The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture: Modeling Buildings, Visualizing Design, and Creating Construction Documents with SketchUp Pro and LayOut

Chapter 8

Ruby Scripts

Ruby scripts are the original apps. Before apps were extreme fajitas and potato poppers, and even before apps allowed you to digitally chug a beer on your phone, there were ruby scripts. These little pieces of code expedite the tedious and repetitive tasks in SketchUp that drive you crazy. If you find that a certain task is taking entirely too long, take a step back and start looking for a ruby script. In this section, you will review several useful ruby scripts and learn how to find and install some others.

Find Ruby Scripts

Some rubies are free and some aren’t. Just as with the 3D Warehouse, you get what you pay for. When you purchase a ruby, typically you can expect to receive support and clear instructions. If you grab a free ruby, you should probably expect to put in a little extra effort figuring it out. A great place to buy rubies and grab a few freebies is at www.smustard.com. Huge collections of free ruby scripts are available at the Ruby Library Depot (Google it), www.sketchucation.com, and www.sketchup.com.

Installing Ruby Scripts

Once you have downloaded your ruby, save it to the Plugins folder (for example, C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Plugins). Keep in mind that the path could vary, depending on your drive name and operating system. If a ruby is zipped, you must extract the contents to this location. After the .rb file is saved in the Plugins folder, you will need to close SketchUp and re-open it in order to load the new ruby.