RickR Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I just did a bunch of exporting to 3DS format to import into another program. What determines the value of the file unit? (without scaling) My VW is kept in Feet/Inches but it seems to export with MM units. Granted I didn't do a full investigation, but I did get confused. Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi, Usually the issue occurs when you import it into the other program and it will usually ask if you want to use the default units or the imported file. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted April 16, 2015 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted April 16, 2015 It SHOULD export at the smallest unit set in the file, so it it was in Feet-and-Inches and the software you were importing it into only supported Feet OR Inches, it would default to inches. I've only imported 3DS into a few applications from exports out of Vectorworks but the scale never seemed to be off in those tests. Quote Link to comment
RickR Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Everything is to scale, the only question is which scale? In most of my imports (including Capture Argo that prompted this question) it simply asks for a scale, which is not the same as identifying the source file unit or the new system unit. I've never used any single other program often enough to really get is sorted. In this last case the correct scale was .03937 inches and I think there was a rounding error and I had to scale up in VW to get valid results. So Argo was looking for millimeters from VW inches. I recall having a variety of issues earlier and thought I'd get a definitive answer. Thanks, Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted April 20, 2015 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted April 20, 2015 What scale was your design layer set to? For most of my 3D modeling tests I left it at 1:1 before exporting. If you change the scale of the design layer and then export, does the imported model seem to be affected accordingly? Quote Link to comment
deliamicaela Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I'm having the same issue exporting 3ds and then importing to sketch up. Right now the closest I have come is exporting at 1:25 custom scale. but I'm still a little off. I have been google searching for an answer with no luck. 1 Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Always a good idea to have something in the drawing to use as a reference say a box that you can check the scale against if you are unsure. Quote Link to comment
barkest Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 If you have 2015 then there is no need to export to 3ds from sketchup. Just save the .skp but as 2014 (it does not work with su 2015). Quote Link to comment
maxbowman Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I think people are trying to export the other way (VW to Sketchup, unless there is a dedicated skp exporter as well now) ...or at least I am and would like to add to the list of people having scale issues (VW Designer 2015 SP 2) and its a pain when I have clients that want to view models in sketchup and each time I do a revision I have to export and correct the scale which is a pain. Quote Link to comment
barkest Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I just exported (.3ds) a 1m x 1m x 1m cube from VW to sketchup with both units set to mm and all worked fine. The issue I have is that one of the cubes faces was reversed which is somewhat odd? Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Has this issue been resolved..??? Trying to get a site model out of VW into Sketchup and scale is not translating in 3DS or seemingly any other format!!. I've tried setting different scales, exporting different scales...shouldnt be as complicated as this apparently is.. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted May 9, 2017 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted May 9, 2017 2 minutes ago, nca777 said: Has this issue been resolved..??? Trying to get a site model out of VW into Sketchup and scale is not translating in 3DS or seemingly any other format!!. I've tried setting different scales, exporting different scales...shouldnt be as complicated as this apparently is.. No issue was confirmed, scale exported as expected here with test geometry. If you have a file where it isn't working, post and we can take a look. If the file can't be public, contact tech@vectorworks.net with it and they can troubleshoot. Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 here you go jim...measure a property line in vwx, then export to 3ds, import to sketchup and measure the same line. If you can tell me what Im doing wrong I'll send you an e-hug.. The_Sanctuary_Site.vwx Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted May 9, 2017 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted May 9, 2017 Something is definitely up, getting inconsistent results, continuing testing. Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 3 minutes ago, JimW said: Something is definitely up, getting inconsistent results, continuing testing. This has been an ongoing problem in all of our VWX project files. Thanks for looking into it.. Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 I'd be totally open to other formats if you fond another that works better, btw Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted May 9, 2017 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted May 9, 2017 Something is very wrong but I can not determine what. If anything it seems like Site Model objects are to blame, but when I create an extrude or convert the site to a mesh, same problem exporting to 3DS. Get this to tech@vectorworks and reference this thread please, they'll be able to take a closer, longer look. Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Jim, thanks for your promp reply and help. Is there a number I can call to follow up with tech support, maybe someone who specializes in landscape/architecture? I am under the gun as usual and frustrated this is a really simple task that is now eating into my day ...thanks Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted May 9, 2017 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted May 9, 2017 PMed! Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 For future reference, you have to import/3ds/options/milimeters ...why?? I do not know ..that is annoying. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted May 9, 2017 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted May 9, 2017 I did not know that! I'll file that to be improved, either it shouldn't require mm as a unit or it should alert the user to this upon export. Quote Link to comment
nca777 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Just now, JimW said: I did not know that! I'll file that to be improved, either it shouldn't require mm as a unit or it should alert the user to this upon export. Agreed...I asked the tech to file a request to simply add an 'export to sketchup' option. ARchicad and Revit are also software we interoperate with most as well..thanks for the help 1 Quote Link to comment
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