Why not support Sketchup?

[tanoshimi]

Ever since Sketchup got absorbed by Google, and it became easy to secure a free copy to work with, I've almost exclusively used it for modelling.  The catch, of course, is getting these models into my software.  Sketchup exports to 3ds, and then 3ds can be converted to TVM (which never seems to work without first going into Max and exporting the mesh again).  I would love to see someone come up with a TVM exporter for Google Sketchup.  If not that, then a companion .x or .3ds exporter that will work better at becoming TVM's.  Any takers? 

[Dimple]

Most likely the Dev's don't have the free time to make one for Sketchup. May I ask if you have asked anyone who uses Milkshape3D to try and convert your .3ds files to TVM's and find out if the same problem you are having with Max happens there too? Just a thought...

[Hypnotron]

I started to write a TVM (not TVA) exporter plug-in for Sketchup but I had difficulty getting Ruby (the scripting language used by Sketchup) to do my bidding.  For a scripting language, you would think it would have some insanely good/easy/ API's for dealing with files and it does not.  I haven't seen such a convoluted way of dealing with file IO before.

That said, I've got ~80% of the TVM file format posted somewhere in this forum along with a demo project that imports a TVM using SetGeometry.  If you do a search you'll find it and if you're willing to learn Ruby you can write an exporter yourself.

[asia]

I did discover the free (not pro) sketchup drawing can be exported in Directx file format (.x) using a plugin.
Visit:
http://www.3drad.com/Google-SketchUp-To-DirectX-XNA-Exporter-Plug-in.htm

I tested and it works fine untill the model is not too complex.
Ciao
Fabio

[tanoshimi]

I have found a successful way to get my Sketchup models into my software.  I found and installed an awesome DirectX exporter for Sketchup.  Once I have them as .X files, the ModelViewer loads and displays them perfectly!  From there I can save as TVM, or run Convert to get them to TVM.  I've loaded the TVM files in the ModelViewer and they look fabulous!  Now just to get some bumpmapping in there.  I really wish Hypnotron had gotten the TVM exporter to work.  That'd save a step or two.  I've had some very limited success with Ruby, but certainly not enough to get something like that going.  Also, I know nothing about the TVM format.  That being said, perhaps Hypnotron could dissect the DirectX exporter and change it to work with the TVM format?
-Tano

[frank7723]

I played around with SketchUp Express but have not seen the full version action. Do you guys think that is worth the money? Have you found it useful for the sort of work you do? I have seen some people use it to map out Medical Alert maps. What other ways have you seen it used?

[Dimple]

 

lol, I feel the need to add this link to an old thread, Hypnotron will recognize it....
http://www.truevision3d.com/forums/announcements/tvm_file_format_loader_c_open_src_public_domain-t19588.0.html;msg134816#msg134816

sorry for the necro...