Using SketchUP & ArchiCAD

[Anonymous]

I've been doing a bit of soul searching lately regarding how to utilize these two outstanding applications. A little feedback would be much appreciated.

First a little about me, because my practice is not built like SOM J… I collaborate with other professions, even Joint-Venture with other architects on projects. However, I have no employees, just me to do all design and production work. So being able to use multiple applications and have them interface fluidly between each other is a must!

My problem right now is that I am using SketchUp more and more as a design tool than ArchiCAD. The reasons are not that important, except to say that if you have ever tried SU, you’ll know what I am talking about. The interface is simple and very narrowly aimed at making the Design phase exciting and intuitive… hat’s off to @Last for that.

Then reality sets in once the client is on board with the design. Now we have even less time to get out the Construction Documents. This is where ArchiCAD takes over. Unfortunately for me, most (if not all) effort spent during the design phase entering 3D data into SketchUp is repeated for the first couple weeks!

Does anybody else go through this? I know there is a plug-in, tried it, didn’t work for me. Ideally, I would like to use ArchiCAD like I use SketchUp, then I know I could save myself some valuable time. Am I dreaming?

+pablo

[Djordje]

Pablo wrote:
I know there is a plug-in, tried it, didn’t work for me.

Why?

Pablo wrote:
Ideally, I would like to use ArchiCAD like I use SketchUp, then I know I could save myself some valuable time. Am I dreaming?

You are ... but I wish you were not!

[Anonymous]

Why doesn't the ArchicAD - SketchUp plug-in work? Well it does technically speaking for SU ver. 3.1 (for now). However, once you begin to embellish the SU model, you will have an almost unusable import when you pull it up in AC.. hence, I end up redrawing. My hope is that the two can continue to work out the details.

+pablo

[Anonymous]

sketchup is not a solid modeller, it works exclusively with planes

if you have a wall with a thickness in su then the su-ac plugin will read each surface of the wall as a separate wall

but i guess you know that already

have you tried importing the model as a (3d) dxf and drawing over that in ac in 3d window. might work

bill

[Anonymous]

hi Pablo,

Check this link see if it makes sense

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=2987

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help guys. I am seeing that SketchUp is being used more and more in the academic setting. There are some exciting projects students are doing using this easy software. I guess until Graphisoft and the folks at @Last Software come up with a better translator, I will just factor in 2 more weeks to the schedule to redraw my 3D model. pity..

+pablo

[Eduardo Rolon]

bill wrote:
have you tried importing the model as a (3d) dxf and drawing over that in ac in 3d window. might work

bill

Actually I export them as DWG's and trace over them. The reson I don't mind doing this is that it forces me to verify the dimensions, since it is easy to make small errors in SU that would not be caught until you start to dimension the model in AC.

[Anonymous]

sounds a bit masochistic...

as you embellish the model you can GROUP the embellishments together, and it will NOT complicate the model anymore than adding an object in ArchiCAD.

Keep the stuff you want as walls, slabs, roofs UNGROUPED, and group (or make components of) the stuff which should be objects in ArchiCAD.

Retracing? Come on.....

While we are at it:

Use the paintbucket in SketchUp and even your colors will be right.

any progressive suggestion to the developer of the translator is welcome,
public or private...


ferenc@frozenpiano.com

[Eduardo Rolon]

Retracing? Come on.....

It depends on the project and I use it as quality control...

Also I thought that this was a discussions about work methods between SU and AC

[Anonymous]

I deeply respect the first amendment rights.

So yes, you are perfectly free to express or promote your preferred working method.

I just felt that retracing because you didn't get the expected result first time is little awkward as opposed to use some layers, groups or components to remove the clutter, but have your walls, floors, roofs, windows in place, components converted into library parts....
From surface model to solid building elements...

So don't take it as thought police

I wouldn't recommend drawing hatched areas and lines for representing walls in ArchiCAD, but anybody is free to do so and post about it.