This is my best tip all year of 2011

dukejazz

(This is my best tip all year of 2011)

When sketchup starts up it doesn't see any hidden ruby files

(note: With windown explorer toolbar, Tools-folder options-view-show the hidden files = on)

You can hide what you don't need to load, and unhide the require ones that you do.

Later with Jim ruby toolbar you can load the hidden ones.
That's because your telling the script loader about the name, type and location of ea. plug-ins to load...

thus no need to double buffering of plug-ins in folders by loaders.

Also the plug-ins are in the folder that are meant to be in.
win win!

irwanwr

what "ruby toolbar script loader" is that? where can we found it in the forum?

dukejazz

Jim
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=1542
Ruby Toolbar

Download here
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2007/08/plugin-ruby-toolbar.html

irwanwr

i see. interesting. though i don't think i am using many rubies at the moment. that might be useful someday.
what do you think of other plugins like; Plugin Loader for SketchUp and 000_AdditionalPluginFolders?

if you wouldn't mind to tell the differences between those plugins.

dukejazz

My hidden file idea would probally work for them too.

Additional Plugins Folder
by Fredo6

Sections: Files - Misc

Provides the capability to define one or several additional user-defined directories to load plugins in Sketchup.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=39073

draw backs
Some (especially the more complex rbs) plugins cannot be loaded using this method. In those cases, you'll have to install them into SketchUp's main plugins folder.
Folder icon and subport files get lost you then double buffer them
not smooth

plugins_loader
by A. Schreyer
http://www.alexschreyer.net/cad/
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=17660 new
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=17355 old
Sections: Files - Misc ; Development - Snippets

Adds a helper submenu to the Plugins menu to offer these functions:

Load single plugin or load all plugins in a folder
Go to weblinks for plugin collections
Go to weblinks for Ruby resources
You can browse to a plugin and download it right from this window. Your standard plugin directory is shown in the title bar but it is not necessary to save the plugin

file(s) there. Using the load function, you can load plugins that are located anywhere.

draw backs
Some (especially the more complex rbs) plugins cannot be loaded using this method. In those cases, you'll have to install them into SketchUp's main plugins folder.
Folder icon and subport files get lost, you then double buffer them.
Load all plugins in a folder dosent work for me it must be disconected? error when I update the ruby to 1.8.7

Why I choose ruby toolbar can be found here. (easy editing can make script loading repeatable on my tips page 2 on the bottom tip 5)
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=40254&start=15

more loaders infor
SUTool: a new way to manager your scripts
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=5946
[concept] plugin launcher
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=38726&start=15

irwanwr

thank you very much for those info.
so, Jim's script may not have those kind of drawbacks?
i am afraid that those kind of things are a bit too advanced for me though.
really appreciate your explanation here.

TIG

If your 'hidden scripts don't auto-load' discovery also works on a MAC. then it could prove a quick and easy way of managing the enabling/loading of scripts - with even a simple set of new custom tools for:
'disabling' [>>make_hidden>>no_load_on_restart]
're-enabling' [>>unhide_then_load]
'loading [>>load_from_hidden]

Any MAC users want to try hiding a script and seeing if it no longer auto-loads ?
I expect the MAC renames it with a leading '.' to hide it BUT that still loads the file - earlier as its done alphanumerically.
It certainly works as advised on a PC - a hidden-file does not auto-load...

Hiding/unhiding files is not straightforward programatically either... whereas renaming them with/without a '!' on the end of the file-extension [or not] is a similar way that stops/starts auto-loading - it is messier when done manually... but it's much easier in code, and works on PC or MAC...

jeff hammond

@tig said:

If your 'hidden scripts don't auto-load' discovery also works on a MAC. then it could prove a quick and easy way of managing the enabling/loading of scripts - with even a simple set of new custom tools for:
'disabling' [>>make_hidden>>no_load_on_restart]
're-enabling' [>>unhide_then_load]
'loading [>>load_from_hidden]

Any MAC users want to try hiding a script and seeing if it no longer auto-loads ?
I expect the MAC renames it with a leading '.' to hide it BUT that still loads the file - earlier as its done alphanumerically.
It certainly works as advised on a PC - a hidden-file does not auto-load...

using :

chflags hidden /Library/"Application Support"/"Google SketchUp 8"/Sketchup/plugins/bezierspline.rb

to hide bezierspline...
it still loads in sketchup even though it's invisible in finder..

[edit]
whereas renaming it to bezierspline.rb! does prevent it from loading..

TIG

Jeff

Bummer!
As I suspected; the hidden-file not loading trick only 'works' on a PC; whereas the renaming the file suffix with a terminal '!' route works for both PC & MAC...