OK, Collada is coming but,
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If you have a kmz file (you can easily have one - just export your model), rename the extension to *.zip and open the folder. In there, there are subfolders for materials for instance and there is a lso a model folder or what. Now inside, you will find a file with *.dae extension (I think SU can export to "plain" dae, too - at least the pro version can).
Open that dae file with a plain text editor and discover that it is actually a simple text file in xml format (this is a widely used format for a lot of purposes - like the RSS feed as well which you can subscribe here or the file that is exported to Kerkythea renderer with su2kt.rb by our friend Tomasz Marek here and such).
If you "browse" that xml file, you will see its logic as it is "building up" the model from different coordinates of your model endpoints and such.
Since it is text based, it's fairly simple to manipulate, "translate" to other formats and quite versatile for a bunch of purposes. Also it is "accepted" by many applications so it would be cool if it were (or became soon) more widely spread.
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The .dae bit. The .kmz bit is just a wrapper for the file, and is the format google earth uses.
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This is the header of a dae file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <COLLADA xmlns="http://www.collada.org/2005/11/COLLADASchema" version="1.4.1"> -
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Solo, Thanks for the link. Took a look at the ascii format, and noted that it includes a lot more then the geometry of the model. Thats good for 3d modeling, but it could actually have the opposite affect on ACAD, and reinforce its hold on the 2d Cad production drawing community. Either way it is bad for those of us who depend on DXF, and do production drawings unless Su continues to support it in the Pro version. In the kindest world, SU would have Collada for 3d modeling (textures, animation, etc.), and dxf for 3d/2d geometry. Oh well, guessing at the future is like looking into a tank of crude oil
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Google's intent is to support dxf/dwg in the Pro version Collada import is "only" going to be an additional tool for Pro users while it will be a "change" (from dwg/dxf) for Free users.
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