Google Warehouse connection - Mac version ?!?!?!?

[rm]

As far as i can GS has provided no tool for its Mac customers to import objects from Google object library. I hope I am wrong, but Mac users have been waiting for this since this came out on the windows side back AC 10.

What the heck is so hard about getting this done. We all know how dated and totally irrelevant the AC library has been for almost 10 years, and it continues to get ignore. Fine, build the hooks into Google Warehouse for your Mac users.

It would be nice to build model interiors and use real objects like kitchen equip, furniture, lighting, accessories and the like that don't look like generic crap that comes with the AC library.

Seriously, does GS really think their library is good?!?!? We as users have been telling them, along with resellers for over a decade now how bad their libraries are.

Yet, GS sure has figured out how to adopt ridiculous licensing fees - very AutoCad like without the AutoCad world wide support

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Robert,

As you'll see on the download pages, and in many threads here, it is not that Graphisoft does not want to support the Mac, but that Google has not provided the necessary support software (SDK) to allow for implementation of the add-ons on the Mac. Graphisoft is still waiting ... and promises us an add-on as soon as Google delivers.

Cheers,
Karl

[Rafal SLEK]

I don't know if it is the same SDK - but Piranesi got built Google Warehouse connection for MacOS as well as PC version.

p.s. ArchiCAD libraries are very very good... 🙂

[Karl Ottenstein]

Rafal wrote:
I don't know if it is the same SDK - but Piranesi got built Google Warehouse connection for MacOS as well as PC version.

Yeah, I had put the developers in touch with each other when Piranesi first introduced that. Apparently there was some kit that Google had, but which they would no longer deliver, and NDA prevented those who got it from sharing it with those who did not get it before it was removed. Piranesi (Informatix) is using some grandfathered code, I guess ... but it works!

[rm]

Karl,

you seem to have a lot of insight on this topic. Do we know the last time GS even tried to get SDK from Google?

Do we know why Google would hold it back, another dig at Apple perhaps.

It is just so freaking annoying that we have such lousy libraries available to us in AC especially knowing there are hundreds of thousands great object models available from the Google library.

I wish GS would put forth a strong effort to get this resolved for its Mac based clients - that or hire some "Top Gun" GDL specialists to bring the library out of the dark age.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Robert,

I wouldn't know any details of GS interactions with Google, but would assume that with each release, as they update all add-ons, that they check for the updated Mac SDK.

Here is a list of API's that Google makes available:
http://code.google.com/intl/en/more/
Warehouse is not there. Over here:
http://sketchupapi.blogspot.com/
it says "We also removed Client Warehouse SDK from the package. If you need support on this please post your contact info to the SDK support group." And, I think that is just the beginning of the runaround. I'm sure the details are boring, but that Graphisoft would love to not be in the situation that they are in with this add-on year after year. If they could solve it, they would.

You've found one way of getting the objects - installing Windows in a VM to use the add-on. Another is if you own SketchUp Pro, since it interfaces with Warehouse and can save anything as 3DS and then one uses the ArchiCAD 3DS import to get the objects.

Be careful with Warehouse objects - they do not list polygon count or anything, and one elaborately made object may slow down your project. Use the ArchiCAD polycount add-on to check your objects from time to time to make sure that you don't have a resource hog.

I agree that it would sure be nice to have this working on Macs ... as well as to have a more professional standard library.

Cheers,
Karl