Как открыть файл dwg в скетчапе

Импорт САПР-файла в SketchUp Pro-dummies

Видео: [ OsNova ] — Импорт AutoCAD DWG планов. Пошаговая инструкция с примерами. 2023

Только SketchUp Pro может импортировать файлы 2D CAD в формате DWG и DXF; SketchUp Make не включает эту функцию. Есть вероятность, что файл САПР, с которым вы имеете дело, — это тот, который вы сделали сами, но, скорее всего, вы получили его от кого-то другого.

В этом случае самое лучшее, что нужно сделать, это открыть его в том же программном обеспечении, которое его создало. Если у вас есть файл AutoCAD, откройте его в AutoCAD и посмотрите на его структуру слоев. Сделайте копию файла, удалите все, что вам не нужно вводить в SketchUp Pro, и продолжайте оттуда.

Простой, не так ли? Но что, если у вас нет AutoCAD? Все в порядке — большинство людей этого не делают. После того, как вы импортируете данные САПР, в SketchUp будет проведено большое количество работ по очистке, но это управляемо.

SketchUp Pro 2014 может импортировать файлы САПР в формате AutoCAD 2013 и ранее. SketchUp Pro 2013 может импортировать файлы в формате AutoCAD 2010 и ранее. Если кто-то еще отправляет вам файл САПР, обязательно сообщите этому человеку, какая версия вам нужна.

Фактически импорт данных САПР в SketchUp Pro не очень сложный. Выполните следующие действия, и все будет хорошо:

Откройте новый, новый файл SketchUp.

Вы не можете просто открыть файл DWG или DXF в SketchUp Pro; вам необходимо импортировать данные в существующую модель. Начните с нового файла SketchUp, потому что большинство файлов САПР супер сложны. Привлекая всю эту сложность — тысячи ребер и тонны слоев — к уже сложной модели SketchUp, просто нужно беспокоиться. Держите вещи в покое и оставайтесь здоровыми.

Выберите «Файл» → «Импорт».

Откроется диалоговое окно «Импорт файлов».

Выберите файлы AutoCAD (*. Dwg, *. Dxf) в раскрывающемся списке «Форматы».

По какой-то причине вам нужно сообщить SketchUp, какие файлы вы хотите импортировать, прежде чем он позволит вам выбрать их в вашей файловой системе.

Найдите файл САПР (DWG или DXF), который вы хотите импортировать, и выберите его.

Пока еще не нажимайте «Импорт».

Откроется диалоговое окно Параметры импорта DWG.

Установите единицы измерения, чтобы они соответствовали единицам измерения по умолчанию файла CAD, который вы собираетесь импортировать.

Если файл САПР принадлежит кому-то в США, есть хорошие шансы, что юниты или футы. Другие страны (разумно) используют метрическую систему.

Решите, что делать с тремя другими параметрами в диалоговом окне:

Сохранение чертежа Начало полезно, если вы импортируете более одного файла САПР в ту же модель SketchUp. Вы можете сделать это, если вы принесете несколько этажных планов того же здания, и вы хотите, чтобы они выстроились в линию.

Объединить Coplanar Faces говорит SketchUp автоматически комбинировать смежные грани, которые являются компланарными в одну грань. Это может сократить время очистки, если в файле CAD, который вы импортируете, есть лица. Если вы выберете этот флажок и ваш импорт завершится неудачно (это произойдет), попробуйте отменить его в следующий раз.

Ориентные грани последовательно инструктируют SketchUp делать все возможное, чтобы убедиться, что лица в ваших импортированных данных (если они есть) все одинаковы. Опять же, это может сэкономить вам время на очистку, но также может вызвать ключ в процессе импорта.

Нажмите «ОК», чтобы закрыть диалоговое окно «Параметры импорта DWG».

… и скрестите пальцы. Если вы получите сообщение об ошибке, повторите попытку с другим параметром Units в диалоговом окне «Параметры импорта» (шаг 6). Если это не сработает, файл может быть сохранен в формате САПР, который новее, чем тот, который SketchUp Pro может импортировать. Обратитесь к человеку, который отправил вам файл, и попросите ее сохранить другую копию для вас в более раннем формате САПР.

Посмотрите на диалоговое окно «Результаты импорта», чтобы узнать, где вы стоите.

Если после того, как индикатор хода выполнения достигнет цели вправо, а сам импорт будет успешным, SketchUp Pro представит вам диалоговое окно со статистикой о том, что оно импортировало и что оно игнорировало.

Простая версия заключается в том, что уровни САПР, блоки (которые переводят компоненты в SketchUp) и всевозможные ребра являются импортируемыми. Текстовые объекты, размеры и люки (такого рода, которые обозначают разные материалы) не являются. Когда вы будете удовлетворены, нажмите «ОК» и вздохните с облегчением.

После того, как вы прошли процесс импорта САПР, и SketchUp вытолкнул полученную геометрию в вашу модель, убедитесь, что все идет по плану. Измерьте пару вещей с помощью инструмента «Измерение ленты», чтобы увидеть будь то размеры, которые вы ожидаете от них.

Дверные пути — хорошее место для начала; если вы измеряете один и его во много раз меньше или больше, чем должно быть, ваши единицы (на шаге 6 предыдущих шагов) были установлены неправильно. Закройте файл, откройте новый и повторите попытку.

Получение сообщения об ошибке при импорте файлов DWG AutoCAD 2018 в SketchUp

Автор:

Проблема

При получении сообщения об ошибке под при импорте файлов DWG AutoCAD 2018 в SketchUp

Причины

Решение

Используйте команды SAVEAS или AECTOACAD для преобразования файлов в предыдущий формат DWG.
Затем попробуйте открыть его в Sketchup.

Замечания: В настоящее время Sketchup не может прочитать новый формат файла DWG 2018 года.Поэтому, если вы часто используете Sketchup с файлами DWG, убедитесь, что продукты AutoCAD 2018 (и более новые) настроены на сохранение как «чертеж AutoCAD 2013» или более ранний.

Как перенести файл автокад в скетчап

PRO If you’re a SketchUp Pro user, you can import or export CAD files, which use the .dwg or .dxf file formats.

Before you import a file, it’s helpful to know what CAD entities SketchUp Pro does and doesn’t support and how to prepare your CAD file for best results. Then, you can walk through the basic importing steps outlined in this article. After you’re done importing, check out Starting with a CAD File in SketchUp Pro, which offers several tips and tricks for handling imported CAD geometry.

If you’re exporting a SketchUp Pro file to a CAD format, how you import a CAD file depends on whether it’s a 2D file, such as a floor plan, or a 3D model. In this article, you also discover how SketchUp data is exported into CAD format.

Table of Contents

Understanding what CAD elements SketchUp can import

The following table outlines what CAD elements SketchUp does and doesn’t support. If an element isn’t supported, SketchUp simply ignores it when you import the CAD file.

Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp

When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp and streamline the import process. The following sections outline what you need to look for and how to resolve any potential conflicts between CAD elements and SketchUp.

Change unsupported elements

If you need to import unsupported CAD elements into SketchUp, try exploding those elements in CAD so they become primitive CAD drawing elements that SketchUp does support.

For example, when you explode CAD objects into block entities, they import into SketchUp as components. If you explode the CAD block entities into polylines, the polylines import into SketchUp as lines or polylines.

Export to AutoCAD in either of these applications. The resulting CAD file contains lines or faces that you can import into SketchUp.

Delete unnecessary layers

In an imported CAD file, SketchUp automatically discards any entities that have no 3D relevance, such as text, dimensions, hatching, and so on. However, SketchUp won’t discard the layers holding these entities. To avoid a bunch of empty layers in SketchUp, you may want to purge any unused layers through Statistics on the Model Info dialog.

Move geometry close to the origin

In SketchUp, geometry that’s many miles or kilometers away from the origin (0,0) can cause performance problems. To avoid these problems, check the placement of geometry in your CAD file before you import the CAD file into SketchUp.

For example, say you’re importing Autodesk AutoCAD DWG files, such as civil site plans, in order to work with the contour lines. If the graphic or geometry is far away from the origin, move it close to the origin before importing the CAD file into SketchUp.

Alternatively, deselect the Preserve Drawing Origin option in SketchUp’s DWG/DXF import options, as explained in Importing a CAD file into SketchUp, later in this article.

Reduce the file size if needed

Generally, CAD files import into SketchUp successfully when the file size is 15MB or less. When you import larger CAD files, the import can take a long time or may fail. Conversely, the smaller your CAD file size, the quicker and easier the import. Also, after a complex CAD file is imported into SketchUp, you may notice that SketchUp’s performance slows down. That’s because lines and faces in SketchUp contain more data than their CAD equivalents.

Check the unit of measure

If possible, find out the unit of measure used to create the CAD file. When you import the CAD file into SketchUp, you need to know whether your file uses inches, feet, or a metric unit of measurement. That way, you can match the SketchUp model’s units to the CAD file’s units and thus maintain the scale and dimensions of your imported CAD geometry.

In SketchUp 2018 and later, you also have the option to import the model using the units specified in the CAD file. In the Units dropdown, select Model Units from the list, which tells SketchUp to attempt to match the units saved in the CAD file. If SketchUp is unable to determine what unit of measurement was used to create the CAD file, it will default to 1 CAD unit equals 1 inch in SketchUp.

Save in a SketchUp-compatible CAD file format

When SketchUp imports a CAD file, SketchUp strips the information to its basic geometric components. So no matter what AutoCAD file format you use (such as 2013 or 2018), the end result is essentially the same. To maximize compatibility between a CAD file and SketchUp, however, saving your CAD file in the Release 13 or Release 14 format works best.

Importing a CAD file into SketchUp

After you’ve checked and prepared your CAD file, you’re ready to import it into SketchUp. The following steps walk you through the import process for your operating system:

1. In SketchUp, open the SketchUp model into which you want to import your .dwg or .dxf file.
2. Select File > Import. An Import dialog box appears.
3. Navigate the the place your hard drive where your CAD file is saved.
4. From the Files of Type drop-down list, select AutoCAD Files (*.dwg, *.dxf).
5. Select the file you want to import.
6. Click the Options button. The Import AutoCAD DWG/DXF Options dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.
7. (Optional) In the Geometry area, select your preferences for the following options:
8. select Merge Coplanar Faces to tell SketchUp to automatically remove triangulated lines from planes.
9. Selecting the Orient Faces Consistently box tells SketchUp to analyze the direction of imported faces and orient the faces so that their direction is uniform.
10. (Optional) Select the Preserve Drawing Origin checkbox to place the imported geometry at the origin defined in the .dwg or .dxf file. Leave the checkbox deselected if you want to place the imported geometry near the SketchUp origin.
11. (Optional) To import geometry at the correct scale, select the unit used in your CAD file from the Units drop-down list. Your options are Model Units, Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles, Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters and Kilometers.

After you’ve checked and prepared your CAD file, you’re ready to import it into SketchUp Shop. The following steps walk you through the import process:

1. In SketchUp Shop, open the SketchUp model into which you want to import your .dwg or .dxf file.
2. Select the File icon ( ). An File menu appears, select Insert
3. You can select the Trimble Connect icon or the Computer icon for a local file.
4. (Optional) You can also drag & drop a file from an Explorer or Finder window directly into SketchUp Shop.
5. If you choose to open the file locally, navigate to the place on your hard drive where your CAD file is saved.
6. Select «All Files» as the desired format.
7. Select the file you want to import.
8. The Import AutoCAD DWG/DXF Options dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.
9. (Optional) Select the Preserve Drawing Origin (#1 Above) checkbox to place the imported geometry at the origin defined in the .dwg or .dxf file. Leave the checkbox deselected if you want to place the imported geometry near the SketchUp origin.
10. (Optional) In the Geometry area, select Merge Coplanar Faces (#2 Above) to tell SketchUp to automatically remove triangulated lines from planes. Selecting the Orient Faces Consistently (#3 Above) box tells SketchUp to analyze the direction of imported faces and orient the faces so that their direction is uniform.
11. (Optional) To import geometry at the correct scale, select the unit used in your CAD file from the Units drop-down list (#4 Above). Your options are Model Units, Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles, Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters and Kilometers.

Understanding how SketchUp data is exported to CAD format

Before you export a SketchUp model to a CAD file format ( .dwg or .dxf ), you may find it helpful to understand how SketchUp data is translated into the CAD format that you choose. Here’s what you need to know:

• SketchUp faces are exported as a triangulated polyface mesh with interior splframe hidden lines (if applicable). This conversion helps to simulate the appearance of your SketchUp file, even when all exported faces are triangular.
• SketchUp uses the current units set in the Units pane of the Model Info dialog box as a reference for translation to a .dwg or .dxf file. For example, if the current Model Info unit setting is Decimal and Meters, then AutoCAD must be set to decimal for the units to translate correctly as meters when you open the exported file in AutoCAD.
• Duplicate line entities aren’t created on top of a p-line entity.

Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 2D CAD file

When export your model view as a 2D CAD file, you can choose the scale and a number of line options. The result is a 2D vector file in .dwg or .dxf format that you can open in your CAD program.

Follow these steps to export a 2D CAD file:

1. To maintain your model’s scale in the exported file, in SketchUp, select Camera > Parallel Projection. Then set your view to one of SketchUp’s standard views by selecting Camera > Standard Views and selecting an option from the submenu that appears. (See Viewing a Model for details about the model view options.)
2. Select File > Export > 2D Graphic.
3. Navigate to the place where you want to save your exported file.
4. (Optional) Change the file name if you’d like to name the exported file something other than the SketchUp file’s current name.
5. Select either the .dwg or .dxf file type. In Microsoft Windows, select this option from the Save As Type drop-down list. On a Mac, use the Format drop-down list.
6. Click the Options button to set the scale and line options, which are explained in detail in the upcoming list. When you’re done, click OK in the DWG/DXF Hidden Line Options dialog box (Microsoft Windows) or the Export Options dialog box (Mac OS X).
7. Click Export and your CAD file is saved in your selected location.

In the following figure, you see the line options dialog box for your current operating system. The following list introduces your options so that the lines in your exported file meet your needs:

• AutoCAD Version: Select what version of AutoCAD you’d like to use to open the exported file.
• Drawing Scale & Size: The Full Scale checkbox is selected by default. However, if you deselect that checkbox, you can set a custom scale. In the In Drawing box, type the actual measurement you want to use to set your scale. In the In Model box, type the value for scaling your exported model. For example, for a scale of 1:4, type 1′ in the In Model box and 4′ in the In Drawing box.
• Profile Lines: Here, you can customize how profile lines appear in your exported file. You can set the line width as follows:

• Select None to export profile lines at the standard width.
• Select Polylines with Width to export profile lines as AutoCAD polylines. When you select this option, you can leave Automatic selected so that the exported lines match the profile line width. If you deselect Automatic, you can enter a custom width in the Width box.
• Select Wide Line Entities to export profile lines as AutoCAD wide line entities.

The Separate on a Layer checkbox, which is selected by default, creates a layer for profile edges. If you’ve used SketchUp layers to control visibility, note that SketchUp layer assignments don’t translate directly when you export a SketchUp file to a 2D CAD file.

In Microsoft Windows, you can select the Always Prompt for Hidden Line Options if you’d like to set options in this dialog box anytime you export a 2D CAD file. You can also restore the default settings by clicking the Defaults button.

Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 3D CAD file

When you export a SketchUp model as a 3D CAD file, you can select what entities are exported. To export your model, follow these steps:

1. In SketchUp, select File > Export > 3D Model. The Export Model dialog box appears.
2. Navigate to the location where you want to save your exported file.
3. (Optional) Change the file name if you like. By default, the exported file uses the same name as your SketchUp file name.
4. Select either .dwg or .dxf as the file format for your exported file. In Microsoft Windows, select your file type from the Save As Type drop-down list. In Mac OS X, use the Format drop-down list.
5. Click the Options button to open the Export Options dialog box, shown in the following figure. From the AutoCAD Version drop-down list, select the version of AutoCAD you’d like to use to open the exported file. In the Export area, select the checkbox for each type of entity that you want to include in the exported file. Click OK when you’re done.
6. Back in the Export Model dialog box, click Export, and your file appears in the location where you chose to save it.

1. Форма картинки соответствует форме вашего экрана. То есть чертеж придется подрезать.
2. Если кликнуть на рисунке 2 раза, то чертеж откроется в автокаде с возможностью редактирования.
3. Все веса линий отображаются тонкими
4. Искажения окружностей (эллипсы)

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.
3. Фон соответстсвует фону модели (по умолчанию черный)
4. Сильные искажения изображения (неровности линий, надписей и т.д.)

Способы «Файл – Экспорт» (в среде AutoCAD)

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.

1. Все линии тонкие
2. Чертеж редактировать нельзя

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.
3. Фон соответстсвует фону модели (по умолчанию черный)
4. Сильные искажения изображения (неровности линий, надписей и т.д.)

Способы «Печать в файл» (в среде AutoCAD)

Способ №10. Использование виртуального плоттера от Adobe Illustrator

1. В среде AutoCAD выбираем «Файл – Диспечер плоттеров». В открывшемся окне запускаем «Мастер установки плоттеров».
2. Нажимаем Далее
3. Далее
4. Производители: Adobe, Модели: PostScript Level 1 и жмем Далее
5. Далее
6. Выбираем Вывод в файл и жмем Далее
7. Задаем Имя плоттера (любое, например, Ворд) и жмем Далее
8. Готово
9. В среде AutoCAD выбираем «Файл – Печать». В открывшемся окне в графе Принтер – Имя выбираем созданный принтер (Ворд). Печатаем в файл, нажав Ок.
10. В среде Word выбираем «Вставка – Рисунок».

1. Вес линий соблюден (даже толщина 0.05)
2. Искажений нет
3. Геометрия соблюдена
4. Фон отсутствует
5. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя.
6. В самом ворде отображается не очень красиво. Чтобы это исправить, открываете файл в самом Adobe Illustrator, копируйте чертеж и вставляйте в Word. Выглядит идеально!

Способ №11. Использование встроенного принтера DWG To PDF.pc3

1. В среде AutoCAD нажимаем на кнопку «Печать«
2. Выбираем принтер DWG To PDF.pc3
3. Выбираем нужный формат листа, если в Word нужно вставить не рисунок, а чертеж с рамкой, например. Если рисунок, то формат любой.
4. Выбираем область печати. Обычно это рамка. Нажимаем на кнопку «Рамка STDU Viewer .
5. Нажимаем «Файл» – «Экспортировать» – «как изображение«
6. В появившимся окне выбираем тип файла (Обычно gif весит меньше)
7. Задаем разрешение (100 DPI хватает с головой)
8. Указываем какие страницы и куда сохранить, нажимаем ОК
9. В среде Word выбираем » Вставка – Рисунок«
   

1. Вес линий соблюден (даже толщина 0.05, причем линия 0.00 оказалась равносильна 0.20, хотя на работе она тоньше 0.05 (вывод – зависит от принтера))
2. Искажений нет
3. Геометрия соблюдена
4. Фон отсутствует
5. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя.
6. В ворде отображается правильно (с толщинами и геометрией).

1. Форма картинки соответствует форме вашего экрана. То есть чертеж придется подрезать.
2. Если кликнуть на рисунке 2 раза, то чертеж откроется в автокаде с возможностью редактирования.
3. Все веса линий отображаются тонкими
4. Искажения окружностей (эллипсы)

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.
3. Фон соответстсвует фону модели (по умолчанию черный)
4. Сильные искажения изображения (неровности линий, надписей и т.д.)

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.

1. Все линии тонкие
2. Чертеж редактировать нельзя

1. Отображается как рисунок, то есть редактировать нельзя
2. Веса линий меньше 0.3 отображаются тонкими линиями.
3. Фон соответстсвует фону модели (по умолчанию черный)
4. Сильные искажения изображения (неровности линий, надписей и т.д.)

Способы «Печать в файл» (в среде AutoCAD)

Способ №10. Использование виртуального плоттера от Adobe Illustrator

Способ №11. Использование встроенного принтера DWG To PDF.pc3

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• ИмпортSketchUp — совместимо с AutoCAD 2014 и 2015
• Импорт из 3D Warehouse — совместимо с AutoCAD 2014 и 2015
• ИмпортSketchUp 2013 — совместимо с AutoCAD 2013

PRO If you’re a SketchUp Pro user, you can import or export CAD files, which use the .dwg or .dxf file formats.

Before you import a file, it’s helpful to know what CAD entities SketchUp Pro does and doesn’t support and how to prepare your CAD file for best results. Then, you can walk through the basic importing steps outlined in this article. After you’re done importing, check out Starting with a CAD File in SketchUp Pro, which offers several tips and tricks for handling imported CAD geometry.

If you’re exporting a SketchUp Pro file to a CAD format, how you export a CAD file depends on whether it’s a 2D file, such as a floor plan, or a 3D model. In this article, you also discover how SketchUp data is exported into CAD format.

Table of Contents

Understanding what CAD elements SketchUp can import

The following table outlines what CAD elements SketchUp does and doesn’t support. If an element isn’t supported, SketchUp simply ignores it when you import the CAD file.

Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp

When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp and streamline the import process. The following sections outline what you need to look for and how to resolve any potential conflicts between CAD elements and SketchUp.

Tip: You don’t want to lose details in your original CAD file. Remember to create a copy of the CAD file and prepare that copy for importing into SketchUp.

Change unsupported elements

If you need to import unsupported CAD elements into SketchUp, try exploding those elements in CAD so they become primitive CAD drawing elements that SketchUp does support.

For example, when you explode CAD objects into block entities, they import into SketchUp as components. If you explode the CAD block entities into polylines, the polylines import into SketchUp as lines or polylines.

Delete unnecessary layers

In an imported CAD file, SketchUp automatically discards any entities that have no 3D relevance, such as text, dimensions, hatching, and so on. However, SketchUp won’t discard the layers holding these entities. To avoid a bunch of empty layers in SketchUp, you may want to purge any unused layers through Statistics on the Model Info dialog.

Move geometry close to the origin

In SketchUp, geometry that’s many miles or kilometers away from the origin (0,0) can cause performance problems. To avoid these problems, check the placement of geometry in your CAD file before you import the CAD file into SketchUp.

For example, say you’re importing Autodesk AutoCAD DWG files, such as civil site plans, in order to work with the contour lines. If the graphic or geometry is far away from the origin, move it close to the origin before importing the CAD file into SketchUp.

Alternatively, deselect the Preserve Drawing Origin option in SketchUp’s DWG/DXF import options, as explained in Importing a CAD file into SketchUp, later in this article.

Reduce the file size if needed

Generally, CAD files import into SketchUp successfully when the file size is 15MB or less. When you import larger CAD files, the import can take a long time or may fail. Conversely, the smaller your CAD file size, the quicker and easier the import. Also, after a complex CAD file is imported into SketchUp, you may notice that SketchUp’s performance slows down. That’s because lines and faces in SketchUp contain more data than their CAD equivalents.

Check the unit of measure

If possible, find out the unit of measure used to create the CAD file. When you import the CAD file into SketchUp, you need to know whether your file uses inches, feet, or a metric unit of measurement. That way, you can match the SketchUp model’s units to the CAD file’s units and thus maintain the scale and dimensions of your imported CAD geometry.

In SketchUp 2018 and later, you also have the option to import the model using the units specified in the CAD file. In the Units dropdown, select Model Units from the list, which tells SketchUp to attempt to match the units saved in the CAD file. If SketchUp is unable to determine what unit of measurement was used to create the CAD file, it will default to 1 CAD unit equals 1 inch in SketchUp.

Save in a SketchUp-compatible CAD file format

When SketchUp imports a CAD file, SketchUp strips the information to its basic geometric components. So no matter what AutoCAD file format you use (such as 2013 or 2018), the end result is essentially the same. To maximize compatibility between a CAD file and SketchUp, however, saving your CAD file in the Release 13 or Release 14 format works best.

Importing a CAD file into SketchUp

After you’ve checked and prepared your CAD file, you’re ready to import it into SketchUp. The following steps walk you through the import process for your operating system:

1. In SketchUp, open the SketchUp model into which you want to import your .dwg or .dxf file.
2. Select File > Import. An Import dialog box appears.
3. Navigate the the place your hard drive where your CAD file is saved.
4. From the Files of Type drop-down list, select AutoCAD Files (*.dwg, *.dxf).
5. Select the file you want to import.
6. Click the Options button. The Import AutoCAD DWG/DXF Options dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.
7. (Optional) In the Geometry area, select your preferences for the following options:
   • select Merge Coplanar Faces to tell SketchUp to automatically remove triangulated lines from planes.
   • Selecting the Orient Faces Consistently box tells SketchUp to analyze the direction of imported faces and orient the faces so that their direction is uniform.
8. (Optional) Select the Preserve Drawing Origin checkbox to place the imported geometry at the origin defined in the .dwg or .dxf file. Leave the checkbox deselected if you want to place the imported geometry near the SketchUp origin.
9. (Optional) To import geometry at the correct scale, select the unit used in your CAD file from the Units drop-down list. Your options are Model Units, Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles, Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters and Kilometers.

Tip: If you don’t know the units used in the original file, select Model Units so that SketchUp turns one CAD unit into 1 inch in SketchUp. Or use a large unit type, such as feet or meters. Then you can resize the model as necessary after it’s imported. Warning: If you select a small unit, such as millimeters, but the model was originally intended to display in feet, you can unintentionally create itty-bitty faces that will be lost on import. For SketchUp to recognize a face, the face must be .001 square inches or larger. Tip: When importing a LayOut file created using the “Export for SketchUp” feature, use the Merge Coplanar Faces option for clean imported faces. Tip: You can also drag and drop importable files into the drawing area. After you drop the file, any relevant Import dialog box opens so you can select your desired options.

SketchUp For Web

After you’ve checked and prepared your CAD file, you’re ready to import it into SketchUp Shop. The following steps walk you through the import process:

Tip: If you don’t know the units used in the original file, use a large unit type, such as feet or meters. Then you can resize the model as necessary after it’s imported. Warning: If you select a small unit, such as millimeters, but the model was originally intended to display in feet, you can unintentionally create itty-bitty faces that will be lost on import. For SketchUp to recognize a face, the face must be .001 square inches or larger. Tip: If you have a floor plan or other vector graphics in an Adobe Illustrator ( .eps ) file, you can export the .eps file to .dwg or .dxf format in Illustrator. Then import the vector graphics following the preceding steps. If, in Adobe Illustrator, you first reduce the number of anchor points that define curves, you can improve the file’s performance in SketchUp. In particular, when you extrude faces from curves that contain lots of line segments, the SketchUp file size can increase dramatically.

Understanding how SketchUp data is exported to CAD format

Before you export a SketchUp model to a CAD file format ( .dwg or .dxf ), you may find it helpful to understand how SketchUp data is translated into the CAD format that you choose. Here’s what you need to know:

• SketchUp faces are exported as a triangulated polyface mesh with interior splframe hidden lines (if applicable). This conversion helps to simulate the appearance of your SketchUp file, even when all exported faces are triangular.
• SketchUp uses the current units set in the Units pane of the Model Info dialog box as a reference for translation to a .dwg or .dxf file. For example, if the current Model Info unit setting is Decimal and Meters, then AutoCAD must be set to decimal for the units to translate correctly as meters when you open the exported file in AutoCAD.
• Duplicate line entities aren’t created on top of a p-line entity.

Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 2D CAD file

When export your model view as a 2D CAD file, you can choose the scale and a number of line options. The result is a 2D vector file in .dwg or .dxf format that you can open in your CAD program.

Follow these steps to export a 2D CAD file:

1. To maintain your model’s scale in the exported file, in SketchUp, select Camera > Parallel Projection. Then set your view to one of SketchUp’s standard views by selecting Camera > Standard Views and selecting an option from the submenu that appears. (See Viewing a Model for details about the model view options.)
2. Select File > Export > 2D Graphic.
3. Navigate to the place where you want to save your exported file.
4. (Optional) Change the file name if you’d like to name the exported file something other than the SketchUp file’s current name.
5. Select either the .dwg or .dxf file type. In Microsoft Windows, select this option from the Save As Type drop-down list. On a Mac, use the Format drop-down list.
6. Click the Options button to set the scale and line options, which are explained in detail in the upcoming list. When you’re done, click OK in the DWG/DXF Hidden Line Options dialog box (Microsoft Windows) or the Export Options dialog box (Mac OS X).
7. Click Export and your CAD file is saved in your selected location.

In the following figure, you see the line options dialog box for your current operating system. The following list introduces your options so that the lines in your exported file meet your needs:

• AutoCAD Version: Select what version of AutoCAD you’d like to use to open the exported file.
• Drawing Scale & Size: The Full Scale checkbox is selected by default. However, if you deselect that checkbox, you can set a custom scale. In the In Drawing box, type the actual measurement you want to use to set your scale. In the In Model box, type the value for scaling your exported model. For example, for a scale of 1:4, type 1′ in the In Model box and 4′ in the In Drawing box.
• Profile Lines: Here, you can customize how profile lines appear in your exported file. You can set the line width as follows:
  • Select None to export profile lines at the standard width.
  • Select Polylines with Width to export profile lines as AutoCAD polylines. When you select this option, you can leave Automatic selected so that the exported lines match the profile line width. If you deselect Automatic, you can enter a custom width in the Width box.
  • Select Wide Line Entities to export profile lines as AutoCAD wide line entities.

  In Microsoft Windows, you can select the Always Prompt for Hidden Line Options if you’d like to set options in this dialog box anytime you export a 2D CAD file. You can also restore the default settings by clicking the Defaults button.

  Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 3D CAD file

  When you export a SketchUp model as a 3D CAD file, you can select what entities are exported. To export your model, follow these steps:

  Table of Contents

  Understanding what CAD elements SketchUp can import

  Supported CAD Entities	Unsupported CAD Entities
  Arcs	Proprietary ADT or ARX objects
  Circles	Dimensions
  Entities with thickness	Hatching
  Faces	Text
  3D faces	XREFs
  Layers
  Lines and supported Line Styles
  Materials
  Polyline-based solids
  Nested blocks
  AutoCAD regions
  Point
  Ellipse
  Spline
  RasterImage

  Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp

  When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp and streamline the import process. The following sections outline what you need to look for and how to resolve any potential conflicts between CAD elements and SketchUp.

  Change unsupported elements

  If you need to import unsupported CAD elements into SketchUp, try exploding those elements in CAD so they become primitive CAD drawing elements that SketchUp does support.

  For example, when you explode CAD objects into block entities, they import into SketchUp as components. If you explode the CAD block entities into polylines, the polylines import into SketchUp as lines or polylines.

  Export to AutoCAD in either of these applications. The resulting CAD file contains lines or faces that you can import into SketchUp.

  Delete unnecessary layers

  Move geometry close to the origin

  Reduce the file size if needed

  Check the unit of measure

  In SketchUp 2018 and later, you also have the option to import the model using the units specified in the CAD file. In the Units dropdown, select Model Units from the list, which tells SketchUp to attempt to match the units saved in the CAD file. If SketchUp is unable to determine what unit of measurement was used to create the CAD file, it will default to 1 CAD unit equals 1 inch in SketchUp.

  Save in a SketchUp-compatible CAD file format

  When SketchUp imports a CAD file, SketchUp strips the information to its basic geometric components. So no matter what AutoCAD file format you use (such as 2013 or 2018), the end result is essentially the same. To maximize compatibility between a CAD file and SketchUp, however, saving your CAD file in the Release 13 or Release 14 format works best.

  Importing a CAD file into SketchUp

  1. In SketchUp, open the SketchUp model into which you want to import your .dwg or .dxf file.
  2. Select File > Import. An Import dialog box appears.
  3. Navigate the the place your hard drive where your CAD file is saved.
  4. From the Files of Type drop-down list, select AutoCAD Files (*.dwg, *.dxf).
  5. Select the file you want to import.
  6. Click the Options button. The Import AutoCAD DWG/DXF Options dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.
  7. (Optional) In the Geometry area, select your preferences for the following options:
  8. select Merge Coplanar Faces to tell SketchUp to automatically remove triangulated lines from planes.
  9. Selecting the Orient Faces Consistently box tells SketchUp to analyze the direction of imported faces and orient the faces so that their direction is uniform.
  10. (Optional) Select the Preserve Drawing Origin checkbox to place the imported geometry at the origin defined in the .dwg or .dxf file. Leave the checkbox deselected if you want to place the imported geometry near the SketchUp origin.
  11. (Optional) To import geometry at the correct scale, select the unit used in your CAD file from the Units drop-down list. Your options are Model Units, Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles, Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters and Kilometers.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  After you’ve checked and prepared your CAD file, you’re ready to import it into SketchUp Shop. The following steps walk you through the import process:

  Understanding how SketchUp data is exported to CAD format

  Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 2D CAD file

  When export your model view as a 2D CAD file, you can choose the scale and a number of line options. The result is a 2D vector file in .dwg or .dxf format that you can open in your CAD program.

  Follow these steps to export a 2D CAD file:

  In the following figure, you see the line options dialog box for your current operating system. The following list introduces your options so that the lines in your exported file meet your needs:

  
  

  Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 3D CAD file

  When you export a SketchUp model as a 3D CAD file, you can select what entities are exported. To export your model, follow these steps:

  SketchUp DWG Import Guide

  Importing DWG files into SketchUp can lead to unexpected results and problems. In this guide I’ll outline the steps I perform when importing a DWG drawing. The DWG files I work with are usually building plans or site plans for architectural projects.

  Preparations AutoCAD

  I avoid importing directly into SketchUp. A DWG file often contains excess old data which you don’t want to import and some features doesn’t translate well into SketchUp unless you make some preparations.

  1. Copy all geometry to be imported to the clipboard.

  2. Create a new DWG file.

  3. Paste everything at the origin.

  This is to avoid problems with old stale data and hidden stuff that might cause problems when importing into SketchUp.

  4. Explode all 2D Polylines

  Arcs within a 2D Polyline will appear straight when imported into SketchUp unless you explode the 2D Polyline so the arc segments are extracted from the polyline.

  5. Purge

  6. Audit

  7. Purge

  These are the final steps I perform in AutoCAD that I do in order to reduce the amount of stale data imported.

  It might sound a bit convoluted but all these steps have specific purposes and have proved themselves over the last five years to greatly deduce the amount of problems that might appear when working with imported geometry.

  8. Check DWG units.

  Before closing the file I ensure to check what units are used in the DWG file as we need to know this when importing into SketchUp. In AutoCAD you can do this by typing the command: UNITS

  Importing into SketchUp

  9. Open a new SketchUp model.

  I avoid importing directly into a working model. Instead I open a new fresh model so I can ensure the import is correct before merging with the main model.

  10. File → Import → Select File

  Important! Click the Options button in the file dialogue and ensure the units are correct. SketchUp does not detect the unit from the DWG file.

  If you import with the incorrect units and simply scale up or down the geometry to fit you might run into accuracy problems.

  Also ensure that “Preserve drawing origin” is unchecked. SketchUp doesn’t handle extremely large units very well – which is what you will get if you import a DWG which was drawn at world coordinates.

  If you don’t do this you are likely to suffer from the mighty “clipping bug” where as you navigate around your model parts of it will appear to be clipped away and you start seeing through your model.

  11. Remove all materials (Optional)

  The DWG files I import often have colours applies to the edges. I very rarely have any use of these materials. Because of that I tend to remove all materials of the imported geometry.

  Instead of removing each material one by one in the Material Browser I use a plugin I wrote, Material Tools, which will do it in one big schwoop! Another reason to import into an empty file and not your working model.

  12. Window → Model Info → Statistics → Purge Unused

  

  As in AutoCAD you should purge your SketchUp model often. And before inserting the imported geometry into a new model it should be purged first so you ensure you’re not importing unused data.

  Notice I have checked the “Show nested components” checkbox. It does not affect the purge operation, but it makes the statistics display information for the whole model, not just the root level of the model.

  13. Inspect the model and see if everything looks OK.

  You might find that some blocks, imported as components, will appear to jitter and jump around in the drawing when you navigate the model. The reason for that will be that the block had an insertion point far away from the geometry. You can either explode the troublesome components, or if you need to keep them as components you can simply reset their origin. You can use the plugin Axes Tools to reset the axes en masse.

  Additionally, Dynamic Blocks in AutoCAD might cause unexpected results when importing. For instance, at the office we sometimes have a dynamic block for vehicles with different turning radiuses illustrated. This dynamic block has multiple blocks inside it which is hidden depending on which radius you want to display. When these are imported into SketchUp all the variations, all the hidden blocks, inside the dynamic block will be visible. These require cleanups either in AutoCAD or SketchUp – removing the redundant hidden blocks.

  Note on DWGs with 3D data

  If you’re importing DWG files with 3D mesh data you might want to run CleanUp on it after step 11. This will attempt to reduce excess edges and faces which can greatly increase the performance.

  Bonus Tip: Exporting

  

  When you export a DWG from SketchUp the units will incorrectly be set to inches. Example; if you export a 1000×1000 mm square it will be 1000×1000 units in the DWG, it will be set as 1000×1000 inches.

  To correct this you must redefine the unit type in the DWG file. In AutoCAD, type UNITS and you should get a dialogue where you can change the units.