Open Sketchup from Layout

Jim57 · 15 Nov 2011, 14:51

How do you open a Sketchup file from Layout if the SU file is not around?

Thanks,

Jim

Dave R · 15 Nov 2011, 14:55

The SU file is embedded in the LO file. You should be able to right click on a viewport and choose to open the model in SU. Alternatively, if you want to get the model out of the LO file, you can change the .layout extension to .zip and then open it.

FWIW, when you open the LayOut file, the program compares the embedded file to the reference to see if the reference is newer. If it is, then it lets you know that the embedded file needs to be updated. If the reference file is missing, it'll let you know that, too. If you dig the SKP file out of the LO file, you could save it separately from the LO file (change the extension back to .layout after copying the .skp file) and relink to the "new" location.

Jim57 · 15 Nov 2011, 19:19

Whups, there it is, in the contextual menu when I Control-Click on the view.

That's a handy trick about changing the .layout to a .zip. I've opened zipped files, but got them from DAta Recovery, and I wasn't about to trash my hard drive to get to the original file ;?)

BTW, in a Mac the SU file is buried under about 6 layers of invisible folders in the guts of the System. YOu can trace it down by opening the SU by Control Clicking, then Command Clicking on the file name atop the window to find out where it's stored.

Best,

Jim

samyell77 · 14 Mar 2012, 13:02

Hi,

Im trying to find the way to do this on PC (Windows Ultimate) but can't find any way to change the extension. I can't see how to change the extension from .layout to .zip. Ive tried rename (context menu in explorer) and properties and have also tried to compress the file and save it out of layout as a .zip but no joy.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

Dave R · 14 Mar 2012, 13:10

So renaming the file from .layout to .zip doesn't take? Is that what you're saying? I'm not familiar with Windows Ultimate but it sounds like you might need some sort of permission that you don't have? Can you rename any files to change their extensions?

samyell77 · 14 Mar 2012, 13:37

Hi Dave R,
Thanks for coming back - just had a search around on and found the following forum
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/103171-file-name-extension.html
It explains here how to turn the extension view back on.
I guess its something that Ultimate turns off as part of the standard install.
Tried changing .layout to .zip and all works fine - problem solved!
Thanks

Dave R · 14 Mar 2012, 13:47

Good to know you got it fixed. Another one of those situations where Windows is trying to be smarter than the operator but fails.

samyell77 · 14 Mar 2012, 13:59

It definitely gets the better of me some days

Gaieus · 15 Mar 2012, 18:23

Well, unless you deliberately tell Windows not to, it will hide the extension of "known file types" (i.e. thatn programs register). I am on a Hungarian XP here so it would not be much of a help to share screenshots (even if I could find the place after all these years when I set mine up and all the beers I've had tonight) but I think it is solved anyway...

samyell77 · 15 Mar 2012, 18:39

Ah - beer! Damn good idea. Im going home to crack open a tinny! Cheers

utiler · 16 Mar 2012, 00:20

You two sound way to Australian.....