SketchUp files

In this section

Importing_SketchUp

Merging SketchUp

Importing SketchUp

SketchUp is a modeling tool that enables you to create realistic 3D models of many different types of objects and then save the files with an “.skp” extension. You can import these SketchUp files into WYSIWYG in much the same way as you import DWG/DXF files.

Before you import SketchUp files into WYSIWYG, note the following:

• While SketchUp supports two textures per surface, one each for the front and back, WYSIWYG supports only one texture for both sides of imported surfaces; when you are importing SketchUp files, WYSIWYG will automatically apply the front texture to both sides of the object.
• WYSIWYG supports SKP files from SketchUp version 2019 format and earlier at the time of this release.

SketchUp textures

When you import SketchUp files into WYSIWYG, the textures associated with these files are saved in a folder on your computer so you can apply them to imported surfaces. By saving them to a folder outside of WYSIWYG, you can use them repeatedly instead of only applying them to the surfaces that are within the current WYSIWYG document.

Upon import, you can choose the location for saving the associated texture files (or accept the default location). If there is already a texture with the same name saved in the location specified, WYSIWYG will prompt you to save the file with a new name.

SketchUp import options

When importing a SketchUp file into WYSIWYG, you have two options:

• You can open a file.
• You can merge a file into an existing WYSIWYG document.

If you open a SketchUp file while another show document is currently open, you are prompted to save changes to that document before another show document is opened. Only one show document may be open at a time. When you merge documents, you can add the contents of the SketchUp file to the contents of the current WYSIWYG document.

To open sketchup files

This procedure creates a new WYSIWYG document out of the SketchUp file, prompting you to save changes to any current document that is open and close it before importing the file.

Before you begin

You must have the SketchUp file saved on your computer to begin this procedure.

1. From the File menu, choose Open.
2. From the Files of type box, select SketchUp files (.skp), and then navigate to the location where the file is saved on your computer.
3. In the browser, click the file name, and then click Open.

Result: The Import Directories window appears.

4. Click the browse button to specify the location where you want to save the textures that have been applied to the object in SketchUp, or accept the default location shown. By saving textures to a folder outside of WYSIWYG, you can use them repeatedly instead of only applying them to the surfaces that are within the current WYSIWYG document.

Note: If a default path is not shown, you must click the browse button and navigate to the desired folder. If there is already a texture with the same name saved in the location specified, WYSIWYG will prompt you to save the file with a new name.

5. Click Next.

Result: The Layer window appears.

6. In the Layer window, select the layers that you want to import.

• If there is more than one layer listed, you can select multiple layers simultaneously by pressing CTRL on your keyboard and then clicking on the desired layers.
• For each layer that you want to import, ensure that the Import checkbox is checked. If you do not want to import a certain layer, highlight it and clear this checkbox. For example, if you have drawn both a venue and elements in SketchUp and you have put them on separate layers, you can choose to only import a particular element into the WYSIWYG file by selecting the appropriate layer in this window.

7. To add a description to the layer, enter the information in the Layer Description field of the layer.
8. To add metadata to the layer, enter in a descriptive tag in the Tag field of the layer.
9. To import a single-sided layer, highlight the layer and select the Single Sided checkbox.

Note: Single-sided layers use less processor time to display in Shaded views and to render in the Render Wizard. However, they only appear properly in each of these views if the faces of the object are drawn facing outward. Unless you know how the SketchUp file was drawn, it is recommended that you leave Single Sided deselected by default when importing the layers so that the object appears correctly. Note that you will not be able to see “through” the walls of an imported double-sided venue when you rotate the image around in the Shaded view (unlike the WYSIWYG venues, which are single sided).

If the imported object does not appear correctly in the Shaded view, you can change its sidedness by using the Properties window. You can change it from single sided to double-sided, or vice versa. You can also flip the object’s sides if the wrong side is currently facing outward. For details, see To change an object’s sidedness.

10. To add a prefix to selected layers, click Change prefix for selected layers... button.

Result: The Change Layer Prefix dialog box appears.

1. In the Change Layer Prefix dialog box, enter in the desired prefix you want to add to the selected layers.
2. Click OK.

Result: The selected layers will have the prefix added to the layer’s name.

Note: If a prefix is added to a layer that previously had a prefix assigned, the new prefix will override the old prefix.

11. Click Next.

Result: The Component window appears.

12. Blocks in SketchUp are called components. If you have components in your drawing, you have the option to ignore them, explode them, convert them into a library item, or substitute WYSIWYG fixtures for the existing components.

• Component Name: The name of the block.
• Status: This icon  indicates that the block is currently on a layer being imported. This icon  indicates that the block is on a layer that will not be imported.
• Block Type: This icon  indicates that the block is a singular block and does not contain any sub-blocks. This icon  indicates that the block is a nested block and contains one or many sub-blocks.
• Ignore: Select this action to ignore the block. The block will not be added to the resulting file.
• Add to Library: Converting a block into a library item imports the object and creates a duplicate of it to add to the library for future use. To make it available globally, see To create a custom library item. When you convert SketchUp files into custom library items, they appear on the Library tab of the Library Browser within the SketchUp folder.
• Explode: Exploding the component breaks it into its sub-components. That is, it breaks the block into its components. You must be careful of components that are made up of other components as WYSIWYG will only explode down one level.

Note: Exploding is not recommended. Exploding should be your last resort to import files, as it is taxing on performance.

• Convert: Converting a component into a fixture replaces the SketchUp component with a WYSIWYG fixture of your choice. Once you have selected this option, select the ellipsis in the neighboring column.

Result: The Fixture Select window appears.

13. Select the fixture that you want to use to replace the block. If you find that you are always replacing a particular type of component with a specific fixture, you can set an option in WYSIWYG so that the substitution will automatically occur each time you import the component. For example, if you have files in which the ‘PAR64M’ block is always a PAR 64 fixture with an MFL bulb, you have the option of telling WYSIWYG to automatically import the component in that way. To change this option, edit the Import.lst file that is created in the Library folder (usually C:\Program Data\CAST Software\WYSIWYG\1.xx.xx.x\Library) once the first fixture is set to be remembered for future imports.

Note: WYSIWYG creates a pipe for every imported fixture since fixtures in WYSIWYG need to hang on a hang structure. If, however, fixtures are on a straight pipe represented by a straight line in the DWG file, WYSIWYG will convert the entire line into a pipe.

Tip: If you select the Remember for future imports checkbox in the Library Browser, WYSIWYG will automatically map the same fixture that appears again in the next SKP file being imported. (You can change the automatic mapping if required.)

14. Click Finish.

Result: The Import Summary window appears.

15. Click OK.

Merging SketchUp

To merge sketchup files

This procedure merges the SketchUp file into the current WYSIWYG document, placing the object in the location you specify.

At a certain point, the merging procedure is the same as the opening procedure until the end when you choose where to place the object you are merging.

Before you begin

You must have the SketchUp file saved on your computer to begin this procedure.

1. Open the WYSIWYG file into which you want to add the SketchUp file.
2. From the File menu, choose Merge.

Result: The Merge dialog box appears.

3. In the Merge dialog box, beside the File name box, select SketchUP Files (*.skp) from the drop-down list.
4. Locate the location of the SketchUp file on your computer. Select the file and click Open.

Result: The Merge dialog box changes asking for a Base point.

5. Select the radio next to the desired Base point.
6. Click OK.
7. Follow procedure Steps 3 to 14 from the To open sketchup files section. At this point, the steps are the same until the end when you choose where to place the object you are merging.

Result: The Merge Summary window appears.

8. Click OK.
9. If you chose Select Basepoint with mouse in Step 5, click to place the object in the drawing.