@sashapepperspray
The security software is just a clue, I don't know if that's the issue.

Using the Windows File Explorer, can you please access this folder:

C:\Users\tenen\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2024\SketchUp\Plugins\universal_importer\Applications\Assimp\Win

Run assimp.exe and then report to this thread any errors you see.

@sashapepperspray
Can you please confirm that the latest Visual C++ Redistributable x64 is installed on your Windows? Here is a reference screenshot:

Hypothesis: You have a security software that blocks the Assimp executable (assimp.exe) when it tries to access the file system

@sashapepperspray Do you have Windows 10 or Windows 11? Are you Administrator of your OS?

@sashapepperspray This error message indicates that the bug occurs when a polygon reduction is requested, in the SU viewport, with the plugin toolbar... but I don't know why.

Have you succeeded in this operation with other 3D models? Or this operation fails everytime, whatever the 3D model?

Hello @MikeG73

Thanks

Indeed, BLEND format support in this extension is limited to older .blend files and one must claim then map the textures manually...

I hope to improve that in the future

Cheers!

@RLGL
I think it's fine now. I imported with the Universal Importer v1.2.6 many STEP and IGES files from McMaster Carr and their scale is everytime correct in SketchUp. Be sure to let millimiters as "Source model units" when importing...

Hello everyone

The 1.2.6 version:

• Allows you to specify the source model units (millimeters, centimeters, etc). Most probable units, for the model you are importing, are preselected to accelerate the workflow. However, be still attentive with unitless formats such as OBJ, real scale depends on specifications.

• Automatically fixes, on SketchUp 2018 and newer versions, bad texture coordinates of some glTF models and "unexpected face count after polygon reduction" issue. If you are a SketchUp 2017 user, you will find a manual solution in the Troubleshooting FAQ of the plugin.

• Handles polygon reduction of STEP/IGES/BREP models during the import.

• Automatically fixes orientation of STEP/IGES/BREP models for last time?

Download latest Universal Importer plugin from SketchUcation PluginStore.

@RLGL No but can I ask you for a coffee in exchange? I need more blood in my veins to fix the wrong scale problem

1.2.5 version:

• Provides finally a good support of STEP (AP203, AP214, AP242) files, thanks to the included Mayo command-line converter.

• Supports two new file formats: IGES (v5.3) and BREP, thanks again to the Mayo software and the Open CASCADE Technology.

Note 1: For the moment, reducing polygons when importing a STEP/IGES/BREP file is not possible. While waiting for a future version which will fill this gap, you can always reduce the polygons by clicking on the swan icon in the plugin toolbar.

Note 2: Although I can't confirm it, the import of STEP/IGES/BREP files should work on macOS as well.

Download latest Universal Importer plugin from SketchUcation PluginStore.

Hey @Gunner77,

It should works on SketchUp 2024. Let me know if not.

Hi @Jorgensen,

What exactly do you mean by "to control materials"?

In the Nodes Editor, it is possible to apply a material to the group resulting from a Draw pyramid node, for example.

This material comes from the active model. If this parametric schema is then imported into another model which does not have this material, it is then substituted by a random color.

Hi @Jorgensen,

The "Copy / Paste this node" feature is on my TODO list

@Jorgensen

You can extract, the shape from a group or component already available in the model, a shape a priori created outside the Nodes Editor.

Once imported into the Nodes Editor, this entity is represented by a “Draw shape” node, this entity is not as configurable as a pure parametric entity but you can still apply parametric operations to it, such as “Copy”, “Move”...

I can explain the formula inside this “Move”, if needed.

Note iterations can be slow if you use heavy shapes like those corinthian columns. I must optimize the performance of this plugin, at lost time :'D

Hi Jorgensen,

I am the author of the Parametric Modeling plugin, I am glad you are interested in it.

The problem is that I have too many projects in parallel and I develop them on my free time...
I intend to improve this plugin but I cannot give a release date.

I remain open to your ideas.

Cordially,
Samuel Tallet

1.2.4 version:

• Tries to preserve the original materials names. You should see less materials named <auto>1, <auto>2, etc.
• Enhances compatibility for (non textured) 3MF files and IRR files, thanks to Assimp's contributors!
• Supports an unlimited number of embedded textures (previously the maximum number was 1000).
• Includes an Assimp CLI tool compiled for the Intel Mac and Apple Silicon processors: M1, M2, etc.

Download latest Universal Importer plugin from SketchUcation PluginStore.

@jamesdavies0211 said:

[...] having some issues with importing blend and obj files.

Hi James!

Your .blend model was created with which version of Blender? Could you send it to me via PM please?

@waltersch said:

Here my workflow.

Construction on Sketchup 17. Export as collada file.
Import to 3DCoat for texturing. Export as obj file.
Import to Model Converter X for checking and file conversion. Export as obj file.

I do check the polygons in every step and they are the same in every step. Pic1 shows the correct wireframe so far.

Import to Sketchup with "Universal Importer Plugin". Now the wireframe is not as it was in all the steps ahead. Some of the edges are missing. I´m not using any polygon reduction. Pic2 shows the result after the import.

My question to you is only, why the imported wireframe is not the same as it was in all the other steps ahead. Because the wireframe is broken in some area, the texture does´nt fit any more.

For an additional explanation. The workfrlow may seam strange and all can be done with different software solutions much easier. You are all right, but this is my workflow I´m used to it.

Hi Walter,

I don't want to criticize your workflow, but try to have less conversion steps as this can cause problems.

Hello Pilou

It will be compatible starting from SketchUp 2017 Make.

The PBR 2.x plugin for SketchUp could render the atmosphere with volumetric clouds in real-time.

Work in progress:

@ottown said:

Hi Samuel,

Have downloadeed the latest version along with sketchup pro 2023 for mac, but every time i try to import a model fbx or obj im getting the errow shown.
Any advise
Universal Importer Error: Command failed: cd "/Users/davidott/Downloads/Test" && "/Users/davidott/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2023/SketchUp/Plugins/universal_importer/Applications/Assimp/Mac/assimp" export "uir-source.3ds" "uir-inter.obj" -tri

Hi David,

In this situation, the error message does not provide enough details. Maybe your macOS is not allowed to run Assimp executable?