Using the AR|VR Extension for SketchUp Desktop

The AR/VR Extension for SketchUp, allows you to publish the models you’re working on in SketchUp directly to any AR|VR devices on your network that are running the SketchUp Viewer app.

Tip: For an introduction to SketchUp extensions, see Getting Started in the Extension Warehouse. For details about installing an extension, see Adding Extensions to SketchUp.

After installing the extension via Extension Warehouse, you can use it to publish models from SketchUp to your Hololens 2 device, following the instructions below.

  1. Check to ensure that your HoloLens2 headset is turned on and connected to the same wireless network as your Mac or Windows PC.
  2. Then launch the SketchUp Viewer app on the HoloLens.

  3. Then launch the AR|VR Extension in SketchUp Desktop, from the Window menu as shown in Fig. 1 below.

    Fig 1. Launch the AR|VR Extension from the Window menu in SketchUp Desktop.

  4. In the AR|VR Extension panel check the box alongside the HoloLens device that you want to publish your model to. As shown in Fig. 2 below. If the HoloLens doesn’t show up. Click the button to manually enter the HoloLens’ IP address. You can locate the IP address for your HoloLens from the About panel in the SketchUp Viewer application Home screen as shown in Fig. 3 below.

    Fig 2. The device IP address is listed in the About panel of the SketchUp Viewer application Home Screen.

    Fig 3. The device IP address is listed in the About panel of the SketchUp Viewer application Home Screen.

  5. Click the big blue publish button in the top right corner of the extension panel () to publish your model to your HoloLens.
  6. Once you’ve successfully published a model to the HoloLens, the model will appear in the Recent Models panel in the SketchUp Viewer app Home screen.

After having published a model once, you then have the option, after making changes to the model in SketchUp, to publish a new version that overwrites the previous version, or to publish another, new copy of the model. To publish a new copy of the model, check the box in the AR|VR extension labeled ‘Publish as new model’ as shown in Fig. 4 below. This option can be useful when publishing multiple versions of a model to the HoloLens for reviewing options on site, or with a client.

Fig 4. To publish a new copy of a model from SketchUp to the HoloLens check the box in the AR|VR extension labeled Publish as a new model.

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