# Problem converting and exporting SketchUp file to .stl **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Tags:** export\ **Created:** [November 3, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502 "2018-11-03T18:17:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JWTCA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWTCA](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/JWTCA)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/1 "2018-11-03T18:17:54Z")
When I try to export a fairly simple model all I get is either .dae or .kmz file options. I need to convert this to an .stl file so that it can be 3D printed. Any ideas where I’m going wrong? ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/2 "2018-11-03T18:20:31Z")
What version of SketchUp are you using? Your profile indicates two different versions and is confusing. ---
**Author:** ![john\_drivenupthewall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@john\_drivenupthewall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_drivenupthewall)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/3 "2018-11-03T18:22:22Z")
if your profile is correct… ![free_stl](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/9/a/9a841a79b712b52f2facacd3425cc19457025f95.gif) john ---
**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/4 "2018-11-03T18:35:08Z")
If not and you see only those 2 3D file types for export, you probably need to install the STL extension first. ---
**Author:** ![JWTCA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWTCA](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/JWTCA)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/5 "2018-11-04T00:39:01Z")
Dave R-I am using SketchUp 2015. I tried installing 2018 and it was a disaster. John-That looks nothing like what I see. Cotty-I installed the STL extension and nothing has changed. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 12:52am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/6 "2018-11-04T00:52:37Z")
> [@JWTCA](#): > > I am using SketchUp 2015. OK. So you aren’t using SketchUp Free (web) as indicated in your profile. And you can use extensions. > [@JWTCA](#): > > I tried installing 2018 and it was a disaster. What happened when you installed it? Why was it a “disaster”? > [@JWTCA](#): > > That looks nothing like what I see. It wouldn’t. That’s from SketchUp Free (web) which is what your profile says you are using. > [@JWTCA](#): > > I installed the STL extension and nothing has changed. What do you mean nothing has changed? Where did you look for the STL export option? How did you install the extension? Did you restart SketchUp after installing it? ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/7 "2018-11-04T02:54:27Z")
The stl plugin adds a new item in the file menu for Export stl. It doesn’t add it to the standard export options. ---
**Author:** ![JWTCA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWTCA](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/JWTCA)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/8 "2018-11-11T00:35:30Z")
When I click on the icon it says “Sketch Up 2015.” Excuse me if I’m a novice at this. If I was an expert I wouldn’t be asking for help. Sketch Up 2018 solidly locked all my files, and the only way that I could unlock them was to remove 2018 from my computer and backtrack to an earlier restore point. Sketch Up said to buy and install a new video card to make it work, which was not indicated on their sales pitch. If I have to start disassembling my computer to install something along with their software, that’s a job for a tech, and I don’t have the money to do that. 2015 works just fine for what I use it for. 🙂 I looked for the STL option in the export file, and after seeing the window that said the program was successfully installed, the STL option just isn’t there. All I have is the .dae and .kmz files. Sketch Up and my computer have both been restarted since installing the STL file. ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/9 "2018-11-11T00:45:00Z")
If it is installed correctly you won’t see it in the export option. Look at the file menu again and ignore the standard export and look for another one that says stl export. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2a121500b085ed60806607a82720b092d800bb3.png) [@system](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 8:45am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/problem-converting-and-exporting-sketchup-file-to-stl/80502/10 "2019-05-13T08:45:01Z")
Closed on May 13, 2019, 8:45am UTC This topic was automatically closed 183 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.