3D Warehouse capabilities not working in MicroStation-based products


 Product:MicroStation
 Version:V8i, CONNECT
 Environment:N\A
 Area:Interchange
 Subarea:Sketchup

Issue:

Tools provided in the 3D Warehouse utilities are not linking to the newly redesigned SketchUp web pages. Therefore the capability to open or import SketchUp models directly through these tools is no longer available.

Description:

This impacts Bentley products built with MicroStation technology (e.g. AECOsim, Building Designer, Bentley Map, Bentley View, etc.) which include the 3D Warehouse utilities. Affected versions include those beginning with the V8 XM Edition. The cause has been identified as a change to the operation of the SketchUp website, where the APIs on which this feature was originally based are no longer supported.

Work Around:

The capability to download the SketchUp models is still available.

  1. Access the Google 3D Warehouse site as normal  

    MicroStation: Utilities > 3D Warehouse > Place as Cell  ( alternatively open the browse outside of MicroStation using the same url to access Google 3D Warehouse )

  2. Search and select the required SketchUp model

  3. Download the selected supported SketchUp model (i.e. *.skp) and store locally 

    In MicroStation V8i SELECTseries 3, SketchUp version 5, 6, 7, and 8 files can be imported or referenced, check the help for supported versions

  4. Import the downloaded SketchUp model (*.skp) into the design 

    MicroStation: File > Import > Cad Files, change 'Files of type' to 'SketchUp Files (*.skp)'

 

To put the downloaded skp file as cell into a cell library remember that you can drag-and-drop:

1. Open the cel library as file in microStation, and open the models dialog.

2. Open the folder with the downloaded model(s) in Windows Explorer side by side.

3. (If you want to use the filename as name for the cell: Click the filename (like for renaming and copy the filename Ctrl+C into the clipboard)

4. Drag-And-Drop the skp file from the Windows Explorer into microStations Models dialog and rename the modelname (paste the clipboard)

Note:

Microstation SS3 version 08.09.11.459 running on Windows 8.1 with any of the following updates will crash:

“Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB3006226)”

“Update for Microsoft Windows (KB3000850)”

“Update for Microsoft Windows (KB3020338)”