SketchUp Resources - Ruby Scripts

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SketchUp Resources - Ruby Scripts

First, if you are a SketchUp Ruby Author - Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You make SketchUp Rock! - Daniel

Ruby Scripts are an often asked about but little used aspect of SketchUp. Ruby Scripts or plugins are custom SketchUp tools created by the SketchUp community and, the SketchUp developers.

Ruby Scripts greatly enhance the ability to get work done in SketchUp. With the right plugin, a task that might be very tedious or impossible can be completed with a couple of clicks.

Many Ruby Scripts are free, some are not but are inexpensive. They are easy to install and use.

Below are some recommended web sites and links where you can obtain these plugins.

At bottom, I have included a list of recommended Ruby Scripts. These are some of my favorites. It’s by no means comprehensive,

Installing Ruby Scripts

Installing scripts is easy. Ruby Script files have a file extension called .rb. For example, the Drop ruby is called Drop.rb. You simply place this Ruby in the Google SketchUp Plugins folder.

The plugins folder is located here:

Copy the Ruby Script file into the right location for your operating system:
Windows: C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins
Mac OS X: 'Hard Drive'/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/Plugins

Some Ruby Scripts come as Zipped files. Simply download the zip file then extract it to the above location for Windows or Mac.

Tip: Save a zipped Ruby File into the plugins folder. Then simply extract here to install the script. Also, it makes it easier to keeps track of all your plugins.

Documentation

Many Ruby Scripts come with their own PDF documentation or have a specific outline at its home site. It is recommended that you take the time and read the documents to better understand how any given Ruby works.

Web links for Scripts - please note this is not comprehensive. If you have a suggested site, please let me know and I will include it.

SketchUcation Ruby Forum - note you need to register (for free) at SketchUcation to have access to this forum. Ruby’s at SketchUcation are at the bottom of the first post. Right click and do save as to download the script.

SketchUcation is the best on-line resource for SketchUp on the web. Top SketchUp modelers from around the world can help you with your requests and share info on all things SketchUp.

All the Scripts here are free and there are always new ones in development.

General Ruby Forums: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewforum.php?f=323

Must Have Ruby Scripts: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=16909

Smustard: http://www.smustard.com/

This is an excellent library of hundreds of Ruby Scripts. Some are free others are for pay. For landscape architecture, some notable scripts on this site are:

Drop - http://www.smustard.com/script/Drop

Randor - http://www.smustard.com/script/Randor

Path Copy - http://www.smustard.com/script/PathCopy

Ruby Depo: http://www.crai.archi.fr/rubylibrarydepot/ruby/em_sections.html

Another excellent web site that offers a ton of Free Ruby Scripts. This site has some great Ruby’s for animation and exporting views.

1001 Bit Tools: http://www.1001bit.com/

This is a set of plugins offered for sale. They are excellent Ruby’s worth exploring. They are billed as architectural tools but are useful for any SketchUp modeler. There is a 30 day trial available with the Scripts.

Recommended Ruby’s

Many of these scripts require pre-requisite Ruby Scripts. I have included these first.

No matter which scripts you use, download and install these first. That way you will not have guess if you need them or not.

Ruby’s at SketchUcation are at the bottom of the first post. Right click and select save as to download the script. Download all scripts and zips into your SketchUp Plugins folder (see Installation above)

Progress Bar - http://www.smustard.com/script/ProgressBar

Offset - http://www.smustard.com/script/Offset

Fredo - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=17947

ThomThom - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=23307

1001 Bit Tools - http://www.1001bit.com/

Cad Clean Up Scripts:

Extend Close Lines - http://www.smustard.com/script/ExtendCloseLines

Delete Short Lines - http://www.smustard.com/script/DeleteShortLines

Close Opens - http://www.smustard.com/script/CloseOpens

Make Faces - http://www.smustard.com/script/MakeFaces

Color By Z - http://www.smustard.com/script/ColorByZ

Component Spray - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=11746