Please note that SketchUp Web does not support Ruby scripting, there is no way to install and no need to manage Ruby scripts for this version.
The Extension Warehouse
You can download extensions from the Extension Warehouse, which is an online repository of extensions/plugins. To get started, open SketchUp and click Window >Extension Warehouse. After signing into your Google Account (learn more), you can search for a specific extension, or browse through categories of extensions such as 3d printing, for example. Once you find the extension you want, simply click Install and follow the instructions.
You can download extensions from the Extension Warehouse, which is an online repository of extensions/plugins. To get started, open SketchUp and click Window >Extension Warehouse. After signing into your Google Account (learn more), you can search for a specific extension, or browse through categories of extensions such as 3d printing, for example. Once you find the extension you want, simply click Install and follow the instructions.
20+ Essential SketchUp Plugins for Efficient Modeling for Free Download SketchUp is one of the easiest, fastest, and most popular 3D modeling software. Its tools and interface are simple and easy to deal with for the beginners.
Extension Manager
With SketchUp 2017 we have a new and improved Extension Manager with new options. Please visit our Help Center article on the Extension Manager for further support.
With SketchUp 2017 we have a new and improved Extension Manager with new options. Please visit our Help Center article on the Extension Manager for further support.
SketchUp and .rbz files
It's also possible to install zipped Ruby files (.rbz) from within SketchUp. If your plugin has a standard (.zip) extension, then you may be able to change the extension name from .zip to .rbz and follow the instructions below for installation.
It's also possible to install zipped Ruby files (.rbz) from within SketchUp. If your plugin has a standard (.zip) extension, then you may be able to change the extension name from .zip to .rbz and follow the instructions below for installation.
To install a SketchUp Ruby plugin script with the .rbz format:
- We recommend logging into your computer as an admin before installing any Ruby scripts. This will make the installation go more smoothly and ensure that files get installed in the proper places.
- Select Window > Preferences (Microsoft Windows) or SketchUp > Preferences (Mac OS X). The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
- Click on Extensions. The Extensions panel is displayed.
- Click on the Install Extension button. The Open dialog box is displayed.
- Locate the Ruby zip file to install (.rbz).
- Click on the Open button. The Ruby plugin appears in the list of extensions.
If you have a file with the .rb extension, you can install the plugin by placing the Ruby script file into the appropriate folder, and then restarting SketchUp.
Windows - the default location is:
![Sketchup Sketchup](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125844775/814901196.jpg)
- SketchUp 2018:
C:UsersYOUR USERNAMEAppDataRoamingSketchUpSketchUp 2018SketchUpPlugins
- SketchUp 2017:
C:UsersYOUR USERNAMEAppDataRoamingSketchUpSketchUp 2017SketchUpPlugins
- SketchUp 2016:
C:UsersYOUR USERNAMEAppDataRoamingSketchUpSketchUp 2016SketchUpPlugins
- SketchUp 2015:
C:UsersYOUR USERNAMEAppDataRoamingSketchUpSketchUp 2015SketchUpPlugins
Mac OS X - the default location is:
Open a new Finder window, press and hold the Option key on your keyboard, the click Go in the menu bar and type:
Change the #### to the appropriate version of SketchUp. ~/Library/Application Support/SketchUp ####/SketchUp/Plugins
Tip: you may need to create your plugins folder in the SketchUp folder. To do so click File > New folder in your Finder window.
Once you have restarted SketchUp, you should see that the script's commands have been added to the appropriate menus. You can also run the script using the Ruby Console (open the 'Windows' menu, and then click Ruby Console).
If you installed an extension manually from another source, that extension won’t appear here. See Adding Extensions to SketchUp for details about manual installation through SketchUp Preferences.
Sketchup is, by far, the easiest tool for modeling. Google acquired this software in order to crowd-source the 3D modeling of the earth, since anyone can use it to model their house, school or favourite building. But being simple and fast doesn’t mean it lacks on features.
You can enable several options available on the free standard version, or go pro for more. Also, you can extend it via plugins. Below, two plugins I have found very useful, and also available for free.
The first one is Soap Skin & Bubbles, a plugin designed by german engineer Josef Leibinger, designed to help you in the study of mechanically and pneumatically strained surfaces. The author has also been developing a plugin for tensile structures, but it hasn’t been released yet. But you can still play around with tensile structures on this plugin. You can download Soap Skin & Bubbles for free on their website, and also watch a video tutorial on The Sketchup Show.
The second plugin was developed by Integrated Enviromental Solutions, which lets you assign important sustainable design information like location, building and room type, construction types and HVAC systems to your Sketchup model. From there you can do energy, carbon, daylight and solar analysis, or take this model with all this info to your favourite BIM software. It also allows you to More info and download a the IES Sketchup plugin website. Complete video tutorial on YouTube.
Two very helpful tools for your design pocess, with the ease of use of Sketchup.
Please share with us any other Sketchup plugins you find useful on the comments below.