A quick search here indicates that it is possible to get SketchUp models (.skp) into P6, -- but no real specifics that I’ve spotted yet.  I’m not looking to model, just import some of the meshes.    

Anyone have a good, (free), system worked out -- that will save the rest of us some trial & error?   Which free plugins, or “Rubys” seem to work the quickest & easiest to convert the format to one that Poser(6) can import directly?

As you have P6, exporting as OBJ is likely to be your best bet (there is a free export script around somewhere, the paid version has it built in I believe).

Attached Link: http://thepeanutgallery.freeforums.org/from-sketchup-to-how-to-move-models-to-other-apps-t54.html

If your going to use intermediate apps, you might as well use Blender to read a COLLADA file.

Quote - If your going to use intermediate apps, you might as well use Blender to read a COLLADA file.

Which means: bring the Sketchup mesh into Blender as Collada file, then export as Obj?

actually the blender route is not said to be reliable. something about the collada in blender not being perfect.

I can attest to Khai's method, or you can yell at SM for thinking Collada is a pro feature which it's not or the google team thinking OBJ is a Pro feature. but other than methods such as the one given, you are looking at Rubies that, while we're glad of them, are unreliable.

Anyone can tell me where I can find skp file format specification or documentation?

Attached Link: http://3dreferences.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-use-skpkmz-or-dae-models-in.html

Attached Link: Kerkythea

You might check with the Kerkythea folks. Someone there wrote a SketchUp to Kerkythea plugin for SketchUp. Don't know how much help that might be for a standalone or a Poser plugin though if that's what you have in mind.

Theres also another free tool on the autodesk site that converts from to DAE/FBX to OBJ. 

You still have to clean up the mesh, usually triangulate and map, but that seems to be the way wether it's wings, blender or even using sketchup pros own OBJ convertor.

What I've also noticed is some models come out better than other. The trick appears to be find a model thats been well made to start with and imported into sketchup.

"Theres also another free tool on the autodesk site that converts from to DAE/FBX to OBJ. "

tried it.. trust me, it's quick and dirty... it'll work but...

Seriously?

.skp =>.dae =>.fbx =>.obj =>.pp2?  

Ack! …I was in hope of a somewhat more elegant solution.   Although the process is alleged to be “foolproof” – I fear they’ve yet to encounter the caliber of this fool!   

So, to recap, with links, the process appears to be:

 --- first, for .skp to .dae conversion, download SketchUp from:

http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html

 --- ---  next, for .dae to .fbx conversion (Per MagnusGreel’s link to post @ thepeanutgallery.freeforums.org,) the free ‘Softimage MOD TOOL’ is at:

 http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=13571257

--- --- ---  and last, for .fbx to .obj conversion, good’ol Wings is still at:

 http://www.wings3d.com/

 and – whoohoo! –  all still free – thanks for the assist folks!

in Wings, do a Merge command. it'll clean up the Mesh a lot for you. (SU tends to treat things like faces as seperate objects in the mesh. this causes artifacts in Poser. by merging, you fix this issue.)

Until now what I ound was that the google warehouse has tons of models and most of them you can chose the format, not woe much options, only two: skp or dae.

The kmz option is not an option because it has a dae inside and we are back to the only two options. The dae format is a collada option that can be opened by many applications, MeshLab for example.

As for the skp format itself I think that will not be too much problem to make an obj converter. Until now I found that inside a skp file are the textures, some png file that I think that can be the thumb of the model and something in xml, maybe is the geometry in dae format?

You could also just download the trial version of sketchup pro. It lets you do stuff for 8 hours (doesn't have to be in one go) which should be enough for the occasional model conversion. Or run it in a VM that you wipe when the time runs out.

Heh

@Kawecki, dat's my bloggie you referred to, cheers mate.

As for converting, my route from Sketchup 8 to Poser 8 / pro 2010 is basically-

SKP -> OBJ via free exporter ruby scripts in Sketchup

But not all meshes work out well, so the alternative for me is

SKP -> DAE

then inside Blender

DAE -> OBJ

I must run that through UVmapper to make sure the UV maps are generated, then re-save as OBJ.

Import into Poser.

Done.

Quote - @Kawecki, dat's my bloggie you referred to, cheers mate.

Well, it means that I found you!

Until now is going easy with skp format, I have locate the textures and geometry chunks. The geometry is in binary form.