Easy Question

JoelM3DM · 23 Jan 2015, 21:57

What's the difference between an extension and a plugin? (in SU)

Rich O Brien · 23 Jan 2015, 22:14

The difference is that extensions are policemen and plugins are cops....

So no difference really to the layman

If you wanted to be accurate.....an extension is a bundled plugin with some extra info about the author and copyright.

Both plugin to sketchup and extend it.

JQL · 23 Jan 2015, 22:53

You are just a little better than a polititian Rich...

TIG · 23 Jan 2015, 22:54

They are actually both 'Plugins' - RB files.

A Plugin that is also an 'Extension' is coded in a special way.
Its 'loader' contains info about version, usage, (c), author etc, and as an 'Extension' it can be activated/deactivated using Preferences > Extensions, or SketchUcation's 'Extensions Manager' [which also allows it to be temporarily activated for that session only]...
When an 'Extension' is 'deactivated' its initial loader code will load as SketchUp starts, but nothing else is appears until it is 'activated', when its main files within its subfolder are loaded...

A plain Plugin always loads when SketchUp starts, ***unless you have previously disabled it.
***You can load-enable/temporary-load/disable Plugins [including those that are also Extensions] using the SketchUcation 'Plugins Manager'... So only those Plugins you use frequently are loaded etc...
'Sets' of Plugins can also be saved and reused...

JoelM3DM · 26 Jan 2015, 16:03

I see that some names are repeated in both lists, for example JointPushPull is both an extension and a plugin.

Does that mean that it is loaded twice? Should one be disabled?

TIG · 26 Jan 2015, 17:01

To repeat...

They are ALL Plugins.

If you disable a Plugin in the Plugins Manager, and it just happens to be an Extension, then it does not appear in the Extensions Manager's list after a SketchUp restart.

If you disable an Extension in the Extensions Manager, then it will still appear in the Plugins Manager's list.
In the latest SketchUcation Toolset / SketchUp version this entry is shown 'grayed' to show you that its Extension is disabled.

Disabling any Plugin means that [whatever its 'type'] it does not load at all as SketchUp starts.
Whereas disabling a currently loaded Extension means that although it is 'loaded', it is not going to be 'active' after a restart, but it is listed as an available Extension, should you wish to [re]activate it.

Unlike the native Preferences > Extensions tool, the SketchUcation Extensions Manager lets you activate an Extension for that session only.

You cannot 'Manage' Plugins in native SketchUp.
In the SketchUcation Plugins Manager you can enable+load/temporary-load/disable an selected Plugin.
You also have the advantage of using 'Sets'...
Sets can be used in the Plugins Manager & the Extensions Manager...

JoelM3DM · 26 Jan 2015, 18:10

Thanks TIG. Your explanations are very knowledgeable ... but they're being read by this guy who isn't.