29 June 2011

How to enable DWG import in SketchUp 8 Free

As an architect living in Indonesia I (and many others) faced one same dreaded problem in my workflow: DWG dependency.
I've post list of applications that I use before, though I must share this info too (a bit too late actually).

So how to enable DWG Import in your Free SketchUp 8?

We all know Google stop supporting DWG Import feature starting from SketchUp 8 (free). The last one (7.1) have additional add-on http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/AllowDWGImportInSketchUp7.msi to enable it.

Then another way is: You can install SketchUp 8 Pro trial for 8 hours of usage if you want a temporary solution.

Or.. you can just stick with SketchUp 7.1 and ask your partners to downgrade save as sketchup 7 format for file exchange. Which is what I choose, after all there are not much important features in version 8.

Now.. do you know that actually there is no difference between both version?
Yes this page http://sketchup.google.com/product/gsup.html say many.

But when we exclude Layout and StyleBuilder, both are identical! huh really?

Let's prove it

- Download the trial version http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/gsup.html and don't install ( I assume you never install it before not to mention got expired)
- I'll assume you already have SketchUp 8 free installed
- Download "the always amazing" 7-zip http://www.7-zip.org/ and install
- Now open GoogleSketchUpProWEN.exe with 7-zip so you get this shot


- Right click on GoogleSketchUp8.msi and Open Inside, look for SketchUp8.lf file and extract it to [somewhere]
- Copy your SketchUp8.lf into C:\Documents And Settings\ All Users\Application Data\Google\Google SketchUp 8\ in Windows Vista/7 this probably (I don't know) goes to C:\ProgramData\Google\Google SketchUp 8\
- Now start your SketchUp


- There you go! your 8 hours SketchUp 8 Pro Trial, now you can import and export DWG
- You can delete SketchUp8.lf to revert Free version (cause 8 hours is so precious time to spend!)

OK now assuming that you're running out of those hours but you want more? Yes you can... you can reinstall your Windows and SketchUp or let's go deeper...

I found out that beside the timebomb SketchUp8.lf, there still another three as follow:
C:\windows\system32\ALLFSAF8a.ocx
and two registry entries:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9M510529-49b21b1e-c648-4022-a68e-78f4bb2c0251}
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{M95ea31583d-4e5c-4c16-bbdf-57e4e96d5644}

You need to be admin to defuse all timebombs:
- delete those two file (including SketchUp8.lf)
- and delete those two registrty entries (use regedit to search the Id and delete the matched folder)

Confused? no problem

Here is inf file to automate above tasks

[Version]
Signature=$Windows NT$
Class=Base

[DefaultInstall.NT]
DelReg=skp8timeout
DelFiles=evallicense1,evallicense2

[skp8timeout]
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9M510529-49b21b1e-c648-4022-a68e-78f4bb2c0251}"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{M95ea31583d-4e5c-4c16-bbdf-57e4e96d5644}"

[evallicense1]
SketchUp8.lf

[evallicense2]
ALLFSAF8a.ocx

[DestinationDirs]
evallicense1=16419,"Google\Google SketchUp 8"
evallicense2=11


- Paste above lines in notepad and save as "skpreset.inf" in the same place you keep the original SketchUp8.lf before ( notice the quotes when typing on file save dialog )


[Version]
Signature=$Windows NT$
Class=Base

[DefaultInstall.NT]
CopyFiles=evallicense

[evallicense]
SketchUp8.lf

[DestinationDirs]
evallicense=16419,"Google\Google SketchUp 8"


- Paste above lines in notepad and save as "skpeval.inf" in the same place you keep the original SketchUp8.lf before (notice the quotes when typing on file save dialog)

Now to defuse timebombs right click on skpreset.inf and install. To install new 8 hours trial do the same to skpeval.inf

Enjoy

Notes:
SketchUp as well as DraftSight and DoubleCAD XT use the same technology to provide DWG compatibility called DirectDWG later renamed as Teigha by ODA (Open Design Alliance). Use of those combined freeware for DWG exchange is OK.

26 comments:

  1. Thank you for share your findings!!! Can't believe that there are people so idiot to email you talking "about the legality of this guide"...
    Best regards, Mariano Deheza- Argentina

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  3. I had Sketchup 8 free (latest version) on a Windows 7 x64 computer.

    Using your script, I copied SketchUp8.lf to C:\ProgramData\Google\Google SketchUp 8 and then it started as full Eval version. To my surprise it only stated to have 4 hours remaining although I never downloaded the full version before.

    Then I used the other script to delete the files and registers. SketchUp8.lf is gone. C:\windows\system32\ALLFSAF8a.ocx is not there, but I never checked if it ever was. Same goes for the registers. Now the big problem: SketchUp still starts as eval version with little under 4 hours remaining.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never check it on Windows 64bit.

      You right, the script may not work as expected in 64bit Windows due to different location, it will be C:\windows\syswow64\ALLFSAF8a.ocx (in the script file replace 11 with 16425) because Sketchup is 32bit program running on 64 windows in your case. The others thing registries/programdata may not need change (not sure)

      Thanks for your report

      Delete
  4. Just a thought, you can find a copy of Sketchup 7.1 on FileHippo. It can be installed on the same machine as you are using for Sketchup 8.

    Then you can import your dwg file into sketchup 7, and from there save it a as a Sketchup model. Once it is saved, you can then open it in Sketchup 8.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Friend, I did the procedure mentioned, this ok, but my sketchup 8 does this matter DWG, what can be?
    thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i have also done the same but doesn't get .dwg option in import dialog box

      Delete
  6. There is no ALLFSAF8a.ocx in syswow64 either. I'm running 64bit windows 7 pro.
    Also, the registry entries in HKLM/software\classes\CLSID\ don't go beyond FF. so there is no 9M or M entries in the registry at all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. OR can you post the contents of those two registry folders, so I could look for that and try to delete it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dude specify your version! don't you see how old this post? No detailed info (how you do it, your specs, etc) = no help from me, do notice I'm running winxp. and I'm not that interested talk about borderline "hack" too. This is the only post of its kind here.

      and of course it could goes up to FF=255 otherwise it's not called hex!

      Delete
    2. Or

      You could do it yourself using filemon and regmon combo (in case you're sure something has changed in the newer version), observe how sketchup pro trial write registry and the secret file while exiting. This is just a simple hack :) nothing complicated

      my 32bit sketchup 8.0.11752.0 still works fine...

      Delete
  8. How about Sketchup 2013?
    Both files SketchUp13.lf and ALLFSAF13a.ocx exist on goog known places, but how about registry entries?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well since you've got halfway I'll give the other half
      {04c30bb9-ec24-46ae-88c5-4a6812b0a45d} and {1f0f5e99-7ac8-422d-99e6-d462b0e9321d}

      I'not testing it more than 5min kay :p, havent migrated to 2013 so far. But looks like crappy release to me (the sketchup alone)

      Delete
    2. Thanks for reply, TumaGonx Zakkum,

      I have tested this registry entries on winxp 64bit edition and they work as expected.

      I prepared inf files for process automation on winxp 64bit edition.


      ********* RESETING *********

      [Version]
      Signature=$Windows NT$
      Class=Base

      [DefaultInstall.NT]
      DelReg=skp13timeout
      DelFiles=evallicense1,evallicense2

      [skp13timeout]
      HKCR,"Wow6432Node\CLSID\{04c30bb9-ec24-46ae-88c5-4a6812b0a45d}"
      HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{04c30bb9-ec24-46ae-88c5-4a6812b0a45d}"
      HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{04c30bb9-ec24-46ae-88c5-4a6812b0a45d}"
      HKCR,"Wow6432Node\CLSID\{1f0f5e99-7ac8-422d-99e6-d462b0e9321d}"
      HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{1f0f5e99-7ac8-422d-99e6-d462b0e9321d}"
      HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{1f0f5e99-7ac8-422d-99e6-d462b0e9321d}"

      [evallicense1]
      SketchUp13.lf

      [evallicense2]
      ALLFSAF13a.ocx

      [DestinationDirs]
      evallicense1=16419,"SketchUp\SketchUp 2013"
      evallicense2=10,SysWOW64


      ********* EVALUTING *********

      [Version]
      Signature=$Windows NT$
      Class=Base

      [DefaultInstall.NT]
      CopyFiles=evallicense

      [evallicense]
      SketchUp13.lf

      [DestinationDirs]
      evallicense=16419,"SketchUp\SketchUp 2013"

      **********************************

      For 64bit editions of Vista, win7 and win8 this inf files should work. My be with one exception. Value of variable evallicense should be not a 16419.

      For 32bit editions, I think, should work old files if you change registry entries to new provided here. I don't have environment for testing 32bit edition instalation.

      Delete
  9. Is there any way to crack these time-bombs in mac?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don’t have autocad, just the free version of Google Sketchup, and what I need to do is to take the DWG file from my architect and import it into GSU to be able to adjust it so that I can start building ASAP. I'm not in the US so I'm not restricted to approvals from minor adjustments. I tried to import the DWG file from my architect into GSU, but the file imported all 10 drawings as flat images, basically if I was just looking at my plans. I want to be able to adjust them and have them 3D in GSU, is it possible? Would it be possible for me to post a link to download the file so that somebody can convert it to a GSU file? It's in meters (metric). I need to adjust this very soon, but I can’t now, so anybody willing to help would be HUGELY appreciated. Thanks for your consideration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't get with "but the file imported all 10 drawings as flat images" do you expect it to be 3d?

      AFAIK Sketchup support 3D dwg if the file really 3D dwg (extruded plan). Maybe those files are just 2d siteplan?

      Delete
  11. Very very helpful! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi there!

    Is this information still valid since it is already 2014?

    Kind regards!
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sombody have the registry keys for 2014 version?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try this (untested)

      file : ALLFSAF14a.ocx
      regckeyss:
      {0E88AE3B-A9AE-4320-9BC1-F4A889C5442C}
      {54AC8335-692C-4B9E-95A3-159C18A5D0DD}

      Delete
  14. What are the full instructions for SketchUp 2014 on a Windows 7 Home 64-bit?

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  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  16. Anyone have keys/files for SketchUp 2016?

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