[Plugin] Universal Importer - v1.2.6 - 30 July 2024

[RBC60HzVolts]

Am I missing something? I followed the steps in the video (I think anyway) and all I can get is the mesh. I tried several times with an export from Blender - just mesh. Tried a stock obj file "Lego man" - same thing even when opening the jpg & png files. I tried uninstall the re-install (only wat I could find was Extension manager (just a clue after one of your comment replies).

[samuel_t]

@rbc60hzvolts said:

Am I missing something? I followed the steps in the video (I think anyway) and all I can get is the mesh. I tried several times with an export from Blender - just mesh. Tried a stock obj file "Lego man" - same thing even when opening the jpg & png files. I tried uninstall the re-install (only wat I could find was Extension manager (just a clue after one of your comment replies).

It seems to me glTF import works better. Try to export your model to a .gltf file from Blender then import this .gltf file into SketchUp with Universal Importer plugin.

[sketchgirl1]

Hello: I downloaded it but when I click on it, the computer asks how I want to open it. What do I do now? I have Windows 11 and SketchUp 2017. Thanks.

---

[Rich O Brien]

@sketchgirl1 said:

I downloaded it but when I click on it, the computer asks how I want to open it. What do I do now?

Use SketchUp to install it. You can't open .rbz files

[TIG]

You don't 'open' an RBZ file.
You 'save' it onto your computer.
Make sure your web-browser is set up to do this...

When you have your RBZ in your Downloads folder you need to 'install' the RBZ's contents.
Open SketchUp and use the Extension Manager - it's menu location depends on the SketchUp version.
In the dialog that opens there's a button 'Install Extension...'
Click that, find the saved RBZ and SketchUp does the rest to it, and extracts its contents into your Plugins folder etc...

[sketchgirl1]

Okay I got it (Universal importer) showing up in extensions but when I click it it sends me to a donation page. I guess that means I must donate a dollar? I just tried free (for 15 days) FluidImporterPro and my SketchUp program crashed when I tried to import an FBX file chair. I have SketchUp 2017. Not sure how I know this one (Universal importer) will work. Maybe I might as well buy SimLab Obj Importer since that is already installed, from my free trial, and I know it works. Thank you.

[sketchgirl1]

Not sure exactly how to reply to your post in the right order. But anyway I finally imported my FBX chair file with Skimp importer, which worked very well. But it's expensive (a yearly charge of $80 I think - Simlab is that much for permanent license). But free for 5 days. So I guess this Universal Importer is a good option. I would just like to know, is that true that I must donate and then the importer will be accessible (the words "import" will show up when I press Universal extension, under extensions tab?) Thank you.

[Rich O Brien]

@sketchgirl1 said:

is that true that I must donate

No, the tool resides under the File menu. The donation to Samuel is in the Extensions menu.

Donation are entirely up to the user.

[sketchgirl1]

@rich o brien said:

@sketchgirl1 said:

is that true that I must donate

No, the tool resides under the File menu. The donation to Samuel is in the Extensions menu.

Donation are entirely up to the user.

Yes now I see. I did watch that video showing you how to import, over on the left at bottom. But first donated a dollar trying to get it to work. No wait.. I made a mistake and requested a dollar first, then donated and cancelled the request. But I tried it on a chair and it worked. It insists that you assign a material though, before it will import. But it's great. Now I am going to try a large complicated HVAC Obj model; we'll see how that goes. Thank you!

[DougJoseph]

Thanks for such a helpful plugin!

Whenever I try to import a simple 3mf file, the plugin asks me first for the model height. It shows a default of 1800 or some such. I don't know the height of the items I am importing. I have no way to know. Is there any way I can get it to accept the height of the model that is included in the model, which has a "unit" (almost always) of mm?

[samuel_t]

A new version of Universal Importer plugin is coming... It will be less verbose and smarter about missing textures. Stay tuned!

[samuel_t]

@dougjoseph said:

Thanks for such a helpful plugin!

@dougjoseph said:

Whenever I try to import a simple 3mf file, the plugin asks me first for the model height. It shows a default of 1800 or some such. I don't know the height of the items I am importing. I have no way to know. Is there any way I can get it to accept the height of the model that is included in the model, which has a "unit" (almost always) of mm?

If you are unsure about model height: cancel dialog, import continues. Wrong scale is a known issue

[gomo25mail]

Hello, great idea, BUT when I tried to reduce the face count on many items, they only went up in face count.
Windows 11, SketchUp Make 2017.
Example: Used a simple vehicle (Jeep.skp) with 7537 faces. Tried to reduce to 4000. Ended up with more faces.

---

[virtualbreizh]

Bonjour Samuel,
Merci pour votre plugin, cependant je n'arrive pas à le faire fonctionner sur Sketchup 19 Pro sur Mac. Je vois bien l'extension dans la liste des extensions mais la seule option disponible est "faire un don à l'auteur de l'extension" (ce que j'ai d'ailleurs fait )
Tristan Langlois

[samuel_t]

@virtualbreizh said:

Bonjour Samuel,
Merci pour votre plugin, cependant je n'arrive pas à le faire fonctionner sur Sketchup 19 Pro sur Mac. Je vois bien l'extension dans la liste des extensions mais la seule option disponible est "faire un don à l'auteur de l'extension" (ce que j'ai d'ailleurs fait )
Tristan Langlois

Hello Tristan,

You don't need to donate. This plugin is free. In SketchUp menu, use "File > Import with Universal Importer...". Do you want a refund?

--

Bonjour Tristan,

Vous n'avez pas besoin de faire un don. Cette extension est gratuite. Dans le menu de SketchUp, utilisez "Fichier > Importer avec Importateur Universel...". Voulez-vous être remboursé ?

[samuel_t]

@gomo25mail said:

Hello, great idea, BUT when I tried to reduce the face count on many items, they only went up in face count.
Windows 11, SketchUp Make 2017.
Example: Used a simple vehicle (Jeep.skp) with 7537 faces. Tried to reduce to 4000. Ended up with more faces.

Hello. Can you please send me this "Jeep.skp", as it is before polygon reduction attempt?

[samuel_t]

Hello, I just released 1.1.8 version of SketchUp Universal Importer plugin It automatically imports missing textures, even if they are in neighboring folders:

Old versions asked too many questions! Sometimes, dozens of dialog boxes were displayed To speed up workflow, I added options that one can enable or disable from "Extensions > Universal Importer" menu.

Model is no longer resized. I may turn this model height question into an option but I would prefer to find an automatic solution to this issue.

Under macOS, model now seems to be imported right side up.

Universal Importer plugin is now compatible with Lord Of The Toolbars plugin from Fredo6.

There are less copies of temporary files. I will develop the next versions in this direction. Hard drive will be less stressed...

Download latest Universal Importer plugin from SketchUcation PluginStore.

[Rich O Brien]

Nice update!

I'll test some stuff I know usually doesn't play nice.

[samuel_t]

1.1.9 version fixes import of textures stored in non-system disk partitions, e.g. D:\path\to\texture.jpg

Download latest Universal Importer plugin from SketchUcation PluginStore.

[Rich O Brien]

Works for but .blend files throw an error....

This is on Blender 3.2.1 files. Even a simple cube fails

cube.zip