topic Re: SketchUp Topic Stale? in Collaboration with other software

SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 13:44:47 GMT

Is it because;

People are seeing that SU is so limited that getting a prelim. model just isn't worth it?

The plug-in is a long way from "seamless" so a smooth work flow is not an option.

It's just as fast to prelim in AC

Few design teams need a simple modeller for non-ACers to capture initial design ideas

We are like kids with a new toy, fascinated for a bit but moving on to more fun stuff?

SU seems to offer the simpler front-end to the design process that a lot of sales people etc can use to get client concepts onto "paper". It seems that "modifying from existing home models", as is the case for many home manufacturers, should be simple with SketchUp and communication with the designers a huge step up from faxed napkin scrawls!

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Erika Epstein — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 01:09:09 GMT

I find sketchup is a particularly useful program for the mucky mucks who can quickly learn it and sketch in it in 3D. Far easier learning curve compared to AC.

I don't thinkg it is abig deal ttaht the archicad model is started from scratch. One goes through the same process translating design sketches.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 13:42:45 GMT

I don't thinkg it is abig deal ttaht the archicad model is started from scratch

And if we use the SU plug-in to import the "sketch"?
After all, the purpose is to save recreation of work and reduce error.
That's my point, does it do that?

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Djordje — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:54:43 GMT

Walter wrote:
And if we use the SU plug-in to import the "sketch"? After all, the purpose is to save recreation of work and reduce error. That's my point, does it do that?

Yes, it does.

Provided - as always - that you do the SketchUp model in a certain way. It even slices it up into stories - if you defined the stories in the ArchiCAD files - and you can set up the translation properties.

All in all, works quite well. I had trouble with curved elements, but! - from SketchUp 3.1, so I suppose it might be better with 5?

Anyone with any experience there?

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 17:32:06 GMT

Thanx, Djordje,

This is the feedback I need to keep investing time in an SU/AC workflow.
And SU is very FUN!

I expect thast if one dresses the SU model with interior walls, floors, windows & add some textures, it will have a high overhead but if at that stage, it can be mostly done by the "field modellers" (read "salespeople"), the clients will have a good idea where thier changes of stock models are taking them, saving as much as an initial proposal by the designers.

Certainly better visuals to client early on & less communication errors with the designers.

I will also start to haunt the SU forum.

Again, thanx Djordje & Erika

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Djordje — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 02:59:43 GMT

Walter wrote:
I expect thast if one dresses the SU model with interior walls, floors, windows & add some textures, it will have a high overhead but if at that stage, it can be mostly done by the "field modellers" (read "salespeople"), the clients will have a good idea where thier changes of stock models are taking them, saving as much as an initial proposal by the designers.

Watch out; the plugin assumes that EACH face is converted to a wall, slab or a roof. Therefore, do only one line walls etc - otherwise you will have a hell of a cleanup job in ArchiCAD.

I also had some curious behaviour - software not reacting to clicks, 3D crashing, and so on ... the team is at work on those, it seems.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

stefan — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:55:19 GMT

As much as I like SketchUp & ArchiCAD, I seldomly combine both... I like to have complete control over the ArchiCAD model I am making, so I usually just model from scratch inside ArchiCAD.

I often go the other way around though: getting a CAD model out of ArchiCAD (but usually into 3D animation software, such as 3ds max/VIZ).

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Eduardo Rolon — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:40:16 GMT

Same procedure here, good for quality control of the project.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 00:50:31 GMT

I still look for the magic bullet that will do it all.
Once, that dream was to be able to see your project in 3D sometime, somehow.

How far we have come.

I see that I would likely run an AC with the imported copy of SU and an AC with a clean company template to copy, paste or just mimic the model to keep that level of control & chaos that cross-software models often have.

Still better than napkin sketches, blurry faxes or semi-communicated sort-of-likes over the3 phone!

But one day it will be seemless as every software signs on to a standard yet to be agreed on...

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:32:20 GMT

well I'm still waiting for my magical computer that will import finished archiCAD models from the design I've draughted out in my head

but.. for the time being, I got this plugin today, and I've just been fannying about, and the whole "each face is a wall" thing is.. well.. quite annoying, I havent taken a look at the user defined rules import feature, but is there a way using this to make it import a vertical surface with a thickness as a wall. in sketch up is I draw a 120mm wide wall... can I set the importer to know that a vertical object of 120mm thickness is one wall? or am I way off base?

cheers,
dan

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

stefan — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 07:44:37 GMT

Daniel wrote:
well I'm still waiting for my magical computer that will import finished archiCAD models from the design I've draughted out in my head

but.. for the time being, I got this plugin today, and I've just been fannying about, and the whole "each face is a wall" thing is.. well.. quite annoying, I havent taken a look at the user defined rules import feature, but is there a way using this to make it import a vertical surface with a thickness as a wall. in sketch up is I draw a 120mm wide wall... can I set the importer to know that a vertical object of 120mm thickness is one wall? or am I way off base?

cheers,
dan

I think that you should avoid to draw walls as two faces in SketchUp.
ArchiCAD will import vertical faces as walls, horizontal ones as floorslabs and slanted ones as roofs.

I have heard that SketchUp 6 will have "fat faces": faces which have a thickness and which might be a nice solution for architectural modeling. That could solve a thing or two.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Thomas Holm — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:01:12 GMT

I've been using Sketchup for preliminary designs since I betatested the first MacOSX version (2). While I realise some may find the AC plugin useful, i prefer to just export a dwg from Sketchup and import it as 3D object in Archicad. It gives me the whole free-hand freedom in Sketchup - i don't have to worry about correct dimensions etc (which has been the problem of computerbased sketching all the time).

I import the object into my Archicad template, and start building the model with the object as a background. I get the best of both worlds, and as complete control as I have when using a scanned pencil sketch as background.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:32:27 GMT

Thomas wrote:
i prefer to just export a dwg from Sketchup and import it as 3D object in Archicad. It gives me the whole free-hand freedom in Sketchup - i don't have to worry about correct dimensions etc (which has been the problem of computerbased sketching all the time).

This is the method I typically use, but I still think it would be nice to have the direct import capability. In regards to making walls a single face... how do you do this in sketchup? you can't exactly extrude a line vertically...can you?

cheers,
dan

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

stefan — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:26:28 GMT

Daniel wrote:
Thomas wrote:
i prefer to just export a dwg from Sketchup and import it as 3D object in Archicad. It gives me the whole free-hand freedom in Sketchup - i don't have to worry about correct dimensions etc (which has been the problem of computerbased sketching all the time).
This is the method I typically use, but I still think it would be nice to have the direct import capability. In regards to making walls a single face... how do you do this in sketchup? you can't exactly extrude a line vertically...can you?

cheers,
dan

I usually extrude the outer contours from a building, instead of drawing individual walls.

You can draw vertically, if you want, with the line tool.

My experience with SketchUp is that it's fast modelling speed is quickly lost once you start working on the inside of the building. Using slices/sections helps a bit, but then navigation is more cumbersome. My main use of SketchUp is volume studies.

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:48:51 GMT

I use sketchUp typically only if I want to sketch out a preliminary exterior design, and a very basic floor plan. Although it's really about 50/50 between sketchup / and a draughting table.

cheers,
dan

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 06:10:59 GMT

How much is the SU plugin?

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

__archiben — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 06:54:43 GMT

TMCompany wrote:
How much is the SU plugin?

free. but for you? nothing...

http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/energize9/sketchup.html

~/archiben

Re: SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 20:48:26 GMT

Awesome!!!!!