Why not, but if the DWG-s you need to import are like the one you posted earlier in this thread, there was not much to clean up, so using time for that brings no big benefit.
I haven’t tried it but I wonder what Illustrator does to the scale of the DWG. The example file you posted seems to be OK, though.
You can also use a program that can import DWG files such as blender, and then export it as a .dae it should work too.
Hi Anssi
Your comments are really appreciated…thanks!
I actually posted three versions of my drawing, which varied somewhat depending on the method with which I downloaded them. The version that had the most information on it was the version that was downloaded from my download folder on the dock to Illustrator, exported from Illustrator to the desktop, then imported by Sketchup from the desktop. In only that version was the brickwork and some other details conserved.
I am planning to re-import them unchecking ‘preserve origin’ as per your earlier comments. Thanks.
Regarding the scale of the drawings, they were fine in Illustrator.
I am now at the stage of trying to modify my plans and elevations on Sketchup that I imported from CAD with the intention of using them as a base to build up the new drawings. The project is the renovation of what we call in Montreal a ‘hangar’, a three storey shed-like structure that is attached to the back of our 5-plex. It formerly served as a storage area for coal used to heat the apartments. In 2005, we renovated the ground floor of it as we had to replace our foundations. We conserved the second and third floors as we have a droit aquis in terms of views and setbacks from the property line that we would have lost if we had demolished, then intended to rebuild later.
So I intend to use the ground floor plan of the 2005 renovation and the ground floor part of the three elevations including the elevation of the existing brick 5-plex (which shows in two of the elevations) to use in my new drawings.
The problem is that I can’t seem to find help online for the particular problems I am having on modifying Sketchup plans and elevations imported from CAD. I understand that the import of CAD drawings to Sketchup creates the entire drawing as a ‘group’. Is that right? So I did a trial of exploding the drawings (several times in one case) in order to make changes to them. I managed to make a ‘group’ (on the south elevation drawing) of the brick building and to put it on a separate layer, so I’m making some headway there.
But, on the plan, a simple action such as drawing a line at the intersection of two walls in order to indicate a couple of walls that will be demolished (using dashed lines) is proving impossible, so far. When I use the pencil tool and draw the line, it fills the whole wall as if the wall is an object. And I’m generally concerned that what I’m doing will not create the clean planes required to generate a 3D drawing afterwards.
I found one tutorial on how to clean up CAD files once they are imported to Sketchup using extensions such as Eneroth ‘Face Creator’ and ‘Flatten to Plane’, ‘Edge Tools3’ and ‘Cleanup3’. Should I be running all of my drawings through these before trying to work on them?
Thanks
Maureen
Btw, I’m not sure what the etiquette is regarding how this Sketchup group works. My original question regarded how to import CAD files to Sketchup on my Mac, a problem that was answered by several people. Is there a thing that I’m supposed to do to indicate that the question was answered?
And now, with my new questions on how to modify my CAD originated drawings once in Sketchup, should I be opening a new thread with this question?
Thanks!
As the owner of the topic, you can check the solution mark
Yes please!
It’s so weird but I’m not convinced you were even correctly downloading the files in the first place. It’s impossible to download a file to the Downloads folder, access files from that folder, but not be able to find them in the folder in Finder. If this is really happening you are either confused about where to look, you aren’t downloading correctly, or there is a very serious problem with your computer and it’s not related to SketchUp or dwg files.
It’s not normal to have files that open upon right click. That is indicative of a major computer issue. Get it looked at.
And if these files ARE downloaded open in illustrator you can always just quit without saving. It isn’t changing anything about them either, like what you’re doing. You should never end up with a dwg.ai file. That is just illustrator. You really just need to find them.
I wonder, did you mean to say that it’s not normal to open files with a single click? Opening files with a right click does come up sometimes.
The way Mac OS presents iCloud Drive can be confusing. I just looked now, and my iCloud Drive Downloads folder does have a file from four days ago, that I don’t remember downloading there.
I have to say just as a matter of practical experience after years of practice and countless dwg files, that more often than not, I don’t incorporate the imported lines from dwg files in SketchUp geometry. Mostly I just leave the drawing all grouped and put it on it’s own layer that can be turned off later and use it as a tracing guide to make the model with native tools from scratch. There are some times when I use some imported lines, but mostly not.
I mean that right clicking on a file pulls up a context menu. It shouldn’t open the file. Like you said before, opening a file requires a double click and would not be a single click at all. Leads me to believe the files aren’t actually downloaded correctly at all.
Another guess: if you are using an internet browser, at least in Chrome on PC, to download, the files will open with a single click from the browser’s download window or the bar at the bottom of the screen.
I have found that many people, despite having used computers for years, have just vague or even erroneus notions about files, folders, disks, applications and basic file operations, and, generally, what happens when something is “clicked”.
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That seems like a good possibility. I can see that Illustrator is set to be the default for me too.
Even in Chrome you can click the carat arrow button, and choose to Show in Finder. But yes, a single click will open Illustrator.
Hi monospaced. I’m sorry but you must be looking at an earlier comment I made…when my brain was fried and I couldn’t find the file in the Finder list. It was actually there. Sorry if you wasted time trying to figure out what I did! 
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A saw a comment to that effect somewhere on one of the Sketchup forums. The person commented that, unless one is a really advanced Sketchup user, it is easier to use the drawings as I trace. What I may do, to save time, is to paste the brick facade of the adjoining building - it has brick arches and such that I would like to avoid redrawing and, anyways, it’s not part of the renovation project. Thanks!
Hmmm…sounds like me.
Glad I have company!
Thanks Mike! 