Plugins for mac?

kalu · 7 Jun 2011, 17:01

Hi to all:

I just buy my first apple computer and I purchase the sketchup for mac osx. Can I install the same plugins for Pc in a Mac OSX? Maybe a dumb question but I want to know if is any way that install the plugins for Sketchup for OSX.

Thanks in advance.

Dave R · 7 Jun 2011, 17:12

Yes, you can install the same plugins on your Mac. See the sticky thread about installing zipped plugins for some guidance.

honoluludesktop · 7 Jun 2011, 17:30

99% of the time there is no problem. If a plugin writer uses one type of machine exclusively, there are some situations that may cause a plugin not to work on another type of machine. Especially if the writer is not aware of those machine specific methods. Although it is rare, it can happen. If so, just post in the topic for help.

driven · 7 Jun 2011, 18:56

hi,

the majority of free plugins do work on a Mac, although a few just add something that's handled differently on mac SU.

the majority of $rbs don't work on the mac, [even if we're perceived to be the rich kids]

SU loads your prefs before it's ready, so you always need to close the first window and open a new one if you want custom toolbars.

good luck

john

Slimdog · 7 Jun 2011, 19:22

@driven said:

hi,

the majority of free plugins do work on a Mac, although a few just add something that's handled differently on mac SU.

the majority of $rbs don't work on the mac, [even if we're perceived to be the rich kids]

SU loads your prefs before it's ready, so you always need to close the first window and open a new one if you want custom toolbars.

good luck

john

Just to clarify. If sketchup is closed and I go to a sketchup file and double click it, it opens sketchup. Now if I close the window (sketchup is still open) and open the same file again by double clicking the same file in a folder it will then remember my tool bars?

Dave R · 7 Jun 2011, 19:45

@slimdog said:

Just to clarify. If sketchup is closed and I go to a sketchup file and double click it, it opens sketchup. Now if I close the window (sketchup is still open) and open the same file again by double clicking the same file in a folder it will then remember my tool bars?

Yes.

kalu · 11 Jun 2011, 22:15

Thank you for all your responses to my question. So all the *.rb files do not work and only *.plugin work for mac, so basically I am screw.... I have tons of plugins for sketchup that I use and all are almost *.rb... wow that's a bad news... I am new in Mac OSX and I still have my Pc. Does anybody know how I can make the toolbars all in 2-3 rows in Sketchup for mac or have to be all on one row witch is crazy...

Thanks.

Dave R · 11 Jun 2011, 22:27

@kalu said:

So all the *.rb files do not work and only *.plugin work for mac

A great big No!! That's not right!

@kalu said:

so basically I am screw.... I have tons of plugins for sketchup that I use and all are almost *.rb... wow that's a bad news... I am new in Mac OSX and I still have my Pc. Does anybody know how I can make the toolbars all in 2-3 rows in Sketchup for mac or have to be all on one row witch is crazy...

Thanks.

Don't get your knickers in a twist. Go back and read this thread again. Most plugins will work just fine on your Mac. The plugins (*.rb) files and associated files if there are any go into the Plugins folder. Go to this link and read the description about adding plugins to Mac. It talks about zipped plugins but the same applies to all plugins.

driven · 11 Jun 2011, 22:43

@kalu said:

Thank you for all your responses to my question. So all the *.rb files do not work and only *.plugin work for mac,

Almost all the *.rb files DO WORK there are very few .pluginwhich is a bundle not a 'file' are made for either Mac or PC, you would need the Mac version.

@kalu said:

so basically I am screw.... I have tons of plugins for sketchup that I use and all are almost *.rb... wow that's a bad news...

download new versions of the ones you can't live without into your Mac Sketchup plugins folder, and see if they work, chances are they will.

@kalu said:

Does anybody know how I can make the toolbars all in 2-3 rows in Sketchup for mac or have to be all on one row witch is crazy...

Google may know of a way to have a multi row custom toolbar, but if they do they're keeping it secret...
and to make it crazier, in my experience toolbar managers are defiantly one type of *.rb or *.rbs [ruby plugins] that tend not to work on Macs, although I think there are exceptions [I gave up looking],

on the plus side, if you open and then move a toolbar, it will always be there until you move or close it...

john

kalu · 11 Jun 2011, 23:43

@driven said:

@kalu said:

Thank you for all your responses to my question. So all the *.rb files do not work and only *.plugin work for mac,

Almost all the *.rb files DO WORK there are very few .pluginwhich is a bundle not a 'file' are made for either Mac or PC, you would need the Mac version.

@kalu said:

so basically I am screw.... I have tons of plugins for sketchup that I use and all are almost *.rb... wow that's a bad news...

download new versions of the ones you can't live without into your Mac Sketchup plugins folder, and see if they work, chances are they will.

@kalu said:

Does anybody know how I can make the toolbars all in 2-3 rows in Sketchup for mac or have to be all on one row witch is crazy...

Google may know of a way to have a multi row custom toolbar, but if they do they're keeping it secret...
and to make it crazier, in my experience toolbar managers are defiantly one type of *.rb or *.rbs [ruby plugins] that tend not to work on Macs, although I think there are exceptions [I gave up looking],

on the plus side, if you open and then move a toolbar, it will always be there until you move or close it...

john

Awezome, thank you so much for the clarification...

kmead · 12 Jun 2011, 16:43

I have only used SU with a Mac, the only rubies I have trouble with are those that utilize MSW specific features that are just not available for a Mac (MSW Explorer etc) or the writer of the ruby made a call that just doesn't work with Safari for example.

All rubies go into the Google SU folder which is located in the Library folder at the top level of the hard drive: Hard drive: Library: Application Support: Google Sketchup 8.0: Plugins or Tools depending on what the person who wrote the ruby intended.

A bit more involved maybe than installing them on MSW but it works the same.

As for the menus, they can be arrayed where you want them, I have them on the left as most monitors are wider than they are tall so I have more working room than a thick tool bar across the top allows. It may be a function of what I am working on I suppose.

I would be sure to download the latest versions of each of your preferred rubies rather than trying to drag them from your windows backup.

Hope that helps.

Karl

Slimdog · 1 Jul 2011, 05:36

@dave r said:

@slimdog said:

Just to clarify. If sketchup is closed and I go to a sketchup file and double click it, it opens sketchup. Now if I close the window (sketchup is still open) and open the same file again by double clicking the same file in a folder it will then remember my tool bars?

Yes.

This doesn't seem to work for me.

My solution I have found some where on here is. Make custom tool bar then save as a template. I open sketchup then I open new file from template which gives me my custom tool bar. Now I open file I need from a folder by double clicking it. Now I have to close the new template and then start working on what I wanted.

Is there a way to have more than one custom tool bar on a mac? Besides the main one on top of the screen.

driven · 1 Jul 2011, 12:21

@slimdog said:

... I open new file from template which gives me my custom tool bar.

if that template is saved as your default template, you should only need to do a close then open once SU has opened.
i.e.
for 'new', cmd/w then cmd/n [or File/Close >> File/New]
for existing, cmd/w then double click file [or File/Close >> File/Open Recent/*.skp]
however,
if you have any plugins that addstheir own 'layers', 'materials' or 'components' on 'start-up', you will get the 'unsaved changes' dialog, even on empty and 'unchanged' files. [this annoys me allot, so I have those plugins with separate load buttons or load them from console]

@slimdog said:

... Is there a way to have more than one custom tool bar on a mac? Besides the main one on top of the screen.

No, you can only have one, single line, custom toolbar, but...
You can make a number of Plist's files, and swap them around before each session either manually or with automator/applescript.
This can give you a choice of predefined 'custom' set-ups.

for example,
you set up your template for 'advanced' drawing tools,
set-up your custom toolbar and put the floating ones where you want them then close SU.
Copy the resulting .plist into a folder called SU_Plist_drawing [or similar] inside a new folder called SU_Plist and use the default name for that file.

you then, reopen SU and set up your template for 'advanced' animation tools, then close SU.
Copy this new .plist into a second folder called SU_Plist_animation (also inside the same folder you called SU_Plist) and use the default name for that file as before.

Note: Plist is independent of template so there's no need to 'save as template', for this unless you switch templates as well.

you can set up as many as you want... then make a little automator app that copies the file you want into the HD/Library/Preferences, overwriting what's there and then opens SU.

the same technique can be used to swap sets of plugins, at the same time or independently.

I have set up both plist switching and plugins folder switching in the past, but if you work on a variety of models, you often end up in the wrong setup at the wrong time...

john

Slimdog · 1 Jul 2011, 15:49

Holy crap John you sure have it organized. Thanks for the great tutorial but I think its a little over my head for now. I don't have any plugins that adds their own 'layers', 'materials' or 'components' on 'start-up'. But my template that I set up does have a couple of layers. I am reasonably happy with the set up I have now. Its only a hobby where I waste time in the evenings. I Work on a different CAD system at work all day that is dialed. I wish I could have a couple more custom tool bars but this is fine for now.

The only thing really bugging me right now is the little ruby updater that pops up every time I start up sketchup.

Cheers

Steve

driven · 1 Jul 2011, 16:00

if it's fredo's updater, I set it for mine for every 15 days, just click on the initial 'ruby' icon, then change to suit.

otherwise, which is it ? john

Slimdog · 2 Jul 2011, 03:39

Ahhhh that sounds like a good idea to change it to every 15 days.