[Plugin] FreeDXF Importer

thomthom · 22 Dec 2011, 08:29

Is DXF extendable? I wonder if AutoDesk writes DXF with extra material info..?

TIG · 22 Dec 2011, 08:58

A DXF can include all the types of data that you get in a DWG file itself.
However, as objects have layers and layers have colors, that's it.
You can assign attributes to objects containing additional info, so you can pass [otherwise-unused] data... but how that's useful later on is questionable.

thomthom · 22 Dec 2011, 09:29

I'm trying to find a good way to export a Revit model to SketchUp.

I have tried exporting to FBX and then use Autodesk's converter utility to convert to DAE - but that fails on import every time on any model in SU. Fail in Blender as well.

DWG and DXF import in SU - but uses layer material, as you describe. However, if I import the same DXF into another Autodesk application like 3DS - the materials are like how they where defined in Revit. And that is why I'm exploring this topic.

Jim · 23 Dec 2011, 16:19

FreeDXF imports acad layers as SketchUp Groups, so it may be possible to color the Groups according to their acad layer color number.

syfyguy · 31 Dec 2011, 05:06

It doesn't seem to work for me. I have Sketchup 8, with the new maintenance pack. It shows up in the plugins menu, then when executed it asks for arc segments, etc. When I click ok, nothing shows up. I'm using DWGeditor 2007 to create dxfs in ASCii 2007 format.

Jim · 31 Dec 2011, 19:17

@syfyguy said:

It doesn't seem to work for me. I have Sketchup 8, with the new maintenance pack. It shows up in the plugins menu, then when executed it asks for arc segments, etc. When I click ok, nothing shows up. I'm using DWGeditor 2007 to create dxfs in ASCii 2007 format.

Can you post or send the file?

Tenere · 6 Jan 2012, 15:00

%(#4000FF)[I've got a script not loading error on start with free version 8.0.4811.
I would assume I had the files in the right places although I can't see the folder layout image in the script posting - just an image name.
Bound to be missing the obvious, be grateful if someone could nudge me in the right direction......cheers.

Ooh one other question......Can I load the SU pro trial in tandem with my free version without bu#@ering it up or compromising the trial?....would quite like to see what I'm missing.]

TIG · 6 Jan 2012, 16:40

Does you Sketchup Plugins folder look like this ?

Tenere · 6 Jan 2012, 17:27

%(#0000FF)[ Hi Tig
Thanks for responding. My directory looks correct, are there any dependencies I may be missing?
I did read something in an earlier incarnation about the file naming system having to be basic without spaces ('joliet' stuff!!), it looks a bit more like an issue in that direction perhaps, paths & stuff....he says clutching at straws!!
Error:]

Error Loading File C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/freedxf/freedxf.rb
no such file to load -- inputboxError Loading File freedxf_ext.rb
no such file to load -- inputbox

%(#0000FF)[.......The file is definitely there!
Being skint takes up a lot of my time! Just can't justify the Pro version though so your help is much appreciated!]

JMdesigns · 6 Jan 2012, 18:10

I am having the same problem? but it does not let me inmport

TIG · 6 Jan 2012, 20:06

The download page's image is wrong !
There should also be the file
inputbox.rb
in the subfolder.
IF you get the latest zipped version of the tool it should include that file !

Tenere · 6 Jan 2012, 20:37

Bingo....your a star Tig
That sorted it, many thanks for your expertise. I'm raising a beer to you right now!....Hic!....well it is Friday!

juergen · 1 Sept 2012, 14:11

Handling metric units would realy be a plus. It is easily possible to scale from metric to imperial but the reverse is no as easy as it requires to scale by a fractional number.
As all my DXFs are in cm I can not use FreeDXF.

Please consider supporting metric drawings.

PS: If somebody knows a way, please reply!

TIG · 1 Sept 2012, 17:50

1" is 2.54cm
therefore
1cm is 0.393700787401574803" [1/2.54]
However, Sketchup's in-built accuracy regards 0.3937007" as being 'exactly' 1cm... so you can use that [or even 0.3937] as your scaling factor. After all we are talking about modeling 'buildings' here, not 'swiss-watches'...

blackcat1313 · 5 Oct 2012, 04:24

Hi -

I am having trouble getting the plugin to run. I'm on a Mac running OSX 10.6.8 and Sketchup 8.0. I downloaded the latest version v0.57 and put the .rbz file in my plugin folder. There are lots of other plugins there, though no others of type rbz.

When I start Sketchup, there is no FreeDXF Importer item in the Plugins menu. I am probably missing something really simple -- I'm a pretty new Sketchup user. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

Bill

pbacot · 5 Oct 2012, 05:02

Hi! try this:

http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=38583

blackcat1313 · 5 Oct 2012, 14:40

@pbacot said:

Hi! try this:

http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=38583

Doh - thanks for that, it's all working now!

Bill

Braikenridge · 8 Apr 2013, 16:48

I have sketchup 8.0 free and have put this .rbz ruby into the plugins folder but its not appearing when I load sketchup. Incidentally, nowhere does it let you unzip it either? Am I missing something? i'm trying to import a vector file from scan2cad

kind regards

thomthom · 8 Apr 2013, 18:14

@braikenridge said:

I have sketchup 8.0 free and have put this .rbz ruby into the plugins folder but its not appearing when I load sketchup. Incidentally, nowhere does it let you unzip it either? Am I missing something? i'm trying to import a vector file from scan2cad

To use RBZ packages you need to install them using the Install Extension feature in SketchUp: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/installing-plugins-for-google-sketchup/#the-easy-way-8211-rbz-packages

Jim · 17 Mar 2014, 21:55

I bumped the version to 0.7.1. For v0.7.0 I must have uploaded the wrong file. If your version says anything other than v0.7.1 then please update.

Thanks.