manually like always. then all the other plugins which i installed before - i'm reluctant to install from the updater since many have the dates they're showing as very old compared to what i know is installed... might need some standard means of scanning known plugins and their respective update versions to compare? anyways i docked it and it's a non-issue for me, simply reporting observations at this point. cheers!

@TIG said in Sketchucation Tools 5.0.2:

The reason the toolbar appears is, because there are updates available - hence the red marker on the first button - not present otherwise.
If you don't want the updates simply dock the toolbar in the side bar with others, it's unobtrusive...

ONE ISSUE - a lot of the "updates" are way older than the ones i have installed... not sure if maybe the extension developer does not have their plugins in the correct database/format/link etc but i've got plugins 2-3 years old when all of them on my system are current...

e.g. i installed the latest LibFredo and it still shows up in the list of updates (active update button) with the same rev identifier...

anyways, i docked it in my toolbar, but i think the main complaint for most people, i don't want to dock it, i want to only select it in the extensions menu...

maybe a quick script to scan the files and log them as it attempts to force the UTF-8 and see which plugins are causing it...

that worked! no sketchucation errors. just some previous initialized messages in the console for FileUtils.

weird because i don't think i ever installed this plugin... searching my plugins - nada... downloading it and looking at the content - definitely never. maybe some other plugin bundled it? or worse, copied the warning message into their own plugin of course the only new plugins - the sketchucation, open cut, and su diffusion...

anyone know what plugin this is from? it's (so far) the only one that pops up when i uninstall the Sketchucation plugin (via extension manager).

File Encodings...

#FlattenToPlane.rb = UTF-8
#WorkPlane.rb = UTF-8
#xLine.rb = UTF-8
#xLine2Line.rb = UTF-8
1gs_slatfunc.rb = UTF-8
1gs_slattool.rb = UTF-8
2DTools.rb = UTF-8
addfaces.rb = UTF-8
ae_attribute_inspector.rb = UTF-8
ae_textureresizer.rb = UTF-8
applyTo.rb = UTF-8
ArcCurveTests.rb = UTF-8
array_to.rb = UTF-8
asm_oldsave.rb = UTF-8
as_randomtools.rb = UTF-8
bezier.rb = UTF-8
bezierspline.rb = UTF-8
CADup.rb = UTF-8
CB_TimberFraming.rb = UTF-8
CenterPointAll.rb = UTF-8
clinetool.rb = UTF-8
ConsDeleteContext.rb = UTF-8
cratetool.rb = UTF-8
DBUR_LayerManager.rb = UTF-8
deBabelizer.rb = UTF-8
Deck Builder.rb = UTF-8
default_layer_geometry.rb = UTF-8
delauney2.rb = UTF-8
delauney3.rb = UTF-8
deletecoplanaredges.rb = UTF-8
Dezmo_save_to_older_skp.rb = UTF-8
dimsvis.rb = UTF-8
divide_cpoint_golden.rb = UTF-8
DM_BoolTools.rb = UTF-8
dm_curve_maker.rb = UTF-8
DM_ProfileBuilder3.rb = UTF-8
DoorTools.rb = UTF-8
ene_attribute_editor.rb = UTF-8
ene_buidling_instructions.rb = UTF-8
ene_component_to_group.rb = UTF-8
ene_deDCify.rb = UTF-8
ene_deep_make_unique.rb = UTF-8
ene_face_creator.rb = UTF-8
ene_flatten_to_plane.rb = UTF-8
ene_line_up_axes.rb = UTF-8
ene_material_extractor.rb = UTF-8
ene_ro_menu.rb = UTF-8
ene_scaled_perspective.rb = UTF-8
ene_unroll_surface.rb = UTF-8
ene_uprightExtruder.rb = UTF-8
ene_viewport_resizer2.rb = UTF-8
engineeringtoolbox_tools.rb = UTF-8
extrudealongpath.rb = UTF-8
ExtrudeTools.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_!LibFredo6.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_Curviloft.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_Curvizard.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_FredoCorner.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_FredoGuides.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_FredoScale.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_FredoSpline.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_FredoTools.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_JointPushPull.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_RoundCorner.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_ThruPaint.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_ToolsOnSurface.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_TopoShaper.rb = UTF-8
Fredo6_VisuHole.rb = UTF-8
Generate Ceiling Grid.rb = UTF-8
goldilocks.rb = UTF-8
habitat_site_context.rb = UTF-8
Helix-along-curve-tool-0.9.rb = UTF-8
Hide_Tags_In_Scenes.rb = UTF-8
HouseBuilder_extension.rb = UTF-8
jwm_shapes_loader.rb = UTF-8
ladb_opencutlist.rb = UTF-8
Latticeizer.rb = UTF-8
LibTraductor.rb = UTF-8
lines2tubes.rb = UTF-8
massmaterialimporter.rb = UTF-8
materialconsolidator.rb = UTF-8
MaterialResizer.rb = UTF-8
medeek_electrical_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_engineering_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_floor_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_foundation_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_hvac_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_project_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_truss_ext.rb = UTF-8
medeek_wall_ext.rb = UTF-8
mesh_additions.rb = UTF-8
move_to_origin.rb = UTF-8
parametric.rb = UTF-8
parametric_grid.rb = UTF-8
parametric_opening.rb = UTF-8
PipeAlongPath.rb = UTF-8
PointTool.rb = UTF-8
progressbar.rb = UTF-8
PurgeAll.rb = UTF-8
PutOnLayer.rb = UTF-8
RandomPushPull.rb = UTF-8
recurve.rb = UTF-8
remove_inner_faces.rb = UTF-8
Roof.rb = UTF-8
SectionCutFace.rb = UTF-8
skelion.rb = UTF-8
Sketch-Int.rb = UTF-8
SketchUcation.rb = UTF-8
SKMtools.rb = UTF-8
Stair Maker.rb = UTF-8
su_advancedcameratools.rb = UTF-8
su_create_layout_file.rb = UTF-8
su_diffusion.rb = UTF-8
su_dynamiccomponents.rb = UTF-8
SU_Podium_V26.rb = UTF-8
su_sandbox.rb = UTF-8
su_shapes.rb = UTF-8
su_solarnorth.rb = UTF-8
su_trimble_connect.rb = UTF-8
su_webtextures.rb = UTF-8
su_windows.rb = UTF-8
TIG-LayersFromList.rb = UTF-8
TIG-LayersToList.rb = UTF-8
TrueTangents.rb = UTF-8
tt_bezier_surface.rb = UTF-8
tt_cleanup.rb = UTF-8
tt_comp_prop.rb = UTF-8
tt_draw_bb.rb = UTF-8
tt_edgetools.rb = UTF-8
tt_flatten.rb = UTF-8
tt_guide_tools.rb = UTF-8
tt_layertools.rb = UTF-8
TT_Lib2.rb = UTF-8
tt_material_replacer.rb = UTF-8
tt_material_tools.rb = UTF-8
TT_QuadFaceTools.rb = UTF-8
tt_raytracer.rb = UTF-8
tt_rota-scale.rb = UTF-8
tt_selection_toys.rb = UTF-8
tt_select_curve.rb = UTF-8
tt_shell.rb = UTF-8
tt_smoothhidden.rb = UTF-8
tt_solid_inspector2.rb = UTF-8
TT_SUbD.rb = UTF-8
tt_text_editor.rb = UTF-8
tt_text_tools.rb = UTF-8
tt_truebend.rb = UTF-8
unhide_all.rb = UTF-8
universal_importer.rb = UTF-8
ViewportBuster_11_6_1.rb = UTF-8
VoronoiConic_loader.rb = UTF-8
weld.rb = UTF-8
WindowTools.rb = UTF-8

all seem to be UTF-8 encoded

@TIG my user name starts with a "g" lowercase. been in use for, oh, 25 years now on all systems... and Sketchucation plugin proir to 5 working fine.

sorry the USERNAME is my text result replacement for my actual user name which i don't want on the Internet. if that is OK... i'm aware of the "u" problem...

the program data folder is from Podium where it has the temp files

so far as i know, i have only 1 plugins folder, but here's the results for the code:

puts "\nDefault:\n#{Sketchup.read_default("SCF", "DefaultPlugins", "???")}";lp=SCF_Dialog.getMyPluginsFolders();puts"\nAll:\n#{lp}\n\nContents:\n";lp.each{|p|puts Dir.entries(p).size-2 };puts"\nRBs:\n";lp.each{|p|rbs=[];Dir.entries(p).each{|f| rbs<<f if f=~/rb$/};p rbs.length};puts;

Default:
C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins

All:
["C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Tools/gems/3.2.0/gems/matrix-0.4.2/lib", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins", "C:/ProgramData/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/skelion/rub_zip", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/skelion/plist", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/skelion/prawn/pdf-core-0.6.1", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/skelion/prawn/ttfunk-1.4.0", "C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/skelion/prawn/prawn-2.1.0"]

Contents:
2
434
1
2
2
1
4
5

RBs:
1
153
0
1
1
0
1
1

=> nil

installed per instructions - fail. uninstall, close SU, open SU, get warning to install, install per extension manager - looks ok. close SU, open SU, get error ^^^^^^

as a note, i've checked my login on web site - ok so any internet calls "should" be working (in case this is an issue retrieving "getMyPlugins")

V5.0.1 is broken

Extension Errors Report
SketchUp: 25.0.660
OS: Windows 11 
Ruby: 3.2.2

Extension: SketchUcation (5.0.1)
Error: ArgumentError (invalid byte sequence in UTF-8)
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:805:in `block (4 levels) in getMyPlugins'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:804:in `each'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:804:in `block (3 levels) in getMyPlugins'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:798:in `each'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:798:in `block (2 levels) in getMyPlugins'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:796:in `each'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:796:in `block in getMyPlugins'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:751:in `each'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_dialog.rbe:751:in `getMyPlugins'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_loader.rbe:99:in `<module:SCF>'
c:/users/USERNAME/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2025/sketchup/plugins/sketchucation/scf_loader.rbe:13:in `<main>'
C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Tools/extensions.rb:197:in `eval'
C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Tools/extensions.rb:197:in `require'
C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Tools/extensions.rb:197:in `load'
C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUcation.rb:173:in `register_extension'
C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUcation.rb:173:in `<module:SCF>'
C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUcation.rb:17:in `<top (required)>'

yeah, not a fan of live components. as a "component factory" it has value, but for many of us doing complex work where dynamic components can be rapidly adjusted, scaled, etc. the DC need a lot of love which it's not getting. what would also be nice - letting non-pro users use DC but no option to peek inside or adjust anything other than exposed parameters. but i'm thinking somewhere someone got the idea of the potential for charging people to generate a "live component" and download it - voila! instant money maker... eeerrghh.

ok, so adding a parent component which controls the copy and rotate, i just need to add the parameter selections in the parent and pass them to the (what was) the original component (now the child) and it seems to be working. appreciate the assist. this is an annoying feature...

so, with the array approach, it's holding steady on simple (no edge) geometry rotated, but the face shrinkage continues to exist. anyways in case anyone is interested in the DC - cut openings phenomena...

example of why we cant have nice things.skp

yeah, i do the paired front and back. then added those as an array (per your guidance), but yet another level of indirection to try to prevent weird results when doing simple rotations? lol. i keep trying to use the cut opening, but it's really only sufficient for the simpliest stuff. using them in something like structures where i use copies of framing members (for example) it's been painful and not reliable. esp when the cut opening only works on a face and not (at least) a group, so the odds that the face and associated geometry will properly scale (and reset) etc is a crap shoot really.

thanks i'll check out your component

@pcmoor said in Copies of Cut Opening Component, Not Cutting the Opening:

For DC, embed in second cutter (parent is a cutter as well)

turns out cutting things which subsequently need to be rotated is not reliable... so back to using individual components to create it...

i was hoping the cutting components in an array would do it, but then it's getting confused on rotations and trying (or seeming to) glue itself. changing to "any" didn't do it either, and left weird disconnected geometry on angles vs the 90° i was trying to set. anyways, this is what it looks like after i created with with sub-components to build the board...

as an fyi - i make make a component, then my cutting component, manual add it to the face on the primary component, it cuts. then a copy (m + ctrl to copy) that one also cuts. so something is wrong with the dynamic component use because the same copied set of attributes (whichever one says this one cuts) should be carried to the next copy(s) as well..
acomponent.skp

something to do with depth... with the flat version - cuts on a flat component - ok. one depth versions, first one cuts, second does not.

non-dynamic - copies cut as expected...
acomponent-nodyn.skp

so, after how many years of this functionality seeming to not be working, it seems like it's still not working.

a simple component with a pair of cut opening components (back to back). the first set of the copies - works as expected. second (and other copies) nada, zip. the components are there but the cutting is missing...

so, are cut opening components not support in dynamic components?

i've seen people recommend a paid-for tool (VisuHole) but that doesn't seem to be workable in a dynamic component.

attached is the component. routed absorber frame.skp

yeah i think keeping the disclaimer a bit more succinct - the first sentence, skip the next two, and keep the rest plus you might include the user assumes all liability for the use of this report blah blah blah.