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Install Urbanaut

Need: Windows 64-bit, and either Rhino 8.20 or newer, or SketchUp. An UrbanEyes account is needed once you open the app, not to download it. Before launching Desktop, install Microsoft's .NET 8 Desktop Runtime for Windows x64. Choose Desktop Runtime, not just .NET Runtime. It is not bundled, keeping downloads small. Rhino must use its own .NET 8 runtime; if needed, run SetDotNetRuntime, select .NET 8, and restart Rhino.

World Site maps in both Desktop and the Rhino panel require Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (Evergreen), which is separate from .NET. The download includes the WebView2 loader, but not the browser runtime. If maps are blank or the runtime is missing, install the Evergreen WebView2 Runtime from Microsoft, then restart Urbanaut and Rhino. These requirements are also included in every release's README.txt.

1. Download

Open /urbanaut and click Get for Windows. No sign-in needed for this step. The zip is hashed in the browser (SHA-256) before it is saved. If the hash does not match, the file is discarded.

2. Unzip

You should see desktop/Urbanaut.Desktop.exe, rhino/Urbanaut.Rhino.rhp, and sketchup/Urbanaut.SketchUp.rbz (layout may put the plugin files next to the exe in artifacts/current builds).

3. Desktop

Run Urbanaut.Desktop.exe. Sign in with Google or email. The panel stays locked until you do.

4. Rhino 8

  • Drag Urbanaut.Rhino.rhp onto the Rhino window, or use PluginManager.
  • Run UrbanStart to open the panel. The command line shows the installed Urbanaut version.
  • Connect from the Connect pill if it is not already live.

5. SketchUp

  • Extension Manager → Install from rbz → Urbanaut.SketchUp.rbz.
  • Open the Urbanaut panel from the Urbanaut menu.
  • Desktop talks to SketchUp on a local port. Leave Desktop running if you use the floating window.

6. Paste an API key

Urbanaut does not sell model tokens. In the app, open Settings (or type /model), pick Gemini, OpenAI or Claude, paste your key, and Save connection. Keys stay in Windows Credential Manager on this PC. Step-by-step: API keys.

7. Later updates

When a newer build is published, the app tells you. Tap Update now on the account circle (or Check for updates). Urbanaut downloads a signed zip, checks the hash, and replaces the same desktop, Rhino and SketchUp folders. Sign-in, chats and your model stay put.

  • Quit Rhino and SketchUp if they are open. Windows cannot replace a plugin that is loaded.
  • Desktop restarts on its own. In Rhino, save, quit, reopen, then run UrbanStart.
  • The Rhino plug-in GUID does not change. Do not unzip into a new folder each week or Rhino will keep pointing at the old .rhp.

Stuck? Help and feedback. Write to info@urbaneyes.in.