So you have received an SKP file but you don’t have SketchUp installed on your computer. Don’t worry, because with SketchUp Online, you can still view and edit SKP files right from your web browser. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of opening SKP files in SketchUp Online.
Step 1: Open a Web Browser
To get started, open your preferred web browser. Whether it’s Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser, SketchUp Online is compatible with most modern browsers.
Step 2: Visit the SketchUp Website
Next, navigate to the official SketchUp website by typing “SketchUp” into your search engine or directly entering “www.sketchup.com” into the address bar. Once you’re on the website’s homepage, click on the “Web” tab at the top of the page.
Step 3: Sign in or Create an Account
In order to use SketchUp Online and open SKP files, you need to sign in with your Trimble ID. If you already have a Trimble ID, click on the “Sign In” button located at the top right corner of the page. Enter your login credentials and proceed to step 4.
If you don’t have a Trimble ID yet, click on the “Sign Up” button instead. Follow the instructions to create a new account. Once you’ve created an account and signed in successfully, move on to step 4.
Step 4: Access SketchUp Online
After signing in to your Trimble account, you will be redirected to the main SketchUp dashboard. Look for and click on the “Launch Web App” button located in the center of the page. This will open up SketchUp Online in a new tab or window.
Step 5: Import Your SKP File
Now that you have SketchUp Online open, it’s time to import your SKP file. To do this, click on the “File” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
From the dropdown menu, select “Open”. This will open a file explorer dialog box.
Navigate to the location on your computer where the SKP file is stored. Select the file and click on the “Open” button in the dialog box. The SKP file will then be uploaded and opened in SketchUp Online.
Step 6: Explore and Edit Your SKP File
Congratulations! You have successfully opened your SKP file in SketchUp Online. Now you can explore and edit the model using SketchUp’s wide range of tools and features.
To navigate around the model, use your mouse or trackpad to click and drag. You can zoom in and out by scrolling or using pinch gestures if you’re on a touch-enabled device.
To edit the model, select different tools from the toolbar located on the left side of the screen. These tools allow you to push and pull surfaces, draw new geometry, add textures, and much more.
Step 7: Save Your Changes
Once you’ve made all desired changes to your SKP file, it’s important to save your progress. Click on the “File” menu again, but this time select “Save” or “Save As” from the dropdown menu.
If it’s your first time saving this particular SKP file, choose “Save As” and give it a new name or save it in a different location. Otherwise, simply choose “Save” to overwrite any previous changes made to the file.
Conclusion
Opening SKP files in SketchUp Online is a convenient way to access and edit models without having to install any software. By following these simple steps outlined above, you can easily view and work on SKP files using only your web browser. So go ahead, give it a try, and unleash your creativity with SketchUp Online!