Has any anybody experienced this problem?

linea

I'm having a very stressful problem with a couple of skp files containing several imported dwg files.
I've built a reasonable sized model (20megs), worked on it all day yesterday, then shut down my computer last night but couldn't open the file this morning. I had to get this file to a client by 9 a.m today. No error messages, the file just wouldn't open. Even the skb autosave file wouldn't open. Thank god for Doublecad because this did open it, all the SU content was preserved, so I was able to save as a dwg.

Before I started using the file I uninstalled and reinstalled SU7 just to be sure. All my other files opened though so I don't think SU7 was corrupted.

I then imported the recovered dwg I'd made in Doublecad, so I quickly had time to texture it and sort it out for my client. I was only ten minutes late, but I was very stressed out!
This is the second time this has happened with this set of drawings. Perhaps there is an issue with the imported dwg content? If anybody is interested I'll upload the file.

Jon

tomsdesk

Had a similar thing a few months ago...I copied the skippy to another folder and renamed it (like what works in autocad sometimes). This file opened, but not trusting it I then tore it apart and put it back together again piece by piece copy/paste...so don't know the cause and hope it doesn't happen again?

Watching this thread closely now too, thanks.

watkins

Dear Jon,

Slightly off topic, how are you getting on with DoubleCAD? Is the work flow between that program and SU good?

Regards,
Bob

linea

Hi Bob,
I have to say Doublecad has really grown on me. I liked the look and feel of it as soon as I installed it. But then I went through a period of thinking I wouldn't get used to things it does differently to Autocad. For instance, when you pan, the refresh rate is a bit jerky, some of the tools aren't where I expected them and the paperspace is very different. But as I don't have my own autocad license, when I'm not working freelance for somebody that does, I do need a decent cad tool. I've also tried just about every free or open source cad app there is, they were certainly not all bad, but none were really a practical replacement for Autocad. Much as I like Progecad Smart it is for non-commercial use only, and, whereas Progecad is a self confessed Autocad clone, it is refreshing that Doublecad have re-interpreted and put their own spin on that style of gui. So I decided to try out Doublecad on a big project and force myself to learn how to use it. A couple of weeks later I'm convinced, it's excellent. Now I've got used to the tools layout I really do think it's got some advantages.

To answer your question (sorry for making you read all that!), I haven't done a lot in terms of working back and forth with SU but after this morning it seems good. Incidentally I noticed that one of Tom's tree components in my model came into Doublecad still fully textured and when I imported the model back into SU as a dwg, it was still textured. That must be useful. Try DoubleCad out.

jon

watkins

Dear Jon,

Many thanks for the detailed reply.

Being at a University I get access to loads of software for next to nothing (educational and/or site licences). This means I have the pro versions of AutoCAD 2009 and Inventor 2009, but I still use SU at the conceptual design stage as I find it so quick and easy. For simple things I export an annotated image of the widget and that is enough for the workshop, but for complicated parts I have to redraw in Inventor so that I can access the 2D drafting bit. I have been wondering if DoubleCAD might be a half way house allowing 2D drafting for a moderately complicated part. Also, the rest of the department hate me using SU and consider it a Micky Mouse application.

Having imported the SU model into DoubleCAD, can you export it as .sat or .stp file? If so, then that might be the way to work between SU and Inventor.

Regards,
Bob

wmanning

Hi Bob,

DoubleCAD XT Pro has SAT, IGES, will have STP soon, among many other formats. The free version doesn't support ACIS solids, so it is a better companion to surface modelers like SketchUp than solid modelers right now.

-- William

watkins

Dear William,

Many thanks for the additional information. Now, back to those tutorials....

Regards,
Bob