But... we also think it is important to have easy-to-use, accessible software, even if it's not fully open. That's why we install Google SketchUp on our computers, as it is a 3D design program that is easy to learn.
This document describes how to install Google SketchUp on Debian Squeeze.
Windows Emulator: wine
Since we use the Windows version of Google SketchUp, we need wine (windows emulator) to run it. The standard version that comes with Debian Squeeze is outdated. There is a version available made by Kai Wasserbäch, but it does not install well, because it depends on Debian Unstable versions of libraries. That's why I took Kai's version and recompiled it on Debian. The compiled Debian Squeeze packages are available here as one zipped file (compile date: 2011-11-03).
Now go to the SketchUp Download page and download the latest version of SketchUp. Your browser might suggest to open directly in wine, that's ok. Otherwise, open the downloaded file with wine afterwards. Wine will complain about missing the Gecko Library for internet access. Click to download. Follow the normal SketchUp installation procedure. The default directories etc will be fine.
Now, start wine from the icon on your Desktop. If that doesn't work, open a terminal and start:
wine "C:\\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 8\SketchUp.exe"
SketchUp should open it's welcome screen, but it will crash when you proceed to open a template. This is normal.
Now tune wine to stop SketchUp from crashing:
wine regedit
go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\SketchUp6\GLConfig\Display and change "HW_OK" to 1.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\SketchUp6\SnappyInstructor and change "Show" to 0.
Try opening SketchUp again. It should work now. If you encounter other problems, read the SketchUp page on the wine wiki.
You can remove the two icons on the Desktop and change the wine->Google SketchUp entry in your menu to the command:
env WINEPREFIX="/home/jaap/.wine" wine "C:\\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 8\SketchUp.exe"
Exporting to STLDownload the STL export plugin (original from: http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl). Move the plugin to the right directory:
cp skp_to_dxf.rb ~/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files/Google/Google\ SketchUp\ 8/Plugins/
Restart SketchUp. Now you should have an option "Export to DXF or STL" in the Tools menu.
(more info: http://wiki.makerbot.com/google-sketchup)
