What is an RBZ File? How to Open SketchUp Ruby Extension Bundles Online
RBZ files are SketchUp Ruby Extension Bundles — ZIP archives containing Ruby plugins for SketchUp. Open, inspect, and extract RBZ files directly in your browser with no software needed.
Quick answer: An RBZ file is a SketchUp Ruby Extension Bundle — a ZIP-based package that contains Ruby scripts, HTML/CSS/JS files, images, and other resources that make up a SketchUp plugin. You can open and inspect RBZ files directly in your browser at ViewAnyFile.app RBZ Viewer — no SketchUp or software installation required.
What Is an RBZ File?
RBZ is the standard distribution format for SketchUp plugins and extensions. It was introduced by Trimble (makers of SketchUp) to provide a standardised, install-ready container for Ruby-based extensions. Under the hood, an RBZ file is simply a renamed ZIP archive — rename it to .zip and standard tools like WinZip, 7-Zip, or macOS Archive Utility can open it.
What's Inside an RBZ File?
- 📄 Ruby scripts (.rb) — the core plugin logic written in Ruby
- 🌐 HTML/CSS/JS files — dialog boxes and web-based UI panels
- 🖼️ Images and icons — toolbar icons, UI graphics (.png, .svg)
- 📋 Manifest / metadata — extension name, version, author details
- 📁 Support files — JSON data, language localisations, configuration
How to Open an RBZ File Without SketchUp
You have several options:
Option 1: Use ViewAnyFile (Recommended — no install needed)
- Go to ViewAnyFile.app
- Drag and drop your .rbz file onto the viewer
- The archive opens immediately, showing all files inside
- Click any file (Ruby script, HTML, image) to preview its contents right in the browser
The viewer supports clicking Ruby (.rb) files to read the source code, images to preview them, and JSON/XML files to view formatted data — all without extracting or installing anything.
Option 2: Rename to .zip and extract
- Make a copy of the .rbz file
- Rename it: change the
.rbzextension to.zip - Open with WinZip, 7-Zip (Windows), Archive Utility (macOS), or
unzip(Linux/Terminal) - Browse the extracted contents in your file manager
Option 3: Install in SketchUp (intended workflow)
If you want to actually use the extension in SketchUp:
- Open SketchUp → Window → Extension Manager
- Click Install Extension
- Select the .rbz file and click Open
- SketchUp installs and loads the extension automatically
RBZ vs Other Archive Formats
| Format | Used For | Based On |
|---|---|---|
| .rbz | SketchUp plugins | ZIP |
| .vsix | VS Code extensions | ZIP |
| .xpi | Firefox extensions | ZIP |
| .crx | Chrome extensions | ZIP |
| .jar | Java libraries | ZIP |
| .apk | Android apps | ZIP |
| .nupkg | NuGet packages | ZIP |
All of these formats are ZIP-based containers with a custom extension. ViewAnyFile supports all of them as explorable archives — drag in any of these files and browse their contents.
Reading Ruby Scripts Inside an RBZ
One of the most useful features when inspecting an RBZ is reading the Ruby source code. This helps you:
- Understand what a plugin does before installing it (security check)
- Debug issues with an extension that's not working
- Learn SketchUp's Ruby API by reading well-written plugins
- Modify a plugin's behavior for your specific workflow
In the ViewAnyFile archive explorer, click any .rb file and its source code is displayed immediately with syntax highlighting. No text editor needed.
Common RBZ Files and What They Contain
Popular SketchUp extensions distributed as RBZ files include:
- Material libraries — dozens of material texture images plus a Ruby loader script
- Rendering plugins — complex Ruby code plus HTML-based settings panels
- Geometry tools — a single lightweight .rb file for simple geometry operations
- Import/export plugins — Ruby code plus JSON format specifications
Can I Create an RBZ File?
Yes. If you develop SketchUp extensions, package your plugin for distribution:
- Organise your extension files in a folder
- Select all files and compress to ZIP
- Rename the
.zipto.rbz - Test by installing into SketchUp via Extension Manager
Trimble's official SketchUp developer documentation covers the required structure in detail — the main requirement is a correctly formatted manifest file and a valid Ruby loader at the root.
Open Your RBZ File Now
Drag your RBZ file to ViewAnyFile.app to instantly explore its contents — no software, no installation, fully private (files never leave your device).