Plugins Folder Correct yet Plugins Undetected

[SketchU2]

Help!!

I am using Sketchup Pro 8.
Application exe is located: C:\Program Files\Google\Google Sketchup 8
Plugins is located: C:\Program Files\Google\Google Sketchup 8\Plugins

When software loads it mentions nothing of plugins what-so-ever.

When I go to Window->Preferences->Extensions I see:
Ruby Script Examples (unchecked)
Ocean Modeling (unchecked)
Utilities Tools (unchecked)
Dynamic Components (checked)
Sandbox Tools (checked)
Solar North (checked)
Photo Textures (checked)

OS: Windows XP

Thanks ahead of time for helping me out!!!

[Dave R]

So tick Utilities Tools and Ruby Script Examples.

And look in View>Toolbars for the tool bar for the plugin.

[Gaieus]

Hi Sketch and welcome.

Well, indeed it looks weird. Your plugin installation seems to be correct and indeed it should appear among the activatable extensions. Did you restart SU?

[SketchU2]

I checked Utilities Tools and Ruby Script Examples.

I also restarted SU several times. At least twice after checking those options.

A plugins menu option appeared on the File Menu Row.
Structure:
Plugins -> Cost -> Assign Estimate to Material
-> Assign Estimate to Faces
-> Compute Estimates

Nothing mentioning my new plugins.

p.s. there was no default plugins folder. I had to create it myself.

[SketchU2]

p.s. Sorry for the delayed responses. Moderator still has to approve my replies (It's a newbie thing I believe).

[SketchU2]

How about using the Ruby Console to find out what the current plugins folder is set at?
or change the setting perhaps?
or even test plugins?

Let me know

[Dave R]

Sso did you look under Tools>Fredo6 Collection?

Not all plugins will appear in the Plugins menu.

You'll note in Fredo's first post where you downloaded the plugin, under Documentation the following:

"Menus: by default, it is installed in Tools > Fredo6 Collection > RoundCorner"

[SketchU2]

I checked every menu individually and since you asked I double checked the tools menu.

Nothing new with or without the word Fredo.

[Dave R]

What's in the two related folders?

[TIG]

Here's 'two-penneth'...

Assuming that all of the required files are correctly installed within the Fredo subfolders inside Plugins then this type of Tool needs to be activated [once] from Menu > Window > Preferences > Extensions > Round Corner [tick].
Now it should appear in Menu > Tools > Fredo Collection > Round Corner [various sub menu commands].
However, the easier way to use it is with the toolbar: to activate that use Menu > View > Toolbars > Round Corner.
All of these settings etc should stay as you now have it, when you next start Sketchup.
To 'backup' your toolbars' positions use Menu > View > Toolbars > Save Toolbar Positions...
Later you can reset your toolbars using the 'Restore Toolbar Positions...' option.
The Menu > Tools > Fredo Collection > Round Corner menu also has some tools to set its defaults etc, that are not accessible otherwise...

[SketchU2]

Installed Google SketchUp 8 (not Pro) into the same folder and everything worked perfectly fine without changing or configurating anything. Run pro again and still no worky.

I do although think I now see the root of the problem. For some reason Pro runs on an instance of VMware. Also says "Powered by VMware" in the welcome screen. Long story short the plugins folder is probably located within this instance.. except I don't know how to access it. I checked for virtual drives, its not setup to work that way.

Any ideas?

[TIG]

So you are running a PC version of Sketchup 8 on a MAC
VMware Player http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

Why not get a MAC installer and use that version ?

[SketchU2]

lol no, as I mentioned in the original post I am using Windows XP ran a good wholesome PC.

When I signed up I clicked whatever came first, never realized it would be right under my name.

Just to clarify, I am not in any way using VMware software. By loading the SketchUp Pro executable VMware software is loaded as a part of the SketchUp software. However, there is nothing I can do about it except see the notices such as "Powered by VMware", "Loading VMware", and etc.

[Dave R]

Fix your profile.

I've never seen any reference to VMware on my PC's. I don't believe that is a SketchUp thing unless it's a network licensing thing.

[TIG]

You do NOT get anything like VMware as part of a PC install ?
Are you using the right Sketchup v8 installer for PC ?
Find VMware and uninstall it.
Somehow VMware and SKP has become entangled ???

[SketchU2]

I don't even have VMware installed.

I tried installing Pro on 2 other laptops and 1 other desktop (of which 1 has VMware installed) yet it seems I encounter the same EXACT problem with the same exact symptoms.

Remember this problem only occurs when I install and run SketchUp 8 PRO. If I use the free versions, alls good and fully functional (minus Pro features).

[TIG]

Look under Programs Control Panel [or whatever it's called in XP!]
Isn't VMware listed ?
How else couls it be tangled up with Sketchup ??
If you can't fix it == a system rebuild ???

[SketchU2]

This particular machine does not have VMware.

Also I have eliminated the option of a machine issue as I tested this on 4 different machines so far with the same exact results.

The solution is on of the three following options:

1. Access the VMware instance disk and plant the plugins folder within it.

2. Using the ruby console remap the plugins folder location out of the instance (assuming that as is normal with VM instances my local machine is recognized as a network computer) to a local shared network folder.

3. Someone pours genius into this thread lol

Does anyone else here have SketchUp 8 Pro and not have the "Power by VMware" taglines?

[Dave R]

I don't have the "Power by VMware" taglines. That didn't come with SketchUp Pro 8.

[TIG]

I would suspect that the vast majority of us DON'T have this VMware issue - I certainly don't have it installed and get no such tag lines.
There is some considerable confusion here...
Correct me if I misunderstand...
You details used to say MAC SUp v6, but recently you've updated them to XP SUp v8.
Your problem is with your XP v8 set up.
You say you don't have VMware installed on your PC.
However, you then go on to speak of 'Access the VMware instance disk and plant the plugins folder within it.' how would you have this available to be found, IF it's not installed ??
VMware [Fusion] is software to emulate other OSs, it isn't needed by PC users, but some MAC users might have it to run PC only applications... There are many other VMware applications that manage large networks and so on - do you have such a setup or IT department who should be resolving this... however, if you as a lowly 'user' can install executables I suspect not... I know of no one having this issue or even having VMware installed...
You speak of installing v8 of 'Sketchup' and 'Sketchup Pro'. There is no real difference between them - if the current installation finds a license you get 'Pro' features, if not it runs as 'Free'. When you download the 'Free' version you are not asked for any details, but when you get the 'Pro' time limited trial you give your details. However, if you subsequently get a Pro license [when you will again have to give your details] - or you subsequently 'remove' a license - then you should find that the version of Sketchup available to you will toggle between the 'Pro' and 'Free' versions, using the same installed files...
Do you have any other applications that launch with VMware messages ?
Have you tried completely uninstalling all of your versions of Sketchup and reinstalling the Pro version ?
We must assume that you are not doing something complicated like trying to run it across a network or by some virtual desktop/login gizmo

I am still confused about your set up and what you do to get/stop these weirdnesses ...