ah, I see. yes, rereading your message it makes sense now. 
To conclude on this version issue, the tools I have developed work with all versions of SketchUp from 2017 to 2024, bearing in mind that for older versions, some secondary functionalities are not available (such as the header freeze in Find And Report). Good to know: the recently redesigned Extension Warehouse site no longer indicates compatibility with versions prior to 2020 as long as the plugin works for at least SU 2020.
Now, my SU-Layout plugin proposal will also work on SketchUp and Layout 2021. I’ve just tested it. Technically it won’t be possible to make it work for Layout versions prior to 2018.
But the initial question remains: who’s interested in such data exchange functionality between SU and Layout? 
1 Like
If it helps here is a screenshot of my latest SketchUp to layout project which is a beach house. All the annotation is live linked to 2 excel files which I hope to replace the key note one with your excel file. My Sketchup File is set up similar to the Skalp and Condocs plugin system. I use Curic Section which is much easier and as far as I am aware my annotation system is unique, but it would not surprise me if others were using the built in word and excel link the same way in layout. Annotation is time consuming especially for full building consents
So, basically, what this work means is that you can now update your labels and text annotations in Layout, directly from Model or from Excel file, but always live lynked to model?
Globally, the answer is no: there will be no label updates and no live link to the model.
I can propose a tool that is launched in SketchUp and not in Layout. When you work on a model in SketchUp, you select entities (edge, face, group, instance of component) and you can then create labels in an external Layout file. These labels contain the text of the custom Wisext attributes of the selected entities. These custom attributes have been previously defined in the Find And Report tool. The label’s connecting line can point to the model entity inserted in Layout but there is no update of the text if the attribute value is changed in the model. So it’s not as interactive as with native labels, which provide the area of a face in Layout, for example.
1 Like
I see… That’s still interesting, but requires that everything in the project is already settled. That’s usually not the case.
There are 2 live links.
-
The live link from an excel file that is referenced to layout. I have a layout template that has a keynote table on each page linked to an excel file, If that specific excel file can be modified in Wisext it will update. Sometimes I need to change the excel cell range n the layout tables to add new notes etc.
-
The direct link between layout and sketchup where the label tool in layout shows all the component attributes and you can choose to show one as the label. Once you have done this it updates when changed in sketchup. This is the link that I want to manipulate with Wisext took and just use the excel tile with sketchup to change information in the sketchup components,
-
I will keep my keynote excel file linked to my tables in layout but the majority of the annotation will be the lable tool and component information
-
I have set up a simple sketchup modelling template that uses master components ie foundation, walls, roof etc with component information already setup. Some of those master components have subcomponents for specific annotation but they are mostly groups in the master component.
-
I then open the master component ie foundation and either modify or model new inside the component and all the info is there already and can be changed in the excel file and back to the model via Wisext
Just a quick tip on live update in Layout, You need to save the sketchup file before it will update in layout. Then manually update the model in layout and all labels will update.
Tip: If you open the SketchUp model from the layout document setup menu instead of SketchUp it will update every time you save SketchUp. A save button or automatic save would be a great addition to Wisext but it is pretty simple to press Cntrl/S
Currently, in LayOut, the label tool is hardcoded to only access the following attribute dictionaries by name:
"dynamic_attributes"(can be attached to both component instances and definitions, but only group instances)"SU_InstanceSet"(attached to instances)"SU_DefinitionSet"(attached to definitions)- Classification dictionaries attached to definitions listed as keys in
"AppliedSchemaTypes"
Previously I had suggested that there be a way that custom extension dictionaries be accessible to the LayOut label tool, but (AFAIK) it has not yet been implemented.
So, for now extensions would need to save LayOut accessible data into one of the dictionaries named above. Since these dictionaries are a shared data space, it is strongly advised that extensions prefix their attributes with their unique extension name.
Example prefix: "Wisext_F&R_"
1 Like
Well, classifications can be read too by LayOut natively, although they use the Dynamic Option dialog, it’s a separate dictionary.
2 Likes
At the moment I have my Master Components set up as Dynamic Components and I use that interface to add the labels
Oh yes, I forgot about Classifications. Sorry.
P.S. : I updated the list above.
2 Likes
Not completely. There are values that if not entered as a string are not read in LayOut
For me I am hoping the Wisext excel link back to sketchup can be combined with the Dynamic Component and I can edit all the attributes and update the components in the model which inturn update the labels in layout
It would make sense that this would be linked to some kind of IFC workflow, so that this kind of report would help inform IFC classifications of objects that would be included in a IFC export.
2 Likes
I hope that there is an open issue for this in Trimble’s database.
I haven’t opened it but the team that is working on the IFC part is aware of it. When I insert values to export to IFC I have to do it twice and in Trimble Connect there is another problem with the rounding of decimals that is reported and they have not solved it yet.
1 Like
Hi
With the highly technical, learned and instructive contributions of Dan, Jack and Rafael, exchanging Find And Report attributes may find a more elegant solution than drawing static labels in Layout from SketchUp. It becomes possible to make attributes accessible in the Layout label’s text list, with an update of values when they change in the model. There is one limitation, however: only attributes linked to a component will be visible.
Now let’s get down to practical work. A new beta version (version 0.702.32) is available (Extensions / Find And Report / About the Wisext tools / “test a beta version” button).
Please note that you need to activate the ability to view attributes in Layout in Settings.
The feature is not available by default.
3 Likes
Thanks for this look forward to trying it out