More on the Updated Export AutoCAD to Google Earth .kml Extension from Autodesk Labs

Some more details of the changes in the updated version for AutoCAD 2008 Google Earth Extension posted to Autodesk Labs May 24th,2007 for both AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008. The AutoCAD 2008 version was just updated today to address two issue reported over the weekend.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/google_earth_extension_beta/

1) It now supports materials attached to AutoCAD entities. Yes the nice better quality ones of Google Earth 4 via Collada.

2) Imports terrain data as 32×32 grid AutoCAD mesh (with material automatically attached)

3) Support for attaching time to AutoCAD entities for use with Google Earth’s time slider feature. So you could animate project or model changes over time in Google Earth.

4) Numerous resolved issues reported by users of the previous version using the email for the tools feedback of email of labs.acad-google@autodesk.com

I had some geeky fun this weekend testing out the extension with AutoCAD 2008. I modeled a 3D model of the Autodesk offices known as Civic Center buildings located in San Rafael California where much of the AutoCAD Team is located/caged :-).
I then exported the model of the two buildings into a KML file for viewing in Google Earth using the command "PUBLISHKML" and to the properly place using the coordinates of the image I used as a base reference with IMPORTGEIMAGE .

I posted a series of screen captures during the process to my Flickr image Gallery for AutoCAD.

www.flickr.com

http://www.flickr.com/badge_code_v2.gne?show_name=1&count=3&display=latest&size=t&layout=h&source=user_set&user=7881775%40N06&set=72157600141085264&context=in%2Fset-72157600141085264%2F

S.Hurley's AutoCAD photoset S.Hurley’s AutoCAD photoset

7 comments

I just downloaded the latest version without success. I’m running Acad 2008 64 bit on a Vista Ultimate 64 bit machine.
When I enter the command “IMPORTGEIMAGE” it’s says its unknown.
I tried the 2007 method of loading it through CUILOAD also without success.
Does it work with 64 bit?

Currently the Publish to Google extension is for 32 bit products. Later we may re-compile it for a 64 bit beta version.
Regards,
Shaan

Tim Langenbach says:

Hello Autodesk team,
I am currently trying to use the addon at AutoCAD 2008. The program is a German version. When I try to import data from Earth to AutoCAD – either by using the button or by typing the command, I get the statement, that the command is unknown:
“Befehl: _ImportGEImage Unbekannter Befehl “IMPORTGEIMAGE”. Drücken Sie F1-Taste für Hilfe.”
Is there a way to use the tool with my version of AutoCAD? Thanks in advance for your support!
Tim Langenbach

Tim,
I am not sure non-English AutoCAD is supported. I would suggest emailing the extensions email at labs.acad-google@autodesk.com.
In many cases updating Google Earth as well as most users that are encountering this issue have been able to resolve it by downloading several Microsoft DLL’s from this location (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=200B2FD9-AE1A-4A14-984D-389C36F85647&displaylang=en).
Regards,
Shaan

Prabhat says:

Using Google earth add on in autocad when importing google earth image to autocad, it is not importing in proper map scale.
Any suggestion please advise me
prabhat

i’ve been using that version for a while now and i was just wondering, is there any better version? New isn’t always better though

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