Importing Plugins from 7 SEEKING ADVICE
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Okay. .. I've finally drunk the kool-aid and upgraded my SU license to 8-point-whatever. I don't know why I waited so long. Well I'll tell you why. The very issue I am writing about here. My V7 plugins folder is a mess. I have about . . oh say. .. 14,549 plugins and rubies in there. I am not sure show many I actually use. .. 17 or 18 perhaps. . .I dunno. I have paid for a lot of them-- most are freebies.. . and they are pretty cool for what they are intended. you know what I am talking about. . .you get cruizin' along in your model and doing the sketchup thing. . .and then you come to a task that says. . "Boy! I sure wish they had a ruby to shortcut this. . ." so you hunt it out and chances are there is! What's worse is you've already got a ruby that does this in your Plugins folder and have completely forgotten about it. I also have several sub folders in the Plugins folder for rubies that I rarely use but even the main one is really full. I dunno. . .
MY QUESTION IS. . .
From your greater experience. .how would you suggest I methodically transfer the plugins over so that I get all the rubies I use, warehouse the ones that I use occasionally. . .dump the ones that are out of date or never used? How does one go about this. It's daunting.
comments welcome.
Thanx in advance.
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I took it as a chance to get back to basics -- I started with nothing and only added plugins back in as I found I needed them... I don't have many as a result, which makes the effective use of the ones I do have installed much easier.
Best,
Jason. -
Jason's idea seems like a good one although I just copied the SU7.1 Plugins folder lock, stock and barrel to 8 when I installed.
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I was considering Jason's idea. .. seems sound enough. When I went from 6 to 7 I just dragged and dropped the plugins folder. . .(Man was it heavy!!!)
Not so good. . .
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I did the same as Jason....just start basic and add plugins as needed. That way you are more likely to get the latest version too.
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Virtually all plugins work in v8 if they worked in v7 or earlier.
There are a few that only work with v8 pro - e.g. utilizing API and solid tools etc... but these are not that common...
Some might even have a better user experience in v8 - even if they are otherwise suitable for v6/v7...
I suggest you look through your v7 scripts in the Plugins folder and decide what you use most, and then get the latest versions from the forum [or crai/smustard if applicable] and install them into v8.***
Then as time goes by you can add any new ones into v8 as you find them missing from you normal set...
***Note that a few scripts need other things downloading - like Fredo's need his latest 'Lib' and others need 'progressbar.com etc - BUT there download pages DO clearly explain this [you'd be amazed how many newbies have problems because they don't read the instructions
]
It's a good opportunity to spring-clean your plugins as most of us slowly accrue new stuff we never really need... knowing they exist is useful as you might load them when needed BUT they can clutter things unnecessarily otherwise... -
well that brings up a good Question TIG. . .Your stuff for example.. . can that just be dragged over or does one need to do a complete re-install. I KNOW I USE YOUR STUFF A LOT!
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at about this point "oh say. .. 14,549 plugins and rubies in there." I spit tea all over my monitor.
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I would suggest adding plugins as and when you need them. I would also suggest that you create a folder called 'Installed Plugins' where you keep a copy of what you have installed and with information on the source of the plugin and its use. So, your 'Installed Plugins'folder would contain lots of folders, each dedicated to a plugin and each with an information document. The 'copy' will also show the plugin's footprint, so that you can track down all the files if you decide to remove that plugin. This is useful as some plugins come with a folder and lots of .rb files. When dowloading plugins from SketchUcation I copy the text from the first posting and paste it into a Word document (pictures and all). If something useful comes up in later postings, I copy that into the .doc file too. These are just suggestions, but I have found the approach useful.
Regards,
Bob -
There's nothing like a plugin folder rebuild.
I usually rebuild the plugin menu to compile plugins into submenus. I've a Trial submenu that new plugins go into to see if they get used. If I find myself using it, it'll get promoted and assigned a shortcut key.
Then I've various categories that they go under.
Yes..... It's ridiculous........I know
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@unknownuser said:
well that brings up a good Question TIG. . .Your stuff for example.. . can that just be dragged over or does one need to do a complete re-install. I KNOW I USE YOUR STUFF A LOT!
Most of my more complex scripts have their own subfolders - like 2Dtools, TIGtools etc so they need moving over too - if not you'd soon notice the error-messages or not see the buttons on your toolbars etc...
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@unknownuser said:
folder called 'Installed Plugins'
I have the same thing. It's overflowing. . .I have one called Extra (non regular Plugins). .. but it's still a mess. I am getting the consensus here that it's feed em in as I use them. I know the ones I use all the time that are second-nature things. but you know. . .there's so much Genius Ruby stuff out there I am afraid if I don;'t download it and have it I'm missing out on something. . . Ruby Junkie.Thanks for the support and suggestions.
as long as you are all up to handing out free advice. . feel free to offer suggestions on my "Computer Specs" thread!
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I wish there was a feature in SU that made plugin management easier. Ideally, a way of enabling/disabling/discarding/replacing Rubys, with a database of date, version, source, notes, etc.
SketchUp benefits a lot from Rubys without extending the program to include their features. Seems like it would own up to that benefit if it allowed for them better.
JIm
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@jim57 said:
I wish there was a feature in SU that made plugin management easier. Ideally, a way of enabling/disabling/discarding/replacing Rubys, with a database of date, version, source, notes, etc.
SketchUp benefits a lot from Rubys without extending the program to include their features. Seems like it would own up to that benefit if it allowed for them better.
JIm
Be assured that there are people working on just such tools... but it ain't easy
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@watkins said:
I would suggest adding plugins as and when you need them. I would also suggest that you create a folder called 'Installed Plugins' where you keep a copy of what you have installed and with information on the source of the plugin and its use. So, your 'Installed Plugins'folder would contain lots of folders, each dedicated to a plugin and each with an information document. The 'copy' will also show the plugin's footprint, so that you can track down all the files if you decide to remove that plugin. This is useful as some plugins come with a folder and lots of .rb files. When dowloading plugins from SketchUcation I copy the text from the first posting and paste it into a Word document (pictures and all). If something useful comes up in later postings, I copy that into the .doc file too. These are just suggestions, but I have found the approach useful.
how do you create sketchup plugin such as a dialog appears when you click on icon and says select what you need and skp model forms as component and loads it in.
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you said "14,549" plugins and rubies
it's not 1 454 ? Or you count sub folders files
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@koz786 said:
how do you create sketchup plugin such as a dialog appears when you click on icon and says select what you need and skp model forms as component and loads it in.
I think you ought to post a new separate message - this is 'lost' inside here and not relevant to the original topic...
I think what you mean how do you export a selection as a SKP ? -
@unknownuser said:
you said "14,549" plugins and rubies
it's not 1 454 ? Or you count sub folders files!
okay . ..So I underestimated the number a bit. I didn't want to sound like I was exaggerating!
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