From Autocad format to SketchUp or importing on other Mac software

Hello,

I have asked a technician if he could draw me a plan of the house.

He said he would do it in AutoCad. I am interested to have something that I can share with others, so to get feedbacks. And the problem with Autocad is that it only works on Windows. I have a Mac OSX Leopard (intel).

Unfortunately he can only do it in Autocad. For me the perfect format would be SketchUp. Is there any way to import from Autocad the maps in Sketchup?

Is there another software I should instead install?

The house is quite complex so I am really looking forward to have the 3d view. So the software would need to permit it. (SketchUp does it).

Please consider that the map is going to cost me 600€, so I can only buy software that are not too costly.

Many thanks,

Pietro

An AutoCAD drawing can be pulled into Sketchup or AutoDesk's version of design presentation software called Impression.

Yes SU can import AutoCAD DWG files. As for Mac based DWG editors here are a few that I have played with....

PowerCADD

http://engsw.com/

HighDesign

http://www.ilexsoft.com/highdesign/

TurboCAD

http://www.turbocad.com/TurboCAD/TurboCADforMacv4/tabid/556/Default.aspx

MacDraft Pro

http://www.microspot.co.uk/products/macdraft/index.htm

Thanks. I just tried it on a 2d dwg I had, and it was imported in sketchup. But somehow it does not seem to be "properly" imported:

If I try to raise a face, or to move something it does not let me do it.

I grant that I am right now importing a 2d plan.

But will I have the same problem on 3d?

Are there easy ways to go around this problem. The reason why I say so is that once I have it in sketch up I would like to try to make some changes, and see how they would look like.

Regards,

Pietro

It will depend on how the DWG was made. What I usually so is trace over the DWG so I have a clean 3D drawing. I will put the dwg on a single layer and just trace on top of it. There are a few youtube video on doing this. Might be worth a watch.

Thank you very much. I found this:

sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=86648

and I would say that I am set. I now plan to view all the tutorial video before bothering you guys again.

Nice forum, it just worked in sorting out somthing. Well done!

Pietro

Oh bother away, that is what this place is for

Glad you got some help and please stay and join in.

More the merrier.

Sean

Cheers for the advice, but is there an easier way to get 2d cad plans into sketchup with all the faces? My drawing would take hours to trace over everything again.