Thanks… I was being silly… but appreciate the explanation…
TY
There is no difference. DWG is a binary file format, and DXF is ASCII text. The contents are identical.
When you convert a PDF to DWG or DXF the result will be an image of the PDF page to 1:1 scale. You must scale the import result up by the inverse of the original scale to get back to the original model full scale.
One more thing to take into account is that the import unit you use when importing into SketchUp must be set to the same unit as was used in the DWG file. The import settings are behind the Options button in the Import File dialog box.
1 Like
You’re very welcome, if you know of a local chap with CAD and you only use that one function, might be best to slip them a few pound (or dollars) and get them to convert it. I’ve done it for people before and sometimes I don’t charge if they’re nice 
AutoCAD is a pain to get your head around and realistically it probably took me 6 months to become efficient enough using it, to deserve to be paid a modest amount. What I didn’t have was anyone helping me (before the internet had useful content and not just cats doing daft things), and only the official AutoCAD manual. Tedious times indeed. Good luck!
Trent, this is more than unfortunate. Trent designers all over the world more and more are using sketchup and layout for complete drawing sets. This has to be an option. Most drawings around north america require an engineer for structural, possibly civil, etc, this means as the chief architect or designer for a complete drawing set, you need to include each of these consultants drawings into the final drawing set with their own page usually titled E instead of A for architecture. It’s 2020, it’s not really an excuse that you guys have created a program that is specifically for designers of various kinds and yet we can’t import a freaking pdf into the program. What is going on with this feature request and when will this be an option? It’s ridiculous that it’s 2020 and I’m asking for such a basic feature for a program that was literally created for design amateurs and professionals like myself.
1 Like
This is still the WORST. SU/Layout has so much going for it, no native PDF support is bush league.
I really don’t understand. If engineers supply their drawings as ready to print PDF pages, why should we waste our time converting them first into the LayOut format to add into our set and then re-export the whole bunch back into PDF when the pages can be combined in any PDF editor with a few mouse clicks?
Another point is about using PDF files instead of CAD files as a basis for SketchUp models is that the format is inaccurate compared to CAD, something you can see if you import one into AutoCad: the dimensions don’t add up.
3 Likes
You have a good point, however I think the reason it’s important to add pdfs into a construction document set which mostly comprises of layout construction documents or often does anyways, is because by having the ability to add pdfs to the layout cd set, we remove liability in having to remember or create a checklist to do something. Things are complicated enough in a single home design and the ability to add a pdf to the layout cd set just removes more liability incase the creator forgets to connect pdfs together in a seperate pdf program, also worth noting that at times drawings should be beside consultant pdf documents, right now on windows we can only paste these pdf documents next to drawing in layout as screenshots. It’s a basic request that of course removes liabiliy and is a necessity in some situations, perhaps not a necessity but again, removes liability, removes the chance of forgetting to connect multiple documents in a seperate pdf program to the cd set created in layout. We certainly should be able to add pdfs to layout, I think this is a no brainer based on all that I just mentioned.
I am still waiting for this. I have to pay for adobe pro in order to convert pdfs to jps so that I can use it in Layout.
There is no fnn excuse for this. I feel like this is so amateur. I have been using sketchup for 10 years and this simple thing makes me want to throw in the trash…
No you don’t. There are cheaper or free alternatives. PDF Xchange Editor, for instance. Or Inkscape, it can even open a PDF and export it as DXF.
I have nothing against the feature itself. I just think that for the simple task of combining PDF files from different sources into a single file, a PDF editor is faster and easier.
1 Like
Another benefit of using a PDF editor is the ability to compress the file size, which I have to do all the time with SketchUp’s pretty raster image textures throughout. Acrobat Pro does this, and I assume others do too? PDF Pen?
In my case I have to import 2 sheets from a previous set of plans from another engineer that are only available as PDFs. I need them to document the grading plan and retaining wall schedule that was used a few years ago on the job. The city reduced them to 11/17 when they issued them to me. They will fit on my plans and I can add references to them, if I can get them imported. I have su pro 2018, but it’s odd that Trimble never made an add-on for importing PDFs into SU or Layout.
G
Mac versions of SU Pro and Layout (back at least as far as 2017) can import PDFs.
Do you know if they are Vector or Images in the PDFs?
If you upload your PDF files to this forum, someone (e.g., me) with a Pro version on Mac could import them for you into SU or Layout.
If the files are too big to drag and drop into the forum, upload them to a file sharing service and post a shared link here.
If the files are confidential, send them to me in a private message, and I can do it in a day or two.
What version of SU or Layout file do you need the PDF imported to - 2018 as your Profile suggests?
1 Like
under macOS SketchUp uses the available PDF engine of the OS and thus imports ‘dumb’ raster data only.
1 Like
Thanks