The TF rubies are a set of plugin extensions for timber framers. Version 2.2 has just been released, and is available here:

http://www.northernlightstimberframing.com/su/downloads/tfrubies.rbz


To Install, use Sketchup 8's new plugin install feature:

· Download the file tfrubies.rbz using the link above. Save it somewhere on your computer, like your desktop.

· In Sketchup, from the main menu, select Window | Preferences. (Sketchup | Preferences on a Mac)

· Choose Extensions from the menu on the left.

· Press the Install Extension button.

· Browse to the file tfrubies.rbz that you downloaded in the first step.

· Answer “yes” to all the warnings.

· Restart Sketchup.


New features:

Stretch Tool. It works just like the built-in move tool, except that it moves only one end of the component. So, just place one end of the timber component where it belongs using the move tool, then select the stretch tool, and grab the other end of the timber by an appropriate handle, such as a shoulder line, or post bottom. Then drag that end to its desired location and click again to drop it. Just like the move tool, you can simply place the mouse cursor over any location on the face of the target timber. I suggest you map the shortcut key "s" to this tool, and use this instead of the native "scale" tool provided by Sketchup.

Show Pegs. When preparing a model for presentation to a client, you will probably want to spruce it up with textures, walls, windows, etc. You can use Plugins | TF Rubies | Add Pegs to add cosmetic pegs to your model. Note that these are just little “pegettes” for presentation only. They will not follow along when you move timbers around. They are all on their own layer, so it’s easy to erase them all, and recreate them again. They are all the same component, so if you change one, you change the, all. So you can add a texture or color or chamfer to all of them easily. Delete or hide this layer before you make shop drawings or generating a timber list.