This is partly a question, but mostly a feature request for Trimble Connect.
Currently, there are several options for sharing a SketchUp model with a client:
Viewer for Desktop – This was a good solution, but as of April 22, 2025, it will no longer be available for download.
Viewer for Mobile – It’s a great tool, but my client would need to create an account, which is not a viable option for them.
Trimble Connect 3D Viewer – This is a completely different viewer and also requires an account.
Link Sharing – This is what my client and I refer to as the SketchUp Web Viewer . It’s essentially SketchUp for Web with limited features.
Option 4 is the ideal solution, and something I had hoped for over many years. My client can easily view and measure the full model by simply clicking a link that I provide via email or by opening a http file saved our shared platform. They can’t modify or download the model, which is exactly what I want. I can also prepare a clear, professional presentation using scenes.
To generate the link, I go to Edit > Trimble Connect > Share a Link… in SketchUp. The file is uploaded to Trimble Connect, I add _VIEWER to the filename, the link is created, and I copy-paste it wherever needed. This works perfectly.
However, if I lose the link, the only way to retrieve or regenerate it is by reopening the file in SketchUp and repeating the process.
Would it be possible to access or regenerate the “Share a Link” URL directly from the Trimble Connect? This would be a significant improvement in workflow, especially when managing multiple shared files.
Because of that limitation, I start taking the habit of saving the link as a http file locally, next to the skp file.
How is the link getting lost? Before sending by email/whatsapp?
Would you like to have some sort of oversight?
What other things would you like to have remembered?
So you copy the link, write a mail or text message, you somehow lose the link and can’t paste it? If not you can copy the link from the mail or text message you sent to your client, unless you lose that as well.
If you tend to forget these kinds of things why don’t you create notepads with the links, and mails/messages you send to your clients
I mean, if you send it with email / sms / WhatsApp / etc. can just go back to the sent email or message? Or you can keep a Notepad file of all your model links?
If you are writing down the link and sending with carrier pigeon there isn’t much we can do other than to suggest making a copy before you let the pigeon out.
Never mind guys! You don’t get it. With most cloud service I use, I can regenerate the link from the file browser without having to reopen SketchUp.
This said, keeping a log is a good idea but like I mentioned, I start saving the link as a http file in my local folder, next to the skp workfile. This seems to work but I just start doing it. For the hundred of old link I have, I’ll have to reopen every file. I guess I will just let go most of them and wait for my client to asking for it again.
Finding the link in my old sent email is an impossible mission as most of them are just gone!
That’s true. But what I’m suggesting is to have a simple way to resend a new carrier pigeon for all the pigeons, all from the same place. It makes a lot of sense to me.
Well, option 3 also provides a way to share ‘anonymous’ links inside the project, you just type in your own email address:
All these shared links can then be ‘monitored’ in the activity tab:
First one from within Trimble Connect browser, second from inside SketchUp
Currently, when sharing a model from inside SketchUp (File >Trimble Connect > Share) the link is not shown in the activity panel, when trying to recreate, it just recreates another Trimble Connect viewer link.
When revoking this new link, it does work for the link created from inside SketchUp, meaning, that link also doesn’t work anymore…
SketchUp keeps track of ‘shared’ models inside the %localAppdata%/SketchUp/SketchUp 2025/SketchUp/.tc folder, you might want to check how large this folder is if you are sharing ‘hundreds’ of files…?
Still, these activities or sharing options are “Project” specific, one might want a way to have a “Portfolio” or account level oversight of shared data.
It’s just a suggestion for Chrissake!!! A feature that could make us save a bit of time. In french-Canadian we have a say too: If you don’t have anything to bring to this conversation, you shouldn’t be part it !!
I checked the folder and indeed, it’s really big! I guess I can clean that folder as they use that file only during the upload.
I played a bit with Trimble Connect like you show in your screen capture. All this is interesting but it’s only using the Trimble Connect 3D Viewer. It would be great to have this level of control for the SketchUp Viewer.
I saw these features getting better in the last few years. I’m sure it will still improve in time. I keep hope.
