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.

@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?

@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 ?

@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

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

Hi Greg,

@sketchucationgreg said:

The components often disappear in SketchUp upon modifying the schema. Adding and deleting nodes sometimes makes them reappear.

@samuel_t said:

Does this happen when you are typing a formula?

@sketchucationgreg said:

Yes.

Looks like a bug... Maybe the Parametric Modeling plugin tries to redraw the parametric entities while the schema is in a inconsistent state (incomplete formula).

@sketchucationgreg said:

Schema attached.

I don't see a .schema file attached to your post. You can send me a .skp file or maybe a .schema.zip file.

@sketchucationgreg said:

Thanks for your great modifications since it is a very useful tool now. Well done.

Greg, I'm happy to hear this plugin is useful!

@sketchucationgreg said:

1. The components often disappear in SketchUp upon modifying the schema. Adding and deleting nodes sometimes makes them reappear.

Does this happen when you are typing a formula?

@sketchucationgreg said:

2. Some nodes do not appear to be calculating but seem to have correct formula in them (see attachment)

The preview in Math nodes such as Divide can be empty. This is a known issue. It's only a display bug.

Can you please send me your .skp or .schema file?

@traupmann said:

The disabling of the Layer Organizer worked for all of the provided schemas but two. The files are below.

Decking on Pedastals Results.skp
Curved Shelf Result.skp

Sorry for the very late reply.
"Decking on Pedastals" appears empty.
"Curved Shelf" appears incomplete.
For both, I don't know why...

@traupmann said:

Here is a schema I developed
Arch.skp

Bravo and thank you for this great schema! I'll include it in the next Parametric Modeling plugin version.

@traupmann said:

Can you advise how to pass schema files?

Inside Nodes Editor, right-click in void. Select "Export schema to a file". Share exported .shema file

@didier bur said:

Hi Samuel,

Hi Didier,

@didier bur said:

First thanks for this great plugin (just like all of your other goodies).

That's very kind!

@didier bur said:

Some questions about the materials:
-what is the difference between the heightfield map and the normal map features ?

The height map in the PBR 1.x plugin is a parallax occlusion map. The height map is a grayscale image which simulates a "deep relief". You can use a displacement map from Poly Haven (for example) as a height map. Whereas the normal map encodes the "bas-relief" in the RGB channels of an image...

@didier bur said:

• how to get an occlusion map based on a jpg texture ?

Handmade or automatic? Some softwares can autogenerate an [ambient] occlusion map from a diffuse texture...

@didier bur said:

I'm starting some tests and amazed with the results

Stay tuned The PBR 2.x plugin should reach photorealism.

@didier bur said:

Thanks for your time.

You're welcome!

@pabloarias said:

Hi. From a month, more or less, I got a popup when SU starts that said something about a newer version 4.2.6 from this plugin and opens this SketchUcation page when message accepted. But I see no news here about newer releases of this plugin. Does anybody here tell me what's wrong?

Hi Pablo.

4.2.6 ? I'm working on the 2.x version of the PBR plugin but the latest public version available at SketchUcation is 1.5.9.

@chon said:

Hello,

@pabloarias said:

Hi. From a month, more or less, I got a popup when SU starts that said something about a newer version 4.2.6 from this plugin and opens this SketchUcation page when message accepted. But I see no news here about newer releases of this plugin. Does anybody here tell me what's wrong?

I think this message is about the last version of SketchUcation ExtensionStore

Yes, it makes sense!

@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.

@obaker said:

how would you generate the ability to move an item randomly but within a fixed range of value?

For example, I would input the formula below in the "X Position" field of the "Move" node to translate on X axis an entity between 1 and 5 meters (if the active model uses meters).

rand(1.0, 5.0)

The "rand" function returns a random number in a range. First argument is the minimum number, second argument is the maximum.

Alternatively, one can use variables instead of hardcoded values if variables are defined in or connected to "Variable ..." fields of the "Move" node. Then the above formula becomes :

rand(a, b)

@unknownuser said:

Hello. This is an amazing tool for me. I am a lecturer and I teach this plugin to my students, especially.

Hello. This kind of feedback makes me very happy! It's one of the reasons I code and share plugins.

@unknownuser said:

It has immense potential.

A lot of things are not documented. Parametric Modeling plugin Wiki really deserves some love

@unknownuser said:

Know it is currently under development, so I think you will consider my suggestions.

To be honest, the developement of this plugin is in stand-by. I'm busy by other projects. That's said, suggestions are always welcome

@unknownuser said:

All my problems are with nodes First, it would be great if they could be locked, grouped, and ungrouped with a right-click option.

This sounds not "easy", but a must-have option! I agree.
About organization, one can add "Post-it" nodes. Right-click in void then choose "Add a comment node".

@unknownuser said:

The undo and redo shortcuts do not work as I expected. For example, when I accidentally add a box to a crowded node screen, the "ctrl+c" combination does something else instead of removing it.

Try to press "Escape" to cancel... If it's too late: right-click on the node then choose "Remove this node".

@unknownuser said:

Especially in complex jobs, nodes get mixed up. To prevent this situation, you can add icons that can be personalized (such as color, geometric shape) on the upper right corners of the nodes.

Yes, I could add more visual landmarks. I note your idea.

@unknownuser said:

Finally, if windows run in tabs, you will have done an excellent job of efficiency.

SketchUp HTML Dialog API (used by this plugin) don't support tabs, but I could add tabs inside the plugin's window...

@unknownuser said:

My English isn't very good, but I wanted to congratulate you and give you an idea of what I think can be improved.

Thanks. Where do you come from? I'm curious

@unknownuser said:

Wish I knew a little bit of coding and could help you.

Parametric Modeling plugin code source is online.

@unknownuser said:

Respects

Best regards

The PBR 2.x plugin for SketchUp will support real-time ray tracing. Work in progress:

@maxicus said:

Problem with dxf files

When I try to import a dxf file no error occurs and SU recognises the dxf file as a new component, but there is no content!

I get a prompt to place the import, but then there is nothing there.

Any idea what might be wrong?

Many thanks,

Max

Can you please send us the DXF file you try to import?

@arakon said:

Found an issue with "small" models.
Example: I'm importing a functional model that is 95x46x75.45mm in size. The STL is 75.45 tall, however, in order for it to import semi-properly, I have to use the 46mm as height.
However, the model, when imported, is actually 99.12x47.99x78.72mm in size, so it's actually 104.3261% of the original size in all directions.
If I import it at a factor of 100 (telling it that the STL is 4600mm in height), then downscale it to 0.01 in Sketchup, the size is correct.

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your report. Universal Importer plugin contains too many hacks (scaling is one of them). This plugin needs a partial or full rewrite, but I can't promise it will happen.

@tonytony321 said:

Hi there, appreciate the effort!

I have been trying to use it on obj and 3ds file, but it keeps showing error

Universal Importer Error: invalid byte sequence in UTF-8

Any idea how to solve this? Thank you

Hi,

Does your input model filename or path contain non-ASCII characters?

@sreckom said:

Is it possible to keep parts separated, as groups or components, when importing formats like obj, fbx of Collada? Right now it imports everything as a single mesh.

I think it's doable but I don't know how yet... Your request has been added to my todo list.

1.2.0 version allows you to use the proxy library of this plugin in SketchUp 2017 or newer.

Download latest Random Entity Generator plugin from the SketchUcation PluginStore.