samueltallet / sketchup-universal-importer-plugin

Open-source importing extension for SketchUp 2017 or newer.

Free universal importer plugin for SketchUp

Import 3D models in SketchUp. 50+ formats are supported. Reduce polygon count on the fly.

Supported formats

• 3D
• 3DS
• 3MF
• AC
• AC3D
• ACC
• AMJ
• ASE
• ASK
• B3D
• BLEND
• BVH
• CMS
• COB
• DAE/Collada
• DXF
• ENFF
• FBX
• glTF 1.0 + GLB
• glTF 2.0 + GLB
• HMB
• IFC-STEP
• IRR / IRRMESH
• LWO
• LWS
• LXO
• M3D
• MD2
• MD3
• MD5
• MDC
• MDL
• MESH / MESH.XML
• MOT
• MS3D
• NDO
• NFF
• OBJ
• OFF
• OGEX
• PLY
• PMX
• PRJ
• Q3O
• Q3S
• RAW
• SCN
• SIB
• SMD
• STP
• STL
• TER
• UC
• VTA
• X
• X3D
• XGL
• ZGL

Installation

1. Be sure to have SketchUp 2017 or newer.
2. Download latest Universal Importer plugin from the SketchUcation PluginStore.
3. Install plugin following this guide.

Now, you should have in SketchUp an "Universal Importer" submenu in "Extensions" menu and an "Universal Importer" toolbar.

Troubleshooting

I get an error when I import a model on Windows.

(Re)install Microsoft Visual C++ library then restart Windows.

Model was imported but textures are missing.

Enable "Claim Missing Textures" option in "Extensions > Universal Importer" menu then import model again.

My problem isn't resolved or isn't listed above.

Report a bug on official Universal Importer forum thread at SketchUcation or here at GitHub on Issues page.

Thanks

This plugin relies on Assimp library and MeshLab software. Thanks to Assimp's and MeshLab's contributors.

License

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3.0 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

If you release a modified version of this program TO THE PUBLIC, the GPL requires you to MAKE THE MODIFIED SOURCE CODE AVAILABLE to the program's users, UNDER THE GPL.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Copyright

© 2024 Samuel Tallet

sketchup-universal-importer-plugin's Issues

Add license type to repo

Please add copyright information and/or license terms to the README or a COPYRIGHT and/or COPYING file. I looked on the SketchUcation site and this looks to be GPL 3 but it's unclear if that code is the same as the released code from this repo or some modification.

Assimp can't open non-ASCII filenames

Assimp CLI executable (used by Universal Importer plugin to convert models) can't open file paths including non-ASCII chars.

To workaround this issue, I copy file to import (called below "source") in a path without ASCII chars (i.e. C:\ProgramData\Universal Importer\tmp\import.fbx) but I have to also copy files associated to model (textures, buffers, etc). In early versions of plugin, I copied blindly all files from source dir. This has been referenced as "big copy" issue. Currently, I copy only necessary files but this code part is complicated to maintain, copy takes disk space and increases import time...

I plan to use hard links instead of file copies. This new workaround won't suffer of drawbacks previously mentioned.

Wrong scale/size

Sometimes imported model is too small, most of time it is too big...

To circumvent this issue, I coded a resizing hack in two steps: plugin asks user for model height, then when model is placed in scene, it is scaled down until model height (defined by user) is reached. Not so bad, but this adds even more verbosity and slowdowns import.

I need to know how exactly scale and unit works. I want to remove resizing hack described above.

Error: Failed to load STEP file: IFC: Unrecognized file schema: AUTOMOTIVE_DESIGN

Hi
I get this error when I try to import a STEP file in SketchUp

What is the problem.
Bonjour,
J'ai l'erreur suivante dans SketchUp pour importer un fichier STEP

Error: Failed to load STEP file: IFC: Unrecognized file schema: CONFIG_CONTROL_DESIGN

I found your SketchUp plugin based on a thread in the SketchUp forums and was glad to see see that STP file format was supported. After installation, I attempted to import a STP and received a

Universal Importer Error: Command failed:

Please advise if there is issue with my installation, if possible.

Error: Failed to load STEP and 3MF file

Hi,
I get this error when I try to import a STEP or 3MF file with Universal Importer (version 1.2.3)
Is there a way to fix this and if yes, how to do it.
Thank you for every feedback and information

Best wishes

CS

[STEP format] Failed to load file: Validation failed: A node of the scenegraph is NULL

have reinstalled SU2020 run as Administrator via Tig recommendations, have reloaded C++ twice. Same error occurs.

Error: Failed to load 3MF file: At least one mesh must be there

Get this error whenever I try to import a 3mf file

Missing textures

In some cases, plugin asks (and annoys user) about false missing textures whereas it doesn't for true missing textures.

a) Texture colors are possibly confused with texture maps. I need to investigate...

b) Plugin is not always aware of yet well-defined texture references.
Texture maps may have been not exported?

c) A special attention must be given to models using a texture atlas, e.g. Megascans.

Error: Failed to load 3MF file: stof argument out of range

Mesh holes

When I import a mesh it creates such holes in surfaces. I have checked the model by importing it in other software and it is correct. Can you please guide me?

Mac release?

Hi Samuel,

Sorry to bother. Is there a mac release coming up?
I really like to export STEP files from my program but can’t convert them to skp currently. (Or via irritating workarounds haha)

Sorry if it’s not on the radar but I think it’s incredible you’re doing this for free!

Plugin asks too much questions

Greetings.

When i import an *.obj model to SketchUp - it asks me two questions: to enter model height (in mm) and to select a texture for material: default material. If i cancel model height, then all models imported hame the same (i assume - default) height/size. If i cancel texture selection, then model is still displayed correctly. So why all this questions? Arent model already have this asked parameters in itself?

I am asking coz if i import this models to 3Ds Max for example, then all models have different/unique height/size and correctly display textures by default (i.e. w/o/ entering any additional parameters).

Could not find included file 'universal_importer/load.rb'

Hi! I tried to install this Universal Importer Plugin.
Now everytime I open SketchUp I see this screen:

I tried to change some line of code, but nothing. The file "load.rb" is on the path but SketchUp doesn't see it.

Why?

I'll wait for your response.

Thank you very much

Error importing a 3MF file in SketchUp with Universal Importer (v1.2.3)

Hi
In order to import an *.3mf file with this plug in for sketchUp, i get the above mentioned message. (I posted same issue with *.step file.
Can anyone, please, explain me what, maybe, I am doing wrong ? VC++ is installed. Can it be that my *.step and *.3mf file is not complete or maybe damaged?

Thank you in advance for any help and/or information regarding this issue.
Best wishes
C.S .

Error: Failed to convert 3MF file (No much details)

I download a file from Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6162681/files
File named Fanduct_anteriore.3mf

I have try to use this plugin to convert 3MF file in a SKP file but it fails with the following error.

I had try to run the command in a DOS CLI and it works.

An obj file has been generated but it is in a format that I can not manage.

macOS support

Does this work on macOS or it is for Windows only?

Can't download plugin from SketchUcation page

Can't download plugin from sketchucation page

Assimp import error on Mac due to file permissions

When attempting an import on Mac, the following error occurs:

Universal Importer Error: Command failed: /Users/.../Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2018/SketchUp/Plugins/universal_importer/Assimp/Mac/assimp" info "/Users/.../.UniversalImporter/tmp/import.step" > "/Users/.../.UniversalImporter/tmp/assimp.nfo"
/Users/.../Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2018/SketchUp/Plugins/universal_importer/assimp.rb:166:in `get_texture_refs'
Universal Importer Version: 1.1.5

It's an easy fix. Assimp is missing the execute unix access mode(file permission). chmod 755/777/a+x, etc. corrects the issue.