In model commenting, annotations, collaboration - how are you doing this?

SketchUp
1

You know how comments work in google docs? You can highlight a bit of text, start a comment thread, and collaborators can jump in, comment, etc…?
The comment thread can be resolved once it’s not needed.

I want that, but in my sketchup models.

SU ipad allows you to use iOS markup on your model, which then saves a new scene. This is cool, but doesn’t allow typed comments. I’ve also found the scenes don’t reliably save/open via Trimble Connect when I open the same model on desktop.

Using trimble connect directly isn’t really an option, because when you open a model in trimble connect (not opening a model in sketchup from trimble connect): the model hierarchy, style, etc… isn’t preserved. The comments are called “topics” and they do save a 3d view, but the UX is pretty bad.

I think that the SU team is working on some new commenting feature?

I’m also aware that many of the (non-trimble) 3d viewers/collaboration tools that have 3d pins with comment chains, but I’m trying to stay as close to native sketchup as possible. I want to avoid extra steps with exports, imports, etc… But I am open to using a 3rd party tool.

Here’s what I want:

  1. I create a SU model that both I and my client can access.
  2. Either of us can click in the model, create a 3d pin, and start a comment thread.
  3. Comment threads can accept pasted images
  4. Bonus: we can use markups like you can do in iPad, but you can also create them on desktop (arrows, freehand, circles, etc…)

What I’m trying to eliminate is the many different text messages, screenshots, emails, napkin sketches then texted as photos, etc… that all are being used right now to communicate feedback and revisions needed on the models I’m creating.

I would like to hear about what you are using, and how it’s working.

2

I’ve been trying to trial the use of Trimble connect with people as I like some of the features. However, there’s a lot of resistance and I don’t think it has the features that Slack has- Simple messaging app where images and text are preserved in a timeline.

In terms of creating images and notes- It’s still at the level of using the usual software to do this, whether it’s preview on Mac or Windows image editors.

It would be great if Connect had features like Slack. Alternative to Slack is Whatsapp, but it’s a data collection app for facebook, with all the added security risks that it entails.

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3

I agree with your comments here. Slack won on great UX, and Trimble Connect is the quintessential “engineers decided how this works” UX. All the detail, none of the understanding of how people will actually use the functions they included.

More and more, I just expect there to be threaded comments in all software I use, and if I’m adopting something new it’s a must have feature.

I hope to see a good option for SU soon.

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