Collaboration with other software
About model and data exchange with 3rd party solutions: Revit, Solibri, dRofus, Bluebeam, structural analysis solutions, and IFC, BCF and DXF/DWG-based exchange, etc.

SketchUp Topic Stale?

Anonymous
Not applicable
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!
17 REPLIES 17
stefan
Advisor
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.
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad28/Revit2024/Rhino8/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sequoia+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
Thomas Holm
Booster
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.
AC4.1-AC26SWE; MacOS13.5.1; MP5,1+MBP16,1
Anonymous
Not applicable
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
stefan
Advisor
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.
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad28/Revit2024/Rhino8/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sequoia+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
Anonymous
Not applicable
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
Anonymous
Not applicable
How much is the SU plugin?
__archiben
Booster
TMCompany wrote:
How much is the SU plugin?
free. but for you? nothing...

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

~/archiben
b e n f r o s t
b f [a t ] p l a n b a r c h i t e c t u r e [d o t] n z
archicad | sketchup! | coffeecup
Anonymous
Not applicable
Awesome!!!!!