Import and Export of cad drawings in 3DS format

dale

Having said that, the way SU receives a dxf file depends on which dxf version was used to write it. My cad application exports v12. When the model arrives in SU (which is usually painless) it has no layer, group, material(colour) data.
On first importing the 3ds, the model appears free-floating, waiting for you to "earth" it somewhere. If you snap to the origin, then when you import edited or new parts into the model, the origin will be consistent.

Thanks for the tips. A question: Does your above mentioned dxf file arrive as a 3d entity when you use the version 12 export, when exported in plan view? Do you have to export using an isometric view?
You are right, the 2007 export arrives with layers intact, and mostly set up in SketcUp, although I have had some weird glitches, like a layer physically being on two layers at once.
I like the idea of taking the 3ds components to groups, although I first thought that having each wall for instance as an individual component a pain, I don't mind the ability to edit them separately, particularly because of the excess geometry some things, like windows for instance carry as excess baggage.

dale

@bigstick said:

From Vectorworks, export as .dwg for import into SU. Unlike AutoCAD, you do not change the viewpoint to a 3d view.
Top/Plan or Top should both be fine. I have always selected 'export 2D fills', and 'Triangulate to preserve fills' in the 3d section below.

Every time I have tried this, it works as expected, but I have found it is better to explicitly set the units for each program.
I haven't tried this with VW2008-9, but with earlier versions, all 3d faces were triangulated, most likely because I selected the option to do this in the export dialog. I haven't tried without the 'Triangulate to preserve fills' option though.

BTW, importing the 3d SU model back into VW works well too, and you can create sections from it, but again the critical thing is the import settings.

I'll certainly follow your recipe. I'm using VW12 currently, and so far any dxf or dwg import to sketchUp arrives as a 2d drawing. 3Ds has been my only success.
I am still not so sure that it may not be better to go the 2d, then trace the walls route, as there is a lot of work associated with any alterations on the 3d models once in SketchUp. That would be sad though, given that the model is already at least partially developed by default in the cad programs.
I'm not giving up yet though.
Thanks for the tips.

sepo

I thought you have to be in 3d mode when exporting from VW...not sure though.

caddict

@unknownuser said:

Does your above mentioned dxf file arrive as a 3d entity when you use the version 12 export, when exported in plan view? Do you have to export using an isometric view?

Yes, always as a 3d entity, independent of view.

@unknownuser said:

although I first thought that having each wall for instance as an individual component a pain,

Once I have the walls on their own layer, I usaully explode them all and reform them all into one new group, leaving the windows in their own individual groups/components. Same with the entities that form the roof...explode em and reform into a single group