I am aware that there are a few other posts on this subject but ,I like some others, am finding this a bit confusing. Every time I open SU I get the check for updates message for Fredo. It indicates several updates required. See screen grab attached. I have read elsewhere about using the SketchUcation Extension Store to do this. When I open that it says my extensions are all up to date. (The screen grab shows a previous version of Extension Store. I have updated it now but it still says the same thing) I don’t see anything in Ext Store that looks like an update option, but then I wouldn’t if it thinks everything is up to date. The SketchUcation Plugins Manager doesn’t seem to anything other than Load or disable plugins. Undoubtedly I am missing something obvious, and for those of you who do this everyday I am sure it’s straight forward but from where I am sitting, it is confusing and could be much easier. If someone would like to point out the obvious thing I am missing I am all ears. Many thanks in advance.
I don’t see any indication in your PDF of Fredo’s extensions needing updates.
Did you use the Sketchucation ExtensionStore to install Fredo’s extensions in the first place? If not, those extensions won’t be included in the list the Sketchucation ExtensionStore is watching for updates. (You should always use the ExtensionStore to install extensions from Sketchucation so that they do get added to your Bundle and are watched for updates.
If you have installed the extensions by using the ExtensionStore AND there were updates available, there would be update buttons for each extension as well as an Update All button in the SCF ExtensionStore window.
That doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not there are updates available. It allows you to set some extensions to not load on start and also allow you to load extensions only for the current session if you want.
It’s hard to tell in your case what you are missing but for most users who report this sort of thing, they installed extensions from Sketchucation by downloading them to their computer and then using Install Extension from SketchUp’s Extension Manager instead of installing them via the Sketchucation ExtensionStore.
I would go through the extensions you have that came from Sketchucation and install them fresh using the ExtensionStore tool. That includes making sure you have the latest version of the ExtensionStore installed Then quit and restart SketchUp.
Also note that you can check Fredo’s extensions to see if they are out of date via Window>Libfredo Settings>Check Fredo6 Plugins for Update … Click the button at the bottom to make it check.
Edit to add: When you update to a new version of SketchUp or if you install SketchUp on another computer, go to Sketchucation and download the latest version of the Sketchucation ExtensionStore. Install it using Install Extension in SketchUp’s Extension Manager. Then open the ExtensionStore, sign in if it requests that, and then click on the gear icon at the top followed by Bundles. From there you can install the extensions from Sketchucation. You’ll get the latest versions of the extensions and they will be installed correctly.
I thought the plugins that were in red needed updates? I have already done the check that you suggest and it shows the same result, 5 plugins in red.
It certainly seems that it may be that I have installed using SU ext manager. I had no clue that this would be an issue. Would it not be easier if this was indicated when downloading from SketchUcation? Or even preventing SU Ext Manager from installing these plugins if it doesn’t actually manage them?!
Your PDF waopened too wide for my screen so I didn’t see the page showing the updates.
It would appear that you installed the Sketchucation ExtensionStore after installing Fredo’s extensions so, as I explained, they wouldn’t be watched by the ExtensionStore.
As I recall there is information about using the ExtensionStore to install and manage extensions but I guess it often gets missed.
The main cases where this is critical is with licensed extensions such as Fredo’s as well as Clothworks and a few others. The pages for those extensions show the required support files such as LibFredo6 and the Sketchucation ExtensionStore. I can no longer count the number of users who have claimed there was a bug in one of Fredo’s extensions because it wouldn’t work and it turned out the user hadn’t installed LibFredo6.
Here you can see the dependencies for Joint Push/Pull.
As for preventing the SketchUp Extension Manager from installing extensions from Sketchucation, it’s not that simple. I think it would have to be an all or none sort of thing which would prevent users from installing extensions from other sources, too. Sometimes companies have proprietary extensions that their users need to install.
Remember to update the ExtensionStore. It shows you have 4.3 and the current one is 4.4.1
Hi Dave , thanks again for the ever helpful info. I have installed Extension Store 4.4.1 now. I will be removing and reinstalling all my SketchUcation plugins and extensions at the earliest opportunity.
Can’t help thinking though that this could be a bit more user friendly in the way it’s done. I’m sure I am not the only one that gets ‘need to update’ messages and then can’t do it. This requirement for prior knowledge and digging around seems well a bit awkward. A link or button or explanation would be better for us mere mortals.
You shouldn’t need to remove them. The ExtensionStore will overwrite them when you install the fresh copies.
Maybe it could be. The information is presented on the Sketchucation site, though. Maybe they should make it so the only way you can get extensions from Sketchucation is via the ExtensionStore. I don’t know.
Can you suggest what would make it more user friendly? Should the user be required to install the Sketchucation ExtensionStore in order to install any extensions from Sketchucation? If so, that would allow the user to be notified when those extensions get updated and then update them in a just a couple of clicks. Maybe the text for the dependencies should be larger? Or a popup window with that information? How do you get people to read that information if you do present it that way? I’m asking because it would be nice for users to be able to avoid problems with updating their extensions.
I think getting extensions via just the Extension Store would certainly help. The perceived crossover between SketchUp Extension Manager and SketchUcation Store IMHO adds to the confusion. I for one was not aware of the separation between the two ways to get/install/manage extensions.
Definitely. Keep them separate from the outset. I also think terminology adds to the issue. SketchUp Extension Manager does something slightly different to what the SketchUcation Extension Manager does, well that’s my perception anyway. From what I can see it’s SketchUcation Store that seems to manage the updates, or have I got that wrong too?
The eternal question! How do you get people to read stuff, and understand it. I wouldn’t necessarily understand what a dependency is in this context. A bit jargon/techy really. Plain English is always best. Also, it’s a bit lost amongst a lot of other text that will probably be skimmed. I think it probably needs to be more up front how best to install the extensions, especially as there is more than one way, and the technique you choose impacts on future management. Pop ups are good as they can’t really be ignored. Hope that helps.
Sketchucation and the ExtensionStore have been around since well be the SketchUp’s own Extension Warehouse. I can see where those who don’t know might think it’s the same. There is some crossover between the two as far as available extensions. Some authors publish them in both places. Other authors choose one or the other. Fredo and TIG, for example, only publish theirs on Sketchucation.
I can see that. Any suggestion for names? The Sketchucation Extension Manager came first. Who would have to change the name they’re using?
The Sketchucation ExtensionStore tool is used to manage updates for extensions hosted at Sketchucation. The SketchUp Extension Manager is used to update extensions that came from the Extension Warehouse. So both are required.
Incidentally I’ve just updated my extensions via Extension Store, how easy was that?!?!?!?! A further suggestion for you, when Fredo tells you there’s an update required then have a link straight to extension store to do it, checking on the way that extension store itself is at the correct level. 2 clicks and done!
Well, since those extensions were installed with the ExtensionStore tool, going forward all you have to do is open the Sketchucation ExtensionStore and go to the Updates page and click the Install button. You don’t even need to use Fredo’s check extensions thing at all.
The toolbar for the next version of the Sketchucation ExtensionStore will have a sort of red flag to let you know when there are updates to any extensions you installed using the tool. If you leave the toolbar displayed with your other toolbars it’ll be fairly obvious when updates are available.
