[Plugin] OBJexporter v3.0 20130131

nightwasp · 31 Jan 2014, 17:38

Auto installing the .rbz file WORKED! I had manually put the .rb file in the only plugins folder I saw in the programs three main folders without success. I want to thank you all for not only helping, but helping in such a timely manner! Best. Keith

pete69 · 11 Mar 2014, 03:42

For SketchUp 2014 Make, put the .rb file into the Tools folder.

TIG · 11 Mar 2014, 09:48

@pete69 said:

For SketchUp 2014 Make, put the .rb file into the Tools folder.
No.
You only need to drop RB files into the Plugins folder with pre-v8.
All newer versions of SketchUp [>=v8M2/v2013/v2014] can install the contents of RBZ archives into the correct Plugins folder automatically...
Preferences > Extensions > Install... button
The SketchUcation PluginStore dialog will AutoInstall selected Plugins for you, side stepping you even having to download the RBZ ! It even reports available Updates for you, manages laoded/unloaded plugins and extensions etc etc...
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=SketchUcationTools
The SketchUcation Toolset's submenu includes 'Archive Installer' also installs RBZ [and ZIP] archives into the Plugins folder and [unlike the native installer] it offers you the choice of installing into a custom-plugins folder - if you have one predefined in the $LOAD_PATH, perhaps using Fredo's AdditionalPluginsFolder tool...
This 'add-on' to the SketchUcation Toolset also simplifies accessing the default Plugins folder...
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=SCF-openPluginsFolder
Virtually all of the Plugins on SCF are available from the PluginStore in RBZ format...
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore

HazelG · 9 Apr 2014, 18:29

Hi I have downloaded the exporter but how do I install it into sketchup?

TIG · 10 Apr 2014, 08:49

Are you really still on SketchUp v7 ?

SketchUp v8 or v2013 or v2014 offer a simple tool - Preferences > Extensions > Install... button - which extracts and auto-installs the contents of an RBZ archive into the correct Plugins folder for you - 'error free'...

Why not update to something newer - there are many improvements...

Assuming you stick with v7
Even if you get some plugins installed they might not work with such an early version - but luckily for you this OBJexporter should just about work in v7 !

If you want to install the contents of any RBZ into v7 do these one off fixes...

Find the v7 Plugins folder...
If you are unsure where it is in the Ruby Console type:
Sketchup.find_support_file('Plugins')
and the full path is returned...

Check that the v7 Plugins folder has FULL security permissions set for everyone in the list...
With Admin powers [make yourself an Admin in the Users Control-Panel...]
Select the v7 Plugins folder's icon.
Right-click > Context-menu > Properties > Security > Edit... >>> FULL for each and every...

Now select the v7 SketchUp.exe icon which is in the same folder as the Plugins folder.
Right-click > Context-menu > Properties > Compatibility > check the box near the bottom Privilege Level > Run this program as an administrator.

To install the RBZ contents...

Find the RBZ archive.
If it's in the Plugins folder move it somewhere sensible - like your Desktop or Downloads folder.
If necessary change your Windows Explorer's Folder Options to show all file-type suffixes...
Now select the RBZ.
Right-click > Context-menu > Rename
Add .zip onto the end of its name.
When warned accept the change anyway.

Now you have a ZIP file [an RBZ is simply a ZIP file with another suffix!]
Use your Decompression Program [you surely have one] to extract the contents of the ZIP into a temporary folder named after the archive.
In the case of this plugin there will be an RB file in this temporary folder.
Move that RB file into the v7 Plugins folder.
Delete the now empty temporary folder as it is no longer needed.
Restart SketchUp v7 to load the plugin.

Note that for this particular plugin the contents are as simple as it gets [just the one RB file] but many more other plugins come with additional files in the RBZ inside a subfolder [often named after the RB itself] - perhaps with nested subfolders of files.
In that case the contents of the temporary folder must be moved into the Plugins folder fully intact - with all such support files remaining in their subfolder[s] unchanged.
The main issue with manual installations in previous versions of SketchUp [like v7] was that inexperienced users often mess this step up and end up with files in the wrong place, preventing the plugin loading properly, or sometimes even breaking SketchUp itself as misplaced RB files load at startup unexpectedly... that is exactly why the auto-install using an RBZ archive was devised !

Good luck...

jorgemanes · 29 Oct 2014, 10:53

Hi, I'm trying to install OBJexporter_v3.0.rbz in the plugins folder of sketch up, mac. After pasting it there, I cannot see the option when I go to File>
All the files in the plugin are .plugin, probably I'm doing something wrong, any help? thank you

TIG · 29 Oct 2014, 17:06

@jorgemanes said:

Hi, I'm trying to install OBJexporter_v3.0.rbz in the plugins folder of sketch up, mac. After pasting it there, I cannot see the option when I go to File>
All the files in the plugin are .plugin, probably I'm doing something wrong, any help? thank you
You need to read up on how to install plugins from RBZs...
You do NOT put the RBZ file into the Plugins folder.
Your comment that all files in the plugins folder are .plugins is another mystery !
The proper SketchUp Plugins folder contains none of these file-types - most files in it will be .rb !
I suspect a double-whammy! The wrong folder AND an incorrect idea on what to do with an RBZ file...

So, let's fix this mess...

Move the RBZ file back to somewhere sensible - your Desktop seems like a good idea...
Open SketchUp 2014.
Open its Preferences.
Open Extensions.
Click the 'Install...' button...
Navigate to the appropriate folder [e.g. Desktop], and choose the RBZ.
Answer OK to prompts...
The Plugins file[s] should now be extracted from the RBZ and installed in the correct Plugins folder, and loaded so as to be available to use.
Note that Plugin tools can appear in any locations in the SketchUp top-bar menus, but in this case it IS found under the 'File' menu [but often they can be located in 'Plugins' menu, read the guidance for each tool's installation/usage]...

E0068675 · 17 Nov 2014, 14:53

I cannot thank you enough for making this exporter!!
You have literally saved me hundreds of $$$$

TIG · 17 Nov 2014, 23:09

@e0068675 said:

I cannot thank you enough for making this exporter!!
You have literally saved me hundreds of $$$$
== Donation

Kaylle · 31 Mar 2015, 09:38

I get this error:

I did this:
Windows > Preferences > Extensions > Install Extension...
I selected OBJexporter_v3.0.rbz then restarted Sketchup 8.0.11752 (free version) and I got that error.

TIG · 3 Apr 2015, 18:32

There is an important system file, named sketchup.rb which is shipped with SketchUp.
It is in the ../Tools/ subfolder inside the main 'SketchUp' folder.

If you have somehow deleted it nothing will load if it requires it.

In v8 you should have at least these files in ../Tools/
sketchup.rb extensions.rb langhandler.rb
There might be other files too...

These files should NEVER be found in the ../Plugins/ folder !

The set up with newer SketchUp versions is slightly different, but the same principles apply...

Kaylle · 4 Apr 2015, 04:18

Thanks, a few folders got jumbled and files were accidentally duplicated (or got corrupted) that's why it didn't work.

StarLand · 9 May 2015, 14:46

I have download so I'll export my models as test.
I hope the results are good.

edit:

It's works fine.

meff1091 · 20 Mar 2016, 10:29

i am using your objexporter to export my models to pepakura to make paper model of them. i am having this issue:
if my model has different coloured faces like this:

, exported obj file look like this in pepakura:

and i am sure all edges connected. if i export kmz4 with skp6, i have no problems with pepakura. but you know sketchup 2016 is newer and faster than old one. i want to use the 2016 but this objexporting issue botters me. any ideas on this?

TIG · 25 Mar 2016, 18:08

OBJ exporters typically triangulate the 'mesh'.
It's hard to see exactly what the problem is in 'Pepakura' ??

myreiko · 19 Aug 2016, 07:40

ty

Saturo · 16 Jul 2017, 20:14

I have the problem that the OBJexporter sometime produces shading error like this:

Any suggestions how i can prevent this?

TIG · 17 Jul 2017, 10:13

A little more info about what we are looking at, perhaps a SKP exhibiting the problem, or an OBJ/MTL/Textures ZIP ?

Otherwise it'll involve wild guesses...

Saturo · 17 Jul 2017, 21:03

The issue can be easily reproduced.

Build a face. Place two other faces on it an put another material onto these two faces.

Save and export as .obj-file.

Import in Blender.
After remove doubles and limited dissolve you can see normals not standing in 90° on the face, which are causing these shading errors, i guess.

](http://picup.oliverlamm.de/files/IMG_9415199a237946b96b06371ef659aea7_36mzFlCf85_Ok.jpg)

If needed, i can upload the used files.

best regards
Christian

TIG · 17 Jul 2017, 21:24

Some examples files would be a very good idea - use ZIP for those non-compliant file-types...