SU2Odeon plugin for SketchUp
From SketchUp to ODEON
The plug-in SU2Odeon for SketchUp (SU) allows you to make direct use of SketchUp models in ODEON. SketchUp is a fun 3D modelling software, which is operated very intuitively. It allows you to create renderings of your rooms for impressive visualisation. To learn SketchUp it is recommended to watch the introduction videos. It should take a very short time to learn the basics.
Please read the SU2Odeon manual (PDF) for installation and usage instructions.
Match SU2Odeon to Your ODEON Version
Three SU2Odeon installers are available, each for specific ODEON versions. Choose the one that matches your installation.
All versions support SketchUp 8 and SketchUp Make/Pro 2013 or later (desktop only; not available for the SketchUp web app).
ODEON 19
Key features
- The new plugin supports SketchUp layer colours.
- Components open for editing are automatically closed before exporting to an ODEON file (relevant for ODEON Source and Receiver components).
Notes
Also available at the SketchUp Warehouse, directly through your SketchUp installation (for versions Make/Pro 2013 and later).
ODEON 15 to 18
Key features
- Models from ODEON 17 and later (.par files) can be imported to SketchUp to create SketchUp models from scratch.
- Enhanced speed when importing into ODEON.
- Small bug fixes when reading SketchUp surfaces.
ODEON 10 to 14
Key features
- Full support for any character set.
- Not exporting the “Sketchup people”, who are by default located at the origin in a new Sketchup drawing (the following person components that will currently be omitted in the Odeon2SU export are Sang, Susan, Steve, Sophie, Derrick, Bryce(SU6), Nancy and Chris(SU2017).
How the SU2Odeon plugin works
Only a few clicks are required to get the geometry into ODEON:
- Save your SketchUp model (.skp extension) in a folder of your choice.
- Press the ODEON icon in the SketchUp menu bar.
- You will be asked to confirm to save the SketchUp file before exporting (new in version 3.03).
- SU2Odeon will convert the file to ODEON’s geometry format (.par extension). The new file resides in the same folder where the SketchUp file was saved.
- A message indicates that exporting has been finished and you will be prompted to open the model inside ODEON.
Please Note: It is recommended that you save your SketchUp (and ODEON) model on a local disk in your PC. If you try to export the SketchUp file to a server, the process will stop or will not respond.
Tip: For large models, SketchUp may display “Not Responding” while still processing the export. In most cases, simply wait until the message “File has been exported” appears. However, overly complex models can cause the process to stall indefinitely. It is important to keep models acoustically simple. SketchUp models created for architectural presentation often include excessive detail and small components, which can significantly increase import time and may cause SketchUp or SU2Odeon to crash during conversion to ODEON surfaces.
This list of guidelines can help you with checking the architectural room before using it for acoustic studies.
Models created in SketchUp and exported by SU2Odeon, are inherently compatible with the requirements set by ODEON:
- Plane surfaces.
- No repeated points.
- No surfaces without area.
- Multi loop surfaces are converted into single loop surfaces.
- Layer support.
- Automatic explosion of blocks.
- Unique surface numbers*.
*Surface properties assigned in ODEON (such as materials, surface sources, reflectors and grid surfaces) are preserved when the model is re-modelled in Sketchup and re-exported for ODEON. When clicking the ODEON icon for reloading the model, an automatic saving of the SketchUp file is performed.
See a full history of improvements in the SU2Odeon plugin in the SU2Odeon manual (PDF).
3D models and ODEON
Importing from SketchUp is one of the most efficient ways to get a model in ODEON, but not the only way. Below several other options to handle 3D models for use in ODEON are illustrated (read more in the User’s Manual):
