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Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Sketchup into ArchiCAD

Anonymous
Not applicable
I would like to import a Sketchup component from the 3D Warehouse (a modeled piece of furniture) into ArchiCAD 13 but don't know how. I am reading various answers - do I need the Sketchup Add-On for ArchiCAD, or a Goodie? I don't really know much about Sketchup. By exporting the item as a .dwg I was able to bring it into ArchiCAD as a line drawing but I'd love to have the whole model.
6 REPLIES 6
Anonymous
Not applicable
There are a number of ways to do this, but in you case I would:

1- Export from Sketchup as a .3ds file.
2- Open ArchiCAD, go to Help Menu and click on ArchiCAD xx Downloads
3- Download and install the 3D Studio In Add-on
4- Follow it's instructions
NCornia
Graphisoft Alumni
Graphisoft Alumni
I would use the Google Earth Connections add-on as it requires fewer steps and does not require the pro version of Sketchup (free version does not export to 3ds file).

The GEC add-on allows you to directly import models from the Google 3D warehouse. It also allows you to open .skp files directly in ArchiCAD. Once the add-on is installed, when you go to File>Open you will notice that .skp has been added to the available filetypes to open. The add-on also allows you to import and export from/to Google Earth, etc.

Here is the link to watch demo videos download: http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/addons/google_earth/

Nicholas
Nicholas Cornia
Technical Support Team - GRAPHISOFT North America
ARCHICAD on Twitter
Tutorials
GRAPHISOFT Help Center
Anonymous
Not applicable
It also only works on a Windows platform, and RobinT does not tell us what his is...
NCornia
Graphisoft Alumni
Graphisoft Alumni
True, I forgot to mention that. Thanks Miguel.
Nicholas Cornia
Technical Support Team - GRAPHISOFT North America
ARCHICAD on Twitter
Tutorials
GRAPHISOFT Help Center
Anonymous
Not applicable
Ah, and if you are using the free version of Sketchup, you have to use Blender (also free) to convert the exported COLLADA file into a .3ds file that ArchiCAD can read.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Thank you for this input. The process with the exported 3ds file worked. The objects came in grossly overscaled but I was able to resize them in ArchiCAD. Many thanks again and Happy New Year.