SketchUp Import, Export, and File Management Flashcards

What does the SketchUp Extension Warehouse provide?

Answer: A repository of plugins and extensions that add functionality to SketchUp

Extension Warehouse is an online marketplace for SketchUp plugins and extensions developed by Trimble and third-party developers.

Which SketchUp export format preserves geometry, materials, and hierarchy for use in game engines like Unity?

Answer: .fbx

.fbx (Filmbox) is widely supported by game engines including Unity and Unreal Engine, and preserves materials and scene hierarchy from SketchUp.

When backward-saving a SketchUp file (saving to an older version), what is a key consideration?

Answer: Some newer features may not be preserved or may be lost in the older format

Saving to an older SketchUp version may lose features introduced after that version, such as Tag Folders, certain geometry types, or newer component properties.

What is the purpose of SketchUp's 'Generate Report' feature?

Answer: Produces a spreadsheet or CSV of component attributes like quantity, name, and custom properties

Generate Report extracts attribute data from components (name, count, custom attributes) into a CSV or spreadsheet, useful for creating bills of materials and schedules.

What does 'Attach Photo' (or Match Photo) in SketchUp allow you to do?

Answer: Set up a reference photograph to model over, matching the camera perspective of the photo

Match Photo calibrates SketchUp's camera to match the perspective of a real photograph, allowing you to trace over the photo to build an accurate 3D model.

What is the purpose of the 'Purge' function in SketchUp's Statistics dialog (Model Info > Statistics)?

Answer: Removes all unused components, materials, layers, and styles from the file to reduce its size

Purge in the Statistics dialog removes all unused definitions (components, materials, styles, tags) at once, which is an effective way to reduce bloated file sizes.