HI, all, new poster here but I have a specific problem that is usually misunderstood. Please read carefully.

I have the pro version of Sketchup 8, so I don't need the free plug-in OBJ exporter. Because what I need is an OBJ exporter that will give me the option to EXPORT BY materials. Not just WITH materials but also BY materials. In other words I need the model that's exported to be grouped together by the materials used in the project. So if I used 15 materials than I would have a model with 15 groups. I mean by that, that the model shows up as only 15 groups in the imported modeling program I use to export the model into a game I develop for because the game doesn't recognize Sketchup exports directly.

The 3DS Max export in Sketchup already does this and I use it currently but having this same option with OBJ would be even better.

Specifically: What I like about the OBJ export is I can make changes to the MTL reference file which would save me some time. I develop for a game that doesn't recognize Sketchup exports so I have to use a second modeling program to import into it and then export again into the game. But there are some issues with how Sketchup's OBJ export routine gives me tons of 'groups' or polys in the export inwhich the second modeling tool doesn't handle very well. But using the 3DS Group BY Material option the polys are grouped into fewer 'groups' and the modeling tool handles those files fine.

Most of the time I raise this issue people think I either have just the free version of Sketchup and I just need to export WITH materials. Nope, I need to export BY materials so the polys are grouped by material in the export. If you know of such an export, please let me know. Thanks.

Rich