Importing AutoCAD files

SketchUp Pro
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(user hat on)
Like most of the users, it works just fine for me, I just drag them in a new file and be done with it.
importdwg

No need to investigate if it inserts in LayOut or any other workaround.

(support hat on)
In my job as working for the distributor of SketchUp in the Benelux, I get to see many strange things. We do not have access to bug reports or have any insight in the code, they’re somewhere in the Denver area but we do have direct contact now and then. Most of the time, it is an existing problem that is easy to solve or not (yes, there are bugs in the software).
The difficult part is usually in trying to figure out what is different in the set up or workflow of the user that faces a problem.
I only read this thread when it already had passed to 90 posts or so, so my (professional) curiousity was triggered.

My thinking was this: the importer in SketchUp might not work, but perhaps the one that LayOut uses might. Maybe, a (prior) installed extension that messes with the SharedPreference.json file is corrupted somehow. Not sure if SharedPreferences.json are copied upon a new installation, but since LayOut doesn’t have live extensions, it should have a ‘clean’ one.

So I posted a quick question, easy to test, no messing around in ~/library etc.

Another user did try in LayOut and that triggered at least the bugsplat reporter with useful information for the developers. Probably, the importer in SketchUp catches the faulty import and just ignores it, while in LayOut, the program splats.

These bugreports are helpfull and there are two: One directly for Apple, the other one upon starting the next session of SketchUp or LayOut. These get sent to the developers.

So, I might ask another question about your specific setup that is easy to test:
Can you create two folders on the desktop, one called ‘MYFOLDER’ and the other called ‘myfolder’ ?

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126

If it works in safe mode, restart the Mac and see if it works. Normally it will as safe mode reinstalls corrupt drivers.

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Doh! I didn’t know you could drag and drop.

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There is a free multi-platform dwg/dxf version converter for files that are outside the import ability of programs:

https://www.opendesign.com/guestfiles/oda_file_converter

I have used this for years and it always works.

Cheers,
Ralph

129

Interesting test, perhaps the anomalous users have their drives formatted as case sensitive?

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130

I can create folders on my desktop with all sorts of upper and lowercase letters and symbols and spaces, etc. I do not understand.
I did try the drag and drop method (so glad to know this is possible) in both SketchUp and Layout and just as the other use experienced, it failed in SketchUp but it crashed Layout. I sent info along in both the Apple and Bugsplat reports.
Curious, but I am able to import the .dwg file that came with some Nick Sonder templates. The other AutoCAD files that were originally from the surveyor actually now look for Parallels first. I tried Parallels and AutoCAD for a month before deciding to go with SketchUp. So that may complicate my particular issue.

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I am downloading the software but the website seems to say it converts between various versions of dwg and dxf. I’m not exactly sure how that will help me - except maybe I can create and try earlier or later versions of the AutoCAD files?

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The test is specific to see how your hardrive and file system is formatted. See if your system allows you to make two different folders with the same name in different case.
1

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133

Ah, I see the point. Yes, MYFOLDER replaces myfolder

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replaces? do you end up with two separate folders each named MYFOLDER and myfolder? or do you get a dialogue box like I showed?

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Meaning I get the window popup that asks if I want to replace myfolder with MYFOLDER. The system reads them as the same rather than being able to differentiate the upper and lower case

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I get the same popup you got

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Right. Well I really liked that idea that @MikeWayzovski had, but it looks like that’s not the issue here. Onward and upward, it’ll get solved eventually, there is something specific going on with your system or version.

It occurred to me, I believe you said you are on a subscription with SU22? that would mean you have access to SketchUp Shop online, which will import .dwg. You could open a window in Shop, import the .dwg file, then download the .skp to your desktop. As a workaround until this gets sorted.

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I wouldn’t know how to solve it when it was another formatting, but at least we would have gotten a clue😀
Great workaround via the web app, btw!

Next thing I would check if Parallels is interfering stuff, since the bugsplat that was posted contained a hint about ‘a pure virtual function’

On a phone now, will do some tests on another machine tomorrow

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139

Perhaps “pure virtual function” refers to a C++ programming language feature of the same name, rather than some aspect of Parallels as a virtual-machine solution.

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That might very be the case, but I still suspect Parallels.
Have used it myself, but stopped using it and I am not sure why because it was some time ago.

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I did delete Parallels and also used a CleanMyMacX to make sure there are no problems or files left behind. I purchased CleanMyMac just last week when my computer was brought to its knees by my using SketchUp due to my project files being too large.
So Parallels cannot be an issue unless it somehow alters those AutoCAD files. But again, others were able to import those files without any problem.

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Another amazing feature of which I am unaware. Thanks for letting me know.

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Using the web version of SketchUp (which I assume is like Shop) I was able to import all the AutoCAD files and then download them as SketchUp files. It is a perfectly suitable workaround for now.

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If you logged in with the same Trimble ID as your subscription you will automatically open Shop, they are both online applications and look very similar, and if it uploaded a .dwg then that was Shop because the Free version does not. Glad that worked for now. I’m still stewing on proper fixes.