The architect's answer: SketchUp 3—an elegant AEC and multimedia solution

CADalyst, Jan, 2004 by H. Edward Goldberg

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SketchUp to ArchiCAD for PC and Macintosh. This plug-in gives ArchiCAD 8 v3 or higher the ability to import SketchUp files, translating SketchUp geometry into native ArchiCAD entities in one process. You can import components and groups created in SketchUp into the ArchiCAD Library. In addition to generating full building models from a SketchUp file, you can also use the plug-in to quickly turn SketchUp models into ArchiCAD Library parts. As with the Architectural Desktop plug-in, vertical faces become walls, horizontal faces become slabs, and sloped faces become roofs. If your material names in the imported SketchUp file match existing ArchiCAD materials, they are remapped to the ArchiCAD material.

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SketchUp for the Macintosh

@Last Software also released SketchUp for Mac OS X using native code built from the ground up using the Cocoa API (application programming interface). Its features are the same as the PC versions.

It uses the Aqua interface and offers built-in support for OpenGL to leverage the 3D graphics performance built into the Macintosh. It also ties into Mac OS X/Cocoa Color Picker for color selection and accurate color matching through the system-wide ColorSync standard. PDF Integration is also built in.

@Last Software suggests that you run SketchUp for the Macintosh with OS X 10.2 on an 800MHz or faster PowerPC G4 outfitted with 40MB of free disk space, 256MB RAM, a scroll-wheel, three-button mouse, and an OpenGL-compatible 3D graphics card.

Excellent Front-end

Don't underestimate the depth of this program. SketchUp offers excellent export and import capabilities using AutoCAD Release 14-2000 DWG and DXF formats. It also exports 3DS and VRML files. Don't be concerned about accuracy--SketchUp's accuracy is equal to that of AutoCAD or Architectural Desktop. The new plug-in makes SketchUp 3.0 the leading candidate to become the front-end choice for Architectural Desktop. It's much faster to design in this program than in Architectural Desktop's Mass Modeler. To understand how revolutionary and capable this software is, you need to try it. Go to www.sketchup.com and peruse the gallery in the User Forum. Many of the examples shown in this article came from that forum. Read what users have to say--many are designing on the computer for the first time. You can also download a free demo version online. SketchUp can run on a network, and multiseat discounts are available.

SketchUp Books

Although SketchUp's built-in and online tutorials are excellent, for those who like to have books that cover their software, The SketchUp Book, Versions 2 and 3 are available from Bonnie Roskes at www.f1help.biz/ home.html. These books contain excellent tutorials, tips, and tricks.

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H. Edward Goldberg, AIA, is a practicing licensed architect, industrial designer, and AEC industry analyst. Ed's new book, Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2004: A Comprehensive Tutorial (Prentice Hall, 2003) is available now at www.pren hall.com. E-mail Ed at ed.goldberg@cad alyst.com.