Working with CAD and Other Programs

File preparation is the key to success. Import only what you need, comprised of elements SketchUp can recognize. An often-used strategy in preparation for import is to work with a sacrificial copy of the CAD file. Look into what’s actually in the files you are trying to import. Here are just a few of the things to consider when CAD import problems occur: What’s in the file in terms of unsupported* CAD elements? DWG/DXF Supported CAD Elements

Was the file properly prepared for import? How should I prepare a CAD file for import into SketchUp?

Were the Import Options set correctly? The Import AutoCAD DWG/DXF Options dialog box

SketchUp YouTube videos Official SketchUp videos

• Preparing CAD file SketchUp Help Center

• CADLayers SketchUp plugin to exports layer states from AutoCAD and import into SketchUp.

• Cooking CAD Pro thread - Recipe to prepping CAD files to import into SketchUp.

• Revisiting Cooking CAD Pro thread - Recipe to prepping CAD files to import into SketchUp - condensed edition.

• Best partner drafting software to Sketchup Pro thread - recommended CAD programs.

• Is there a fix to import PDF's to Sketch up on a PC? If so, what is it? Anssi describes how to convert a vector PDF and bring it into SketchUp. xxxx [dead link]

• Export to DXF or DWG -doesn't Pro thread - troubleshooting

• Frustrated! AutoCAD DXF Exporting Circles SketchUcation - Script-based method to make SketchUp's segmented circles export better for AutoCAD.

• Output DXF for laser cutting Anssi covers what you can expect from SketchUp for DXF export. xxx [dead link]

• SketchUp and AutoCAD 3D Basecamp 2008 video session. Daniel Tal and Mitchel Stangl handouts

• SketchUp and ArchiCAD 3D Basecamp 2008 video session by Thomas Simmons

• SketchUp DWG Import Guide thomthom - Valuable import tips.

• SketchUp School’s video course library has a course that covers this in depth.

• About coordinate system between AutoCAD and SketchUp Gaieus details how to retain and work with AutoCAD coordinates far away from the SketchUp origin. xxx

Edge Prep Plugins

• Architect Tools ThomThom - A plugin with a suite of tools to work with imported DWG data.

• BezierSpline Fredo6 - After segmented lines have been welded into polylines, this plugin will add curve control nodes.

• CADspan Suite of tools, including solid checking, to make a model ready for 3D printing and a cloud processing.

• CleanUp³ ThomThom - Helps to clean up models.

• CloseOpens Todd Burch - It helps to clean up sloppy imported CAD models - a cleanup script.

• DynaSCAPE CAD Cleanup Dynascape - Automates routines to clean up CAD files for SketchUp.

• Edge Tools² ThomThom - Edge tool collection to help clean up CAD imports.

• fixSolid GWD - Closes holes.

• Flatten Todd Burch - Flattens 3D objects to 2D, placing all entities on the Z=0 plane. Fee

• Flatten and Extrude ThomThom

• Flatten to Plane TIG - (requires workplane.rb plugin)

• MakeFaces Todd Burch - Loops through your model and creates faces where faces need to be created.

• Manifold TIG - A plugin which helps prepare a SketchUp model for 3-D printing. (Solid detection introduced in SketchUp 8 mostly replaces this plugin now.)

• Recurve Diggory Blake - Welds connected edges into a polyline.

• Simplify Contours SketchUp - Makes topo lines, contour lines, less complex to be easier to use in SketchUp

• Solid Inspector ThomThom - The plugin checks if Groups or Components are solids or not, highlighting holes or areas or errors. Can be used to find gaps and stray edges in messy CAD imports. Pre-SketchUp 2014.

• Solid Iinspector² ThomThom - Newer version for SketchUp 2014 and above.

• SolidSolver TIG - Works with ThomThom's Solid Inspector to diagnose model problems.

• Weld Smustard - Welds connected edges into a polyline. Afterwards can use Bezierspline to finetune the polyline shape.

Tip: To get a clean, 3D export of true geometry (ie, true arcs), delete all faces before exporting. Using 2D Tools also makes clean geometry exports.

When you import a DWG or DXF into SketchUp Pro, you should check in the import options (Options button on the Import File dialog box) that the import unit is set to the same unit that was used when creating the file. The default import unit is Feet. SketchUp does not read the unit from the file automatically, and the import unit is set independently of the unit you use when modelling. Also, when importing DWG/DXF files exported from SketchUp into some other application, note that the SketchUp exporter has a small bug that leaves the unit factors that are embedded in the file to wrong values (except if you are using inches) so also in other applications the import unit should be set "manually".

When you export 2D views from SketchUp to DWG/DXF, note that you can only define a scale if the view you are exporting uses Parallel projection (Camera menu) instead of Perspective. A scale relation to reality is impossible and irrelevant to a perspective view.

Another thing that causes crashes or missing geometry is the import unit (see what is behind the Options button on the Import dialog box) being too small. If the file has very small triangles, it may even be necessary to import using a larger unit than originally used to model the thing, and to scale the model back down when imported.

If you made it with AutoCad Architecture or some other "vertical-market" version of AutoCad, the 3D objects like walls, roofs etc. are in a proprietary format that cannot be imported directly into other software. AutoCad Architecture has an "Export to AutoCad" function that converts these objects into standard AutoCad 3D geometry.

If AutoCAD files are older than version 12 (released about 1993 or 1994), some problems might arise. You can convert old files (from release 10 or newer) to newer formats with the free DWG TrueView from Autodesk. Note that SketchUp cannot import the latest (version 2013) files yet. Usually the reason why DWG files won't open in SketchUp is that they contain objects that are not supported, like AEC objects (like walls and doors created in AutoCad Architecture).

Zombies

After the DWG/DXF file is imported, a SketchUp dialog will list ignored items.

The "zombies" the report refers to are most probably an indication that the file consists mainly of just the kind of proprietary objects. Zombie objects are proxies that refer to objects created in an application that is missing. Standard AutoCad can display them with the help of so-called "Object enablers", but to convert them into something that SketchUp can read you need the full originating application and its "Export to AutoCad" function.

Anssi

Dashed Lines

• • Draw line > select line > right click > Divide into many small segments > hide every other segment with Eraser + Shift.

  • Draw line segment (or rectangle with hidden edges for added width/color options), select it then make a linear array with the Move tool. Group the geometry.

  • Use one of the plugins listed below

Hatches

• • • • 120 Skalp materials NEN arceringen Free hatch patterns from Skalp

      • 2D Tools TIG - 2D drawing options similar to those found in CAD, includes hatching patterns tool. User can add more textures.

      • AutoCAD hatches Jim Patrick - 43 popular hatch patterns to be used as SketchUp materials. xxx

      • Concrete Hatch klog1947 - 3D Warehouse model. Save the embedded materials in one or your own collections through the Materials browser in SketcUp.

      • Hatchfaces jolran - Hatch-making plugin - real geometry hatches.

      • Hatch patterns Gully Foyle shares some hatch patterns.

      • Skalp Extension which includes special hatch patterns that work like materials inside SketchUp but will export as geometry to CAD applications. Fee

      • Search the internet for AutoCAD hatches to be used in SketchUp as materials.

• • import CAD drawings(dwg) into sketchup pro, text and dimension is missing.? how to retrieve? George Knowles goes over converting text and dimensions to edges to import into SketchUp. xxx

PDF to DXF (note: Macs will natively import PDF vector files, but Windows requires a file converter.)

• • pstoedit

  • Inkscape

Poché

• • How to Poche in Sketchup (fill inbetween walls) Robert Pineo

  • Quick and dirty poché for sectional views SketchUpdate blog article.

  • Quick poché for your section cuts SketchUpdate blog article.

Title Blocks

• • Matt_Cartouche Matt666 - Plugin to add a basic title block.

  • Rich Text Render Plus - Wizard on RpTools to create editable image with rich text, images, more. Fee - Windows

  • Title Block Pro thread covering the use of custom-made fonts

  • Watermark Add a background or foreground image with the title block information.

Relevant Plugins

Note: To download plugins from SketchUcation, join the forum and logon.

Note²: For any plugins at the Ruby Library Depot, open the Wayback Machine and paste the old Depot link there to view archived captures of the internet.

• • 2D Tools TIG - 2D drawing options similar to those found in CAD, including hatching patterns and dashes.

  • Add Layer Jim Foltz - Controls and edits Layer visibility in Scenes while setting up Scenes/Layers or after.

  • Angular Dimension slbaumgartner - Draws angular dimensions.

  • Architect Tools thomthom - A suite of tools to work with imported DWG data.

  • AreaTextTag TIG - Adds 3D text tag component of face area glued to face.

  • Axo + Iso View TIG - Sets camera for axonometric or isometric view with appropriate zoom extents.

  • Break Edges

    • • Eneroth Edge Breaking Toggle Eneroth - Toggle whether edges should break or not when drawn edge intersect another edge.

      • ToggleBreakEdges Rick Wilson - Toggles the BreakEdges functionality of SketchUp 7+.

  • CADLayers Exports layer states from AutoCAD and import into SketchUp.

  • CADup TIG - Makes line drawings views of SketchUp Groups and Components for CAD programs.

  • CleanUp thomthom - Variety of model cleanup options.

  • CloseOpens Todd Burch - It helps to clean up sloppy imported CAD models - a cleanup script.

  • Construction Lines

    • • Construction Line Clark B - Converts selected edges to construction lines. Context menu plugin.

      • Construction Line Styler TIG - Style guide lines via context menu with various patterns.

      • Construction line tool Jim Foltz - Draws guide lines line as easy as using the Line tool. Several line styles.

      • Guide Tools thomthom - Set of tools for creating construction points.

      • Xline Rick Wilson - Convert edges to construction lines. Context menu plugin.

  • Convert DWG Layer Names to Materials Al Hart

  • Create Section Drawing tak2hata - Tools to create and work with multiple section cuts and export section DXFs.

  • Dashed Lines

    • • 2D Tools TIG - 2D drawing options similar to those found in CAD, including colored, dashed lines (the dashes are actually arrayed, painted faces. This will add a lot geometry to the model.)

      • ChrisP_ColorEdge Chris Plassaiis - Make colored edges and dashed lines.

      • DashedLines Todd Burch - Converts regular lines to dashed lines. Fee

      • dashes Didier Bur - Creates dashes on roads, starting from a selection of connected lines

      • PenTools+ Rich O'Brien - Draws various edge types.

      • Polyline tool Wizard in the toolset RpTools by Render Plus. Fee - Windows

  • Dibac for SketchUp Iscarnet - Draw in 2D and get 3D dynamically. Nice auto-fill section cutting too. Free trial, Fee

  • Dim/Text Visibility TIG, Defisto - Control the visibility of dimensions and text.

  • Divide Angle TIG - Bisect an angle.

  • Double Line Didier Bur - similar to dline.lsp

  • Double LIne 2 DrawArcs Didier Bur - Different methods for drawing an arc.

  • DXF_In Importer (alpha) by honoluludesktop.

  • Edges/Construction Lines Converter Michaelv - Interchange edges and guide lines. Change line/edge color.

  • Edge Tools² thomthom - Edge tool collection to help clean up CAD imports.

  • EditInPlace Opens another SketchUp session to work on small details of larger models. Fee - Windows, Mac

  • ElevTag TIG - Adds elevation tags to model.

  • ExtendCloseLines Todd Burch - A CAD cleanup script.

  • Face Flattener cerevellum - Flattens selected geometry to a single plane - retains face.

  • Flatten Todd Burch - Flattens 3D objects to 2D.

  • Flatten and Extrude thomthom

  • Hatchfaces jolran - Hatching is geometry. It will get detected in other CAD-programs (hopefully) through export.

  • LandF/X LandF/X - A landscape architectural add-on to create planting and site plans from AutoCAD plans. Free

  • layers_materials Didier Bur - Convert DWG layer names to materials.

  • MakeOrthoViews Jim Foltz - Copies a Group to create Orthographic Views for 2D CAD export.

  • Milling Tools thomthom - Creates Dog-Bone fillets on the faces you click on.

  • Parking Rick Wilson - Draws parking lot lines.

  • Plan Tools thomthom - Tools to help fix DWG data imported into SketchUp.

  • realSection GWdyouw - Create real sections with different materials.

  • RotateView SketchUp God, aka r - Rotates workspace orientation. Works in Top View only. Plugin menu.

  • RpTools Render Plus - Toolset adding things like inserting 2D rich text documents and exporting PDFs with custom line attributes, creating proxy components, etc. Fee - Windows

  • Skalp Sections and patterns. Fee

  • StrayLines Todd Burch - Label, Select, Delete or Show all the open-ended line segments in a drawing.

  • TECLA bomastudio - Tools for insert walls, floor, columns, like in ArchiCAD, AllPlan etc

  • Text

    • • Dims/Text Visibility TIG, Defisto - Toggles dimensions on/off (hidden/shown.)

      • Dispatch Objects Didier Bur, Rich Wilson - Isolates all texts, dims, construction lines/points and section planes on separate layers.

      • find and replace text Didier Bur

      • How to create shortcuts for degree and diameter symbols? Lively discussion on existing options to display special symbols.

      • import note Didier Bur - Imports an ASCII text file as a block or line by line.

      • import text Didier Bur - Imports an ASCII text file as a block or line by line.

      • importDXFtext TIG - Imports 'flat' DXF text to match imported DXF geometry.

      • Import DXF text as label TommyK - Imports DXF Text as Text Labels. Only DXF Text is supported.

      • pick import text Didier Bur - Imports and places an ascii text file as a block or line by line.

      • RpTools Render Plus - Tool set which includes a 2D rich text wizard to add editable Face Me document components. Fee - Windows

      • TextLeaderOverride Todd Burch - Adds two more options for default text leader text. Fee - Windows, Mac

      • ToDoList Rick Wilson - Adds a to-do list. Fee

  • thicklines Rick Wilson - Creates multiple edges close to each other to make a thicker looking line.

  • VisTools Dana Woodman - AutoCAD-like visibility tools.

Bypass - or co-ordinate with - CAD applications by using LayOut (included with SketchUp Pro)

• Getting Started with LayOut Official SketchUp video

• Building a Presentation from Start to Finish with LayOut 2008 SketchUp Basecamp video using LayOut beta from SketchUp 6 Pro (LayOut 2 from SketchUp 7 Pro is MUCH better than this dated, but useful, but instructive video indicates.)

• SketchUp and AutoCAD 2008 SketchUp Basecamp video. Sexy LayOut techy, schematic drawings with some 3D detailed callouts by Mitchel Stangl around minute 53 in the video - High Quality version. A case study by Mitchel Stangl with more LayOut drawings. The other case studies accessed through the link at page top also may be useful.

• Construction Drawings viewsion - Projects drawn with SketchUp and LayOut, hosted on Picasa (note: the viewer may need to sign in to Picasa to view images.)

'Other' Modelers A sub-section on the Sage Resources page which lists some CAD programs that play nice with SketchUp.

ArcGIS to SketchUp and Back New workflow on working with ArcGIS 10 and SketchUp.

• • Exporting SketchUp files to work in Illustrator Anssi - Use a PDF/EPS export to send a SketchUp file into Illustrator.

  • Illustrator to SketchUp Prepping Illustrator file for export to SketchUp. DXF import plugins SketchUp Pro can import DXF files, but the free-crowd would need an import plugin.

  • Meshes in Photoshop CS4 BluNos describes how to get a DAE mesh in Photoshop from a SketchUp image.

  • Methods with several Adobe "AE" products SketchUcation thread describing several methods of work.

• • Automated SketchUp 2 Excel farazforoozan - Automate SketchUp through MS Excel.

  • Excel Data to Model TaffGoch - using an Excel spreadsheet to plot cloud data points for import into SketchUp. (There's an update to Cloud_v8 plugin mentioned in Taff's post.)

  • How to draw a two dimensional airfoil using Sketchup and public domain tables TaffGoch - Working through the process of importing spreadsheet data into SketchUp.

  • SketchUp Export to Excel tongvw - YouTube video.

Tip: On Macs, save the CSV file for Windows CSV (which is used to move files to Windows/XP) to make the Cloud plugin work.

• • More tips on using SketchUp with spreadsheet data for terrain models.

Plugins

Note: To download plugins from SketchUcation, join the forum and logon.

Note²: For any plugins at the Ruby Library Depot, open the Wayback Machine and paste the old Depot link there to view archived captures of the internet.

• • • Cloud Didier Bur

    • Construction Guide Context Tools TIG - Context menu tools to help manage all those guide points.

    • Connect the Dots sdmitch - Reads a CSV file with one x,y,z coordinate per line and draws lines between them.

    • Coords Text Tag from Datum TIG - Import a CSV coordinates file with option to mark the locations with a guide point and text tag.

    • Curviloft Fredo6 - Loft and skin a model using the contours generated in SketchUp from the imported cloud point data.

    • Curvizard Fredo6 - Interactive tools to work on the contours generated from the imported cloiud point data.

    • Export Cpoints to CSV TIG

    • Export Vertices to CSV TIG

    • Extrude Tools TIG - Extrude a model using the contours generated in SketchUp from the imported cloud point data.

    • gsi_importer Jim Hamilton - Will import Leica TXT data (in feet) into SketchUp model (using FEET units) from Leica model Builder 100.

    • Inventory3D for Excel Luno - Graphical 3D 'inside-plan' inventory, design, bill-of-materials calculation and facilities maintenance using Excel spreadsheets database. Fee Windows

    • Point Gadget CMD - Import, create, visualize and export points. More features than Total Station Point Importer.

    • pointools Plugin to work with large point cloud models.

    • points_cloud_triangulation Didier Bur

    • SU2XL Wisext - Exchange data between SketchUp and Excel.

    • Triangulate Points TIG - Alternative version to points_cloud_triangulation.

    • Total Station Point Importer CMD - Places points in SketchUp from total stations and other precision measuring devices CSV and txt files.