Some have a toolbar that is activated from the View > Toolbars menu.
Some tools [none of mine] are 'extensions' and need activating [just the once] from the Window > Preferences dialog > Extensions menu [then you'll its get toolbar/menu options until it is deactivated sometime in the future...]
Some tools are more complex than one simple file ending in .rb and require you to download a collection of files, usually in a single zip file format. Typically there are one or two 'loose' .rb files in the zip that 'load' other files. and subfolders [one or more] containing several other files needed to do things like make the toolbar icons, make web-dialogs etc or do the complex coding for the tool[s]: there are always clear instructions for this type of download - typically you need to extract the files from the zip file, maintaining the subfolder structure and put everything into Plugins in the same relationship - i.e. never move files out of their subfolder - they are in there for a good reason! ...
Note that some complex tools also need you to download the author's supporting 'Libraries' separately, in which case it is clearly explained and linked to: some even need you to get a 'helper' plugin - like 'progress.rb' available free from Smustard.com and used by some authors to show their tools progress while it's doing complex calculations etc...
Note that as well as .rb files there are some un-editable 'compiled' scripts ending in .rbs which usually for part of a more complex tool - these are treated in the same way as .rb files...