Layout - AutoCAD conversion troubles

[bill.younger]

HELP. My Layout files are unreadable in AutoCAD 2008. I don't have AutoCAD (and don't want to have it) - but I need to share the files with an engineer who does. Any hints?

[JGA]

I presume you'll be using SketchUP PRO 8, as it is the first version available with DWG output from Layout.
Can you export the Layout drawing to an earlier version of the DWG format?

[Gaieus]

In the dwg export panel, choose AutoCAD 2007 format instead of the (default) 2010.

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[bjanzen]

I helped Bill out via e-mail, and we're getting this a lot, so please consider:

What's the intent of exporting to AutoCAD? If it's for someone to take the drawings / geometry and redo the documents in 2D in AutoCAD, then:

1. Vector render all of your model views.
2. Render in model space to appropriate scaling (on the menu when you export).
3. Open in AutoCAD or TrueView and look at model space - it's black lines on black background, so sometimes switching to Layout 1 view (paper space) will help you see what's there.
4. Definitely export to 2007 if he's 2008.
5. You should be able to test a 2D export that's vector rendered to model space SketchUp. SketchUp however wont render any text and a few other things, and will not handle a model exported to paper space. You'll also notice it's just vectors, and if you want to make it 3D, you'll have to complete faces. Trying to guess where you want faces from edges is left to the mindreaders.