I’m a complete newbie to D5 but I’m loving it so far. I was learning about Phasing last night to some success but realised I’d made a mistake some time ago by not importing my SketchUp layers file initially. Having spent quite some time perfecting the materials and can’t do Phasing with that geometry as it’s not broken down into layers. Now here’s my question… Is therea way of importing the layers file and transferring the materials from my original geometry to the new layers file geometry without having to do it for each material…? This way I can delete the old geometry once done and move the new across on its place. If it can be done are there any implications for syncing to the SketchUp file?
Hi there, have you tried importing the SketchUp file through .d5a group/layer export with the same material used in your previous SKP Model? This way, the materials you perfectly adjusted in your first file will be adapted as long as they have the same assigned material in SketchUp. Thank you.
Yes, this was the first thing I tried but strangely it didn’t work. I wondered if I was doing something wrong because surely the materials would be the same and migrate over.
Hi there. Just to confirm and make sure we are on the same page, what you want to retain is the modified parameters of the materials (from the asset library) that were first made in your first D5 File.
The material not being picked up or retained despite having the same material name in SketchUp is under normal occurence. This happens because you have exported the .d5a file separately. Unless, you are using the Livesync plug-in where it picks up the skp material with the same material name.
You may want to try to add the materials that you have modified in your local library? So when you open the new d5 file with the newly imported model, you can just select the material in that category while retaining its parameters.
This is correct. Although it’s not just retaining the asset library materials but also the modified textures that I have created manually myself within the original D5 model.
I am now working on a new model and have picked up something else that I can’t seem to work around which still relates to the import of layers. If I import the layers file and then try to work on this it doesn’t seem possible to select and modify materials from within this file. I have tried linking it to the .skp file and this doesn’t seem to work either.
What I would like to be able to do is import the layers, then link the overall layers model to the skp file so I can still make changes in Sketchup and then sync but also add materials as and when required and I currently can’t work out how to do any of this.
Our live sync plug-in does not yet support layer exports and is only available when the model is exported as a .d5a file. If you want to make any changes in your 3d Model, you may want to export the updated version again and then replace the imported model in D5. This can be done by right-clicking the imported model.
Please bear in mind that this will revert the materials placed in the previous model hence, I suggest adding the materials you have used in your local library so you can easily place them in your new model without reverting the parameters to default.
“If I import the layers file and then try to work on this it doesn’t seem possible to select and modify materials from within this file. I have tried linking it to the .skp file and this doesn’t seem to work either”. — Can you perhaps send a screenshot or video recording of this so we may be able to properly visualize the problem that you are experiencing and give you the best probable solution
That all makes sense and I can do all the things you’ve mentioned but I still can’t manipulate materials once re imported. I click on the model and the whole model is selected and doesn’t break down into individual materials so nothing can be changed.
I’ve also attached a link to a video which shows first of all me selecting items in the original model that can be changed and then the second ‘layers’ model only selects the whole model and I can’t get to change any materials
I’ve just realised that I can actually have local assets open and once an asset is selected I can then go into the layers model and change individual items, however this a exceptionally laborious as it doesn’t select everything that is the same material so each individual item has to be painted separately. Each chair, each knife, each cabinet door, each handle and therefore it would take an age to make all the changes. Is there perhaps a workaround for this or something that can be altered within the backroom at D5?
Also try to Press “I” (shortcut for material picker) and proceed to select the surface of the model. This should select all the objects that were assigned with the same material.
I understand the drop down can select one or more items but as soon as you click the ‘I’ picker it’ll only select one item and you can only change that one item, therefore the imported layers file works differently to the original model which seems strange. In the example below, all the units are the same colour but the picker clearly shows it’s only recognising one item
Hi there. Would it be possible for you to send these files to us so we can test and assess them? You may send them to support@d5techs.com and have them titled “Clov—Forum Material Transfer.” Thank you.
