The Maxwell for SketchUp plugin runs in one of two modes: Standalone (SA), and Render Suite (RS). Both of these are supported using a common installer, with the determination of which is used being based on the type of license found at plugin start-up. For more information on licensing, please see here.
Compatibility
- SketchUp and SketchUp Pro, version 6 and up (note: 64-bit only, for SketchUp 2015)
- Maxwell Render 3.1
- Windows Vista and up
- Mac OSX 10.7 and up
Installation
Windows
- Unzip the downloaded zip file to your Desktop.
- Double-click the installer (Maxwell_for_SketchUp-x.x.x.exe) file.
- Choose the desired SketchUp versions and click Install.
Mac OSX
- Unzip the downloaded zip file to your Desktop.
- Double-click the installer (Maxwell_for_SketchUp-x.x.x.app) file.
- Choose the desired SketchUp versions and click Install.
Uninstallation
Windows
- Open Windows Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- Uninstall the desired versions of Maxwell for SketchUp.
- Optionally, use the Plugin Files section below to confirm the plugin's files have been removed.
Mac OSX
- Double-click the installer (Maxwell_for_SketchUp-x.x.x.app) file.
- Choose the desired SketchUp versions and click Uninstall.
- Optionally, use the Plugin Files section below to confirm the plugin's files have been removed.
Plugin Version
The plugin supports running in one of two modes, Standalone (SA), or Render Suite (RS), with the determination of which depending on the type of license found at start-up (with the plugin first checking for a Maxwell Render Suite license, then a Standalone Maxwell for SketchUp license). If no license is found, the plugin will run in unlicensed mode, in which resolution is restricted, and the Production render engine is not available.
Troubleshooting
If the plugin menu and/or toolbars do not show up in SketchUp after installing, the first thing to do is to go to SketchUp’s Preferences > Extensions panel and make sure the Maxwell for SketchUp extension is enabled. If the still plugin fails to load, or causes any malfunction as it is loaded into SketchUp, it is recommended to manually perform a clean install, in case the issue is due either to the presence of files from different plugin versions, or files that are missing or corrupted.
Windows
First, use Programs and Features to uninstall any currently-installed instances of the Maxwell for SketchUp plugin. Next, use Explorer to confirm that the following files have been deleted:
- maxwell.rb
- maxwell (folder)
- Skp2Mxs.dll
The locations of these files, for different versions of SketchUp, may be found in the Plugin Files section below. After ensuring that the listed files have been deleted, re-run the plugin's installer. Should the issue continue to occur, repeat the process using a fresh download of the plugin, in case the one you are using has been damaged (by a third-party virus scanner, or unzip program, for instance).
Mac OSX
The plugin's installer application may also be used to uninstall the plugin. To do so, run the installer again, choose the versions of SketchUp for which you wish to uninstall the plugin, and click Uninstall. The installer will generate a report indicating whether the uninstall was successful; if not, use Finder to locate and delete:
- maxwell.rb
- maxwell (folder)
- Skp2Mxs.plugin
The locations of these files, for different versions of SketchUp, may be found in the Plugin Files section below. After ensuring that the listed files have been deleted, re-run the plugin's installer. Should the issue continue to occur, repeat the process using a fresh download of the plugin, in case the one you are using has been damaged (by a third-party virus scanner, or unzip program, for instance).
If the installer should fail to properly install the plugin, note that it is also possible to perform a manual installation, using files contained directly inside of the installer .app. To access these files, right-click the installer .app and choose Show Package Contents. Inside the package, you will find the various plugin files, in the Contents/Resources subfolder. Detailed instructions regarding which files should be installed for different versions of SketchUp, and where they should be installed, may be found in the readme.rtf file, in the downloaded zip file.
Plugin Files
The plugin consists of two main parts: a SketchUp Ruby Extension, consisting of a maxwell.rb file and maxwell folder, and, for the Render Suite plugin, a SketchUp 3D Exporter plugin, named Skp2Mxs.dll on Windows and Skp2Mxs.plugin on Mac OSX. The standard location of these files, for each OS and version of SketchUp, is as follows:
maxwell.rb and the maxwell folder on Windows:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 6\Plugins
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Plugins
- C:\Program Files (x86)\SketchUp\SketchUp 2013\Plugins
- C:\ProgramData\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\SketchUp\Plugins
maxwell.rb and the maxwell folder on Mac OSX:
- /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 6/SketchUp/plugins
- /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/plugins
- /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/plugins
- ~/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2013/SketchUp/Plugins
- ~/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins
Note: the ~/Library folder may be hidden by default; to locate it in Finder, use Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Library, and click Go.
Skp2Mxs.dll on Windows:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 6\Exporters
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Exporters
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Exporters
- C:\Program Files (x86)\SketchUp\SketchUp 2013\Exporters
- C:\Program Files (x86)\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\Exporters
Skp2Mxs.plugin on Mac OSX:
- /Applications/Google SketchUp 6/SketchUp.app/Contents/PlugIns
- /Applications/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp.app/Contents/PlugIns
- /Applications/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp.app/Contents/PlugIns
- /Applications/SketchUp 2013/SketchUp.app/Contents/PlugIns
- /Applications/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp.app/Contents/PlugIns