SketchUp to ArchiCAD (a super quick video)
I learned how easy importing files from SketchUp to ArchiCAD 17 is today. So I recorded a quick video to show you. First off I apologize that I’m talking a little fast in this video; I’m trying to be more aware of that. I was excited, my coffee to food ratio is off today, and it’s been a long week so I’m tired (put those three together and I get a little spastic). Don’t worry. The steps are all very clear and so so easy. Insanely easy. So insanely easy that you have no excuse to not start using the SketchUp warehouse as an ArchiCAD Object repository. Oh and this trick works for any SketchUp file. So if you’re bringing in an entire building or some file your coworker created: same process.
Want More? Here’s FOUR posts you should be aware of. The first two posts contain videos that talk more about Object creation and augmentation. The third post talks more about stealing from SketchUp. And the fourth post covers the PolyCount Add-On, which you should be knowledgeable about. If you are going to be pulling in lots of external content, then you need to be aware of polygons in ArchiCAD. The speed of your model depends on it.
- Picking a Subtype for an ArchiCAD Object (and some other important tips)
- Creating 2D Symbols for ArchiCAD Objects
- Anything You can Do, I can Do Better: taking materials from SketchUp to ArchiCAD
- PolyCount for ArchiCAD (you want this free add-on)
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Bee
Awesome! Oh how I miss using Archicad! 🙁
Jared Banks
There’s always side work. 🙂
Kevin
Jared,
Looks great but it looks like this only works in Firefox. Is there a way to get this to work directly form Chrome or Safari?? When in either of those, when I click on the download link, it automatically downloads as a .skp file, I do not get the option to download to ArchiCAD17.
Jared Banks
What seems to be missing from Chrome or Safari is the option to open the file directly when clicking download. You can open the file directly from Firefox and it gives you the option of which program to open it with. In all cases the file is being downloaded as a .skp. I did some quick searching but couldn’t see how to open the file when you click download from either Chrome or Safari. Looks like you have to download then open directly into ArchiCAD or Drag and Drop. So one small extra step. Hopefully someone else watching the video can add a better solution. Maybe it’s a plug-in or option in one of those browsers that needs to be enabled?
SPR8364
That is a very nice feature with Firefox. As a workaround and only if you don’t use SketchUp for regular work, you can permanently change what application you want the Mac OS to open the file with. Select the file in the Finder; right-click and select “Get Info”. In the Info dialog box, about halfway down, there is a “Open With…” popup menu. Pick ArchiCAD from that menu and then click the button below that that says “Change All….” Click “Continue” in the next dialog box and from now on, when you double-click a SKP file, it will always open it in ArchiCAD.
And of course, you can always drag and drop on the application of your choice.
Patrick May
Still waiting on ArchiCAD for the solution to sketchup’s triangulation issues. I have been sharing my model with a sketch up user, then copying his contributions in as morph elements. The problem is, skechup does not import with a single square face, but rather triangulates every square face into multiple faces.
The clean up can be tedious when dealing with very detailed sketch up objects and elements.
Adrienne B
Jared- A lot of Sketchup files are in Sketchup 2013 or Sketchup 2014. When I try to open them in AC 18 I get an error telling me the file doesn’t contain anything. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
Jared Banks
I seem to recall this issue, but I can’t remember how I solved it/dealt with it. Sorry. Have you asked around the forum?
Jared Banks
ArchiCAD 18 can only open SketchUp 8 and earlier files. Hopefully the next version will have the ability to open newer versions.
wwabim
Jared, that is correct, only sketchup8 or older will import with the model merge… But even sketchups free version lets you back save models.
ashraf
thanks..nice video …but i want to import the file and make some changes on it …how can i make this…..
Jared Banks
Import the SketchUp file then convert to a Morph.
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Damian
Hey Jared, now that Sketchup doesn’t keep old models, how do you transfer them to Archicad?
Thanks
Jared Banks
You won’t like the answer: keeping ARCHICAD up to date. Just like other file formats, the only way to maintain compatibility is to be on the latest version of the software. ARCHICAD 20 can import newer versions of SKP than ARCHICAD 19 or early can. You could also look into Modelport. It’s an add-on for ARCHICAD that can import other file types. OR…could you open the files in SketchUP then save down to a version that your version of ARCHICAD can open?
Jennifer
Hi Jared– what is your best resource for searching and importing 3D objects, models or components? I am using ArchiCAD 22 and when I tried downloading sketchup (people models) the AC files are blank. I tried downloading both the Sketchup 18 and 14 versions to see if it was an issue with that. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Jared Banks
I haven’t downloaded 3rd party objects in a long, long time. If you need to download a lot of objects though, I recommend you look at Modelport. It’s an ARCHICAD add-on that lets you download a wide variety of file types. It also does some cleanup and allows you to tweak things at import, I think. It’s been a while since I’ve used it.
As far as sketchup content goes. There’s A LOT of garbage out there, so it might just be the files you selected. Or the models you downloaded might still be too new. ARCHICAD 22 should be able to import Sketchup 2017 and probably Sketchup 2018, but I’m not 100% sure.