SKP Export for AutoCAD is a SketchUp SKP file export plug-in for AutoCAD®. This plug-in gives AutoCAD the ability to export geometric data from AutoCAD to SKP files.
SKP Export for AutoCAD extracts facet data from 3D Solids as well as 3D Face, Polygon Mesh and PolyFace Mesh objects in the active AutoCAD drawing and exports it to a SKP file. These objects can lie anywhere in space. 3D Solids are tessellated into triangular faces. The level of tessellation can be controlled by adjusting the resolution slider in the SKP Export for AutoCAD options dialog box. A lower resolution will yield coarse meshes (lesser faces), whereas a higher resolution will result in finer meshes (more faces).
SKP Export for AutoCAD is very easy to use. Once installed, it must be loaded into the AutoCAD environment. There are simple instructions for this in the ReadMe file. Once loaded it adds new commands to AutoCAD's existing commands and a new submenu called "SKPExport" to the AutoCAD menu containing these newly added commands.
The 'SKPExport' menu consists of the following commands:
SKPExport - Exports a SKP file
SKPExportHelp - Displays the SKP Export for AutoCAD help file
SKPExportRegister - Registers your copy of SKP Export for AutoCAD
SKPExportAbout - Displays the SKP Export for AutoCAD About box
The SKP File Format
SketchUp is a 3D modeling program designed for architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. It also includes features to facilitate the placement of models in Google Earth. It is marketed as an easy-to-use conceptual tool with a simple interface. A well known feature in the SketchUp World is the 3D Warehouse. Users can use their Google Accounts to upload models, and then browse the 3D Warehouse for many components and models. SketchUp's native file format is has a SKP extension.