Sketchup 2013 Missing Plugin Tab (Extensions don't work)

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 00:34

Hi, I fairly new to Sketchup and have just recently downloaded it.
Apparently, I can't figure out how to get the plugin tab to show up.
When I go to Windows -> Preference -> Extensions (its blank)
I tried the installing extensions button but it only has the option of rbz files (what are those exactly)?

Here are two pictures to illustrate my problem.
Please help. Thanks

jeff hammond · 1 Feb 2014, 00:51

the plugins menu won't appear unless you have plugins installed.. the ones included in sketchup pro are available via the Tools menu. once you install a plugin, that menu will appear.

an .rbz file is a .zip which sketchup will recognize (ruby zip).. for instance:

ExtensionStore | SketchUcation

3D SketchUp Community for Design and Engineering Professionals.

(sketchucation.com)

that's a sketchucation developed plugin which is great for downloading/finding/installing etc many of the plugins which the authors around here (and elsewhere) create..

download it and you'll see it's a .rbz file.. you can then use the 'install extensions' button in sketchup to install the .rbz and the manager will be in your newly created plugins menu.. (it will also function via a toolbar)

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 01:08

Thanks for the reply,

How come I don't have the option of installing rb files?
There something in my plugin folder called su.sandbox.rb

Also I tried installing that rbz file above.
But Sketchup closes with a error after I press ok

Dave R · 1 Feb 2014, 01:22

@simon510 said:

Thanks for the reply,

How come I don't have the option of installing rb files?
There something in my plugin folder called su.sandbox.rb

What makes you think you don't have the option to install rb files? You do have that option. Just put the rb file into the folder.

@simon510 said:

Thanks for the reply,
Also I tried installing that rbz file above.
But Sketchup closes with a error after I press ok

Make sure you have full permissions established for the Plugins folder before you install any plugins.

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 01:37

^
That might just be the problem. Sorry, but how do I allow full permission for plugin folder?

The rb file is in the folder.
But it's not showing up in the "install extension window"

Dave R · 1 Feb 2014, 01:44

The rb file isn't an extension so it won't show in the Extensions list.

For setting permissions, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the Plugins folder. Right click on it and choose Propeties. Click on the Security tab and then on the Edit button. Select your user name and in the lower pane tick all the boxes under Allow.

jeff hammond · 1 Feb 2014, 02:32

@simon510 said:

Thanks for the reply,

How come I don't have the option of installing rb files?
There something in my plugin folder called su.sandbox.rb

you do have the option.. those are inside the .rbz..

change the extension name of .rbz to .zip on one of those files then unzip it.. it's just a compressed file contain ruby scripts and sometimes images etc..

the .rbz files just save you the manual trip to your plugins folder as well as not requiring a sketchup restart as you need to do with manual installs.. (and the plugin i linked to.. the scf manager.. makes the process even easier)

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 04:02

@jeff hammond said:

@simon510 said:

Thanks for the reply,

How come I don't have the option of installing rb files?
There something in my plugin folder called su.sandbox.rb

you do have the option.. those are inside the .rbz..

change the extension name of .rbz to .zip on one of those files then unzip it.. it's just a compressed file contain ruby scripts and sometimes images etc..

the .rbz files just save you the manual trip to your plugins folder as well as not requiring a sketchup restart as you need to do with manual installs.. (and the plugin i linked to.. the scf manager.. makes the process even easier)

Thanks
I got the scf manager to work through your method.
With the scf manager, I was able to see my other plugins like "sandbox tool" etc.
However, after I restart Sketchup everything is gone.
What to do?

jeff hammond · 1 Feb 2014, 04:30

@simon510 said:

Thanks
I got the scf manager to work through your method.
With the scf manager, I was able to see my other plugins like "sandbox tool" etc.
However, after I restart Sketchup everything is gone.
What to do?

hmm.. im not quite sure as i use mac.. but the sandbox tools were always there.. they came with sketchup and are in the Tools menu.. you can turn the extension on/off (i.e.- whether or not it loads when you launch sketchup) via the extensions preferences you've already found..

but to get better answers, it will be helpful if you provide more info.

"However, after I restart Sketchup everything is gone."

gone from where, exactly? gone from the plugins folder? from the tools menu? no more toolbar? etc.
what have you turned on and how did you turn it on etc..

lots of ways to interpret your problems especially when you might not realize you could be using terminology which means one thing in sketchup while you're saying another..

that said, bear with it through tomorrow.. someone here will get you past the AHA moment in which all of this stuff becomes much more simple

(fwiw, the .rbz files & the 'install extension' function are meant to be a way to keep things more simple.. but if you want to learn about the plugin paths/folders/.rb files etc then you can do that and you do have the ability to manually do all the installs.. it's just going to lead to a bit more confusion at first)

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 06:50

Sorry about that I should of worded it better.

The "Sandbox" plugin was never there in my Sketchup until I got the scf manager downloaded and working.
With scf manager, "sandbox" magically appeared in my tools menu.
I closed the scf manager toolbar and after a restart of Sketchup, I can't seem to find the scf manager toolbar and sandbox under the tools menu.

Also in my preferences> extensions is completely blank as you can see in the first image I provided in the first post

Hope that makes sense.

jeff hammond · 1 Feb 2014, 07:39

@simon510 said:

Also in my preferences> extensions is completely blank as you can see in the first image I provided in the first post

oh.. right.. i missed that little detail

yeah, something is wrong.. the europeans will be awake soon drinking their tea.. they'll probably be able to sort it out.

Wo3Dan · 1 Feb 2014, 22:54

@jeff hammond said:

....yeah, something is wrong.. the europeans will be awake soon drinking their tea.. they'll probably be able to sort it out.

Jeff, how did you know about the tea drinking?

@simon510 said:

.... I closed the scf manager toolbar and after a restart of Sketchup, I can't seem to find the scf manager toolbar and sandbox under the tools menu.

Simon, can't you find 'Sandbox' toolbar in menu View > Toolbars > check 'Sandbox'?

For all I know you don't have to download any sandbox plugin. It's there right from when you install SketchUp.

TIG · 1 Feb 2014, 23:02

Read this...
Fix the plugins folder's permissions and the exe...
Reinstall your plugins...
Restart...
Report back...

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=56005

simon510 · 1 Feb 2014, 23:09

^ Hi Gerrit,

Sorry but its not there, which is the problem.

simon510 · 2 Feb 2014, 03:25

^ That seem to be the problem.
Thanks.

TIG · 2 Feb 2014, 19:14

@simon510 said:

^ That seem to be the problem.
Thanks.
B U T... is it now fixed ?

jeff hammond · 2 Feb 2014, 19:29

@wo3dan said:

@jeff hammond said:

....yeah, something is wrong.. the europeans will be awake soon drinking their tea.. they'll probably be able to sort it out.

Jeff, how did you know about the tea drinking?
.

just a wild guess

Box · 2 Feb 2014, 19:45

@jeff hammond said:

@wo3dan said:

@jeff hammond said:

....yeah, something is wrong.. the europeans will be awake soon drinking their tea.. they'll probably be able to sort it out.

Jeff, how did you know about the tea drinking?
.

just a wild guess

NSA at it again!

jeff hammond · 2 Feb 2014, 20:10

@box said:

NSA at it again!

haha.

more like-- one of the very first u.s history lessons kids are taught about over here is the boston tea party.. 8 year olds that have no clue as to what really happened other than a bunch of crazy brits killing their greatgreatgreat grandparents over tea..

Wo3Dan · 2 Feb 2014, 22:53

@jeff hammond said:

@box said:

NSA at it again!

haha
........

Not So Amused.... not