[Plugin] SketchUcation Tools

pgarmyn · 2 Dec 2013, 12:45

This is a fantastic plugin.

I recently updated my code 'RichSection'. I discoverd that the first version was already in the pluginstore Thanks
How does it work? What do I have to do to put the last version in the pluginstore? I saw there is a little program to convert rbz files. Are the any naming conventions? Unique name for each version? How to upload and replace old versions....

TIG · 2 Dec 2013, 13:43

@pgarmyn said:

This is a fantastic plugin.

I recently updated my code 'RichSection'. I discoverd that the first version was already in the pluginstore Thanks
How does it work? What do I have to do to put the last version in the pluginstore? I saw there is a little program to convert rbz files. Are the any naming conventions? Unique name for each version? How to upload and replace old versions....
Read the Authors' Guide.
I think Rich added your plugin to the Store.
Tips...
When you first add files use the name you want any links to include as it gets frozen at that point....
So if your plugin is named XXX then make it XXX.rbz - do not call it XXX_v1.0.rbz because that'll form the basis of the links even when its updated to v2.0 !
Any characters other than 0-9A-Za-z_-. are trapped anyway.
You can change you plugin's name but the link is frozen from the start [it is possible for an IT/dbase guru to fix it but all of the attached files then need reattaching too...]
Use a simple/logical version system.
Fill in all of the info as far as you can...
Some appears in the short version on pages/dialog, the rest in the More Info.
Link the 'Feedback' to the first post in the thread [read the Guide on how to find its specific url...]
The Guide covers getting/using the special RBZ>RBZ.SKP converter tool [the [>] arrow on the toolbar].
Reiterating...
To allow the AutoDownload and AutoInstall of the RBZ from the dialog within SketchUp itself you need to make a special 'secret' version of the RBZ - as an [all but empty = 1 cpoint] RBZ.SKP file which can be temporraily loaded_from_url and which contains all of the RBZ data as encrypted attributes, these are extracted and recombined into a temporary RBZ and AutoInstalled...
Note the importance of using thia converter within v8, so that the created SKP is compatible with v8 AND all later SketchUps...
If you don't have v8 then you can make the RBZ.SKP file in a newer version, BUT then you MUST open it and do a Save_As v8 before uploading it to you Store listing...
The naming of the RBZ/RBZ.SKP and 54x54.png are relatively unimportant after your first file upload, because that will have set the file names already. After the initial [v1.0] XXX.rbz I'd use a name like XXX_v1.1.rbz etc to help manager my own archived file collections.
Any downloaded files are named after the plugin-name and its current version, so while the initially frozen link and database entry code might say "XXX" the downloaded RBZ file is named "XXX_v1.0.rbz" or whatever...

Any issues... just ask one of the Admins here...

pgarmyn · 2 Dec 2013, 17:38

@TIG
Thanks for this very complete explanation.
I will need to find some time to work it out....

dem · 4 Dec 2013, 14:14

Hi! Is it possible to register here a plugin whith dependences of another plugins?

Rich O Brien · 4 Dec 2013, 14:16

More info please....

dem · 4 Dec 2013, 14:43

Going to design a toolbox window with tabs in which the plugins can be structured by function, for better usability. Like "Tools In Dialog" by 4dHans, but with another GUI and many differences. And it woud be nice to add the ability of installation recommended plug-ins from SketchUcation in the beginning.

pgarmyn · 4 Dec 2013, 18:49

My plugin has been uploaded by the SketchUcation-TEAM to de SKF-pluginstore as "Plugin_Richsection_20131117-2000_.rbz.skp"
Does this mean that I wil have do use the same name (with a date in it !!).....

Rich O Brien · 4 Dec 2013, 21:25

@unknownuser said:

The system will automatically rename it appropriately using the plugin's 'ID'.
It need not have an exactly matching name, the database entry is reset appropriately anyway.
In this example it becomes == "MyWidget.rbz".
Note that if the file is not a valid RBZ then an alert tells you and you'll need to retry.
Its file-extension should be in lowercase == .rbz
Once successfully uploaded this is the file that the 'Download' button will use on the SCF 'PluginStore' browser page entry.

The ".rbz.skp" [this file format is explained in detail later on].
For a new listing this will be 'unassigned'.
Click 'Browse...' and select your plugin's RBZ.SKP file, for example"MyWidget.rbz.skp", to add to the entry.
If there is an existing entry you must first click on its 'Remove & Update' button, and then add a replacement file.
On 'Upload' the filename is displayed.
The system will automatically rename it appropriately using the plugin's 'ID'.
It need not have an exactly matching name, the database entry is reset appropriately anyway.
In this example it becomes == "MyWidget.rbz.skp".
If the file is not a valid v8 SKP then an alert tells you and you'll need to retry.
The file-extension should be in lowercase == .rbz.skp
Once successfully uploaded his is the file that the 'AutoInstall' button will use in the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' dialog that is run from within SketchUp itself.

pgarmyn · 4 Dec 2013, 22:58

@R B
Thanks, I could upload the last version to the pluginstore.
I tested the download over the pluginstore : fast, easy, works perfekt....
(here i can give you more than one 'thumb-up')

After updating, I got a message that parts of the code ... needs at least SU8M2.
I can't remember the exact words.

Normally, my plugin should be OK for SU7 and later. (Not tested)
I used switches (if Sketchup.version_number > 8XX....; else ....)
to adapt routines to the different SU-versions

Rich O Brien · 4 Dec 2013, 23:00

BOOM! Welcome to Plugin Author madness

TIG · 5 Dec 2013, 09:51

To be able to use do an AutoInstall [and some other operations] you need to have the related methods available in the API.
If there is no 'Install' button in your v8 Preferences > Extensions panel, then you need to update your current v8 [it's available free and it's non-destructive!].
The first two versions of v8 didn't include that feature.
However, SketchUp v8M2 and later have it, the currently available version is the even newer v8M4
Here are all available updated...
http://www.sketchup.com/download/all

jvh60 · 7 Dec 2013, 20:59

I've just replaced SketchUp 8 with SketchUp 2013 (Maker), and of course I downloaded and installed the latest version of SketchUcation Tools. But when I click on the Plugins Manager I get an error, as per the attachment, even after I restart SketchUp subsequent to installation. How do I set the proper permissions?

John

Dave R · 7 Dec 2013, 21:04

Go to the Plugins folder, right click on it, choose Properties click on the Security tab and edit the permissions for your login to Allow to provide Full Permissions.

Zacchia · 11 Dec 2013, 10:16

Hi
I got this message today. Any others too?

Dave R · 11 Dec 2013, 10:19

I just checked and it worked fine for me.

Gábor · 11 Dec 2013, 10:30

@zacchia said:

Hi
I got this message today. Any others too?

Please install the 2.0 version.
http://sketchucation.com/resources/plugin-store-download
The error message you've shown suggests that you probably have some previous version of the Sketchucation Tools installed.

Zacchia · 11 Dec 2013, 11:51

Ups, I missed this one... Thanks a lot!!

mitcorb · 15 Dec 2013, 15:48

Hi.
Like Zacchia, I got a similar error while attempting to update from the toolbar in my Sketchup session. Evidently, I must remove the current version of the manager before updating? I did not see this as a possible requirement in the instructions. I may have missed it. I assumed it would overwrite.

EDIT: After logging out of everything, closing the Sketchup program, and later restarting Sketchup, clicking on the Sketchucation toolbar, it appears that the conditions resolved themselves.
Just wanted to let you know.

TIG · 15 Dec 2013, 18:49

@mitcorb said:

Hi.
Like Zacchia, I got a similar error while attempting to update from the toolbar in my Sketchup session. Evidently, I must remove the current version of the manager before updating? I did not see this as a possible requirement in the instructions. I may have missed it. I assumed it would overwrite.

EDIT: After logging out of everything, closing the Sketchup program, and later restarting Sketchup, clicking on the Sketchucation toolbar, it appears that the conditions resolved themselves.
Just wanted to let you know.

It should come up with a message when you update itself - to restart SketchUp to complete the changes...
However, that said... there's a new update for this toolset [due soon] and that should resolve this issue anyway...

mitcorb · 15 Dec 2013, 19:22

@TIG:
Thank you, sir.