Sketchup Conversion?

[Anonymous]

In Revit one can import a Sketchup object into a Family and then use it, but the punch line is that the imported Sketchup object is not editable because it is not really converted into Revit format.

Ok, the question is if Formit does the same thing as Revit? Or is there some sort of actual conversion that would make the Sketchup objects editable?? I'm hoping for the latter which would be a real breakthrough.

[scott_d_davis]

Yes, Sketchup objects converted to Revit format via the FormIt Plugin are editable in Revit.

And, yes, this is a HUGE breakthrough!

[Tobias_Hathorn]

Hello ZPaxton - I can confirm what Scott Davis just shared. The one 'gotcha' (which should be kind of obvious)... if the model is poorly constructed geometrically in SketchUp, then that same geometry will come down the pipe into FormIt and eventually into Revit... 

Another comment about size - you'll get better results componentizing your SketchUp import - doing a blanket conversion of your entire existing SketchUp model will take longer and be a MUCH bigger memory footprint.

Here are the steps for SketchUp conversion...

• Go to the SketchUp Warehouse - browse to a great looking catalog - LINK
• Download the files you want locally onto the hard drive
• Get the free FormIt Converter Plugin for Revit 2015 - LINK
• Install the Plugin and restart Revit 2015
• Go to the Add-Ins tab, FormIt 360 Conversion panel and choose Convert SketchUp Files from the drop down menu
• Navigate to the folder with the SKP files in them
• Then navigate to where I want the FormIt 360 files to be (can also go to A360

Here are the steps for FormIt categorization...

• Start FormIt Web - LINK
• Import (or Link through the Content Library) the converted SKP's - place the content in your FormIt scene...
• Double click to edit the furniture group - you can push and pull the geometry as if you were in SketchUp!
• While in Edit Group mode - set the name and category (Furniture) in the properties panel. Finish editing the group.
• Save the FormIt file and download it locally (to your downloads folder) by clicking 'Export Locally as FormIt 360 Sketch'

Here are the steps for FormIt to Revit conversion...

• Open Revit 2015 - Click New file - choose the template you'd like to use for the design model
• Go to the Add-ins tab and choose "Convert FormIt 360 Sketch to RVT'
• Navigate to the downloads folder and choose the FormIt sketch you exported locally
• Click through any warnings and now you have Revit versions of SketchUp files!
• The FormIt elements have the same categorization you set in FormIt
• and you can double click to edit the families as you would normal Revit geometry

See attached example files! 

[Anonymous]

Hey Tobias, thanks for the response. Please see my questions below.

Once converted in Revit. How are materials mapped i.e. Does it default to the adsk material library?

Once converted to a Revit family, how does it respect constraints. (Say I have a counter with doors) 4' high with 3' doors. I change the counter to 3' will the doors push to 2' or remain as 3'?

I have not seen enough about how the converter treats families online so far, nor can I find anything out online thus far.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the detailed response!

I take it that the plug-in for Revit is for 2015 and NOT 2016 ?

(We moved to 2016 and skipped 2015).

[Tobias_Hathorn · Accepted solution]

Hey there Zpaxton - Understood - Revit 2016 is a pretty sweet release! We're working on a 2016 version of the FormIt Converter plug-in now and will have it ready soon (end of summer at the latest). Mostly this will be a testing task for us as we make sure that the Revit Conversion still does the things it did previously.

Thanks!

Tobias

[Tobias_Hathorn]

Hey Blay! If I understand your question - you're asking about Revit Families converting to FormIt? I'll give you short answers - and then probably start a different thread (since this thread is generally more about SKP imports)... If I misunderstood you- then please tell me, and get me back on track 🙂

We're not translating materials from Revit or into Revit - yet. We plan to do material translation in the near future - but that's not currently happening at all. The only materials we DO translate are from SKP to FormIt.

Your other question about parameteric families from Revit - we export all the different types you've created in your rfa. You can then place any of these types in FormIt. If you change your family in FormIt, then those changes are lost when you 'swap' the FormIt family back to a Revit family. This may not make sense without visuals - so I'll post some explanation images or a video in another thread.

Hope this helps!

Tobias 

[Tom_Kunsman]

When I try and run the FormIt Converter the application does not run. It will not let me select a country.

Am I missing something?

[Tobias_Hathorn]

Hello Tkunsman - That's an easy one to solve! See my response in this thread - you need to unzip all files from the download and put them all in the same folder. Thanks for using FormIt!

[Anonymous]

A quick question:

Does the FormIt 360 Converter ONLY run in Revit 2015?

We were running Revit 2014 and skipped 2015 entirely and are now using Revit 2016.... thus the challenge.

Is there a converter for 2014 or 2016?

[Tobias_Hathorn]

At the moment - Yes. Our converter only runs in 2015. We are working on a 2016 version for release later in the summer. In the mean time I think there are some steps you can do to hack the converter and get it to work on 2016 (but this will be unofficial and there could be bugs! :-)) I'll work on those steps and publish them here soon.

[Anonymous]

It kinda makes you wonder why Autodesk doesnt wait to release their updates untill all thier "certified" plugins are up to speed. Espically ones they own.

[Anonymous]

I think its rather silly to yet install another app to do these conversions......

Formit obv recognizes the file type.....cant this just be done on the backend???

[Tobias_Hathorn]

Hello - This is a response for both blay and Neo_Charr as the answer is essentially the same to both comments... Thanks for using FormIt and the FormIt Converter. We also recognize the tool is not perfect yet.

Big picture, the FormIt team is working on a different release schedule than the Revit team is. FormIt's schedule is tied to rapid iterations, improvements, and releases of software - if you haven't noticed, we put out new releases every 8 weeks or so. (Collaboration in late November, Groups in late February, FormIt converter in mid May).

To keep up with that schedule and deliver the most requested features we need to develop in an 'MVP' manner - meaning that new features may not do EVERYTHING that we (and you) want it to - but it does enough that we want to get it into the hands of customers NOW - rather than wait until it is perfect.

So in the coming months you'll see a 2016 version of the FormIt Converter. And in the future you'll see additional conversion options available as a cloud service (similar to the A360 conversion of RVT files available now).

Thanks for the input and we invite your continued requests so we know what to focus on next!

Tobias

[MirraLee]

Hi

Thanks for the posts and responses, too bad I didn't come here sooner but its fun sometimes to learn via trial an error. I saw this at RTC and am now back at the office trying to get something out.... anyway

I have done the Revit 2015 steps and converted the .skp file and imported the .axm  but all I have now is a different looking wait wheel from the blue windows spinner and a message ... Loading

How long should it take to load?

Thanks

Mirra

ps same thing happens for the *.obj and *.stl

[Tobias_Hathorn]

Hi Mirra - wait time is definitely proportional to how big the model is... is it a big SKP file? I will contact you with a direct message to give you an option to share the file and I'll see if I can help diagnose what the issue is.

Thanks for attending the RTC class and giving the tool a try. I'll do my best to help you be successful with it!

[MirraLee]

Hi

They are not that large - see capture below

And will respond to the message as I testing the results.

[MirraLee]

Hi

I was actively trying the workflows you demonstrated at RTC of the conversions and the ones listed in this thread.

Works like a charm, but some of the skp files do give some random results and some do not carry across the material mapping. But it's better than nothing when your in a rush!

Next time when I have more time I want to "patch them up and fix them with Formit.

I also found if the materials are missing I have been converting the skp to an obj using Navisworks for free skp files that give really poor results in Formit360 or Revit. I am not going to complain about free work just find a work around!

Mirra

[Anonymous]

Hi MIrraLee, Thanks for the feedback - glad you got part of the way there - I have a few questions when you have time...

• Could you send me the SKP examples where the materials were not translated? I have a theory why that is, but I want to confirm - and if it is a new issue, I want to get our developers to fix it
• What do you mean about the Navisworks workflow? This didn't make sense to me, but I'd like to understand better. 

Thanks!

Tobias