Moi has an SKP file export! ;)

Each object will be a "Group" it will keep the name from Moi!
Colors will losted

If you want keep the different Object as Component format inside SketchUp you must export as 3DS format

Inside Sketchup each object will be named obj1, obj2 etc...and will be a component!
Original Names will be losted
Colors will be losted!

In each case explode one time!

if you export as OBJ format from Moi you will have inside SketchUp name + colors but Groups! (no need to explode)
Made with a plugin ImportOBJ by TIG for SKetchUp 2017 Make (so free)
(maybe orient faces for have similar color in a same object! )
Maybe Native OBJ Importer for SketchUp Pro is more strong! ?

Thanks Jason

Hi Eric
Thanks for the tips. Was that Viacad 2d/3d for $150?

Thanks Pilou for your interesting flow chart. I will experiment

Hi bert, although MoI could be used for what you are describing, it sounds to me like SketchUp is a better fit for what you want to do.

> Can MOI import 3ds and skp files?

No, MoI can export to 3ds and skp files but not import them. That's because those are polygon mesh file formats where data is stored as a bunch of flat polygon facets. MoI works with a different kind of data called NURBS surfaces which are smooth spline surfaces.


> Can you add textures to the surfaces easily like sketchup?

No, MoI is only focused on modeling and not on texturing or rendering itself. You would need to export to a rendering program to do that kind of stuff.


> Can anyone direct me to examples of house design, interior room design?

I think there are some in the gallery: http://moi3d.com/gallery .


> What is the easiest way to render?

Generally it's to export to .obj format to a rendering program like SimLab Composer.


> What is the best way to obtain 2D drawings? Import into Freecad etc?

You can generate a 2D drawing by saving to .dxf format which can then be imported into a 2D CAD program for annotation. I am in the process of adding some basic annotation dimensions into MoI for v4.


But SketchUp does more of what you are looking for and it's easy to use for kind of simple boxy type models. It has limits such as that it doesn't deal with curved surfaces very well but that doesn't sound like it is going to be much of an issue for you.


Thanks, - Michael

Michael,

Thanks so much for your honest help - I appreciate that. You are probably right. Sketchup does work. When I get to needing step file export I may return to MOI3D

Thanks

Hi Bert ...
Yes ...
I am eager to see if the new MOI 'dimensions' (upcoming) will allow me not to use other programs for dimensions.
Sketchup Make is awesome for a free program ... but I find MoI3d much more intuitive and easier to work with.
cheers,
eric

von mir auch ein Prosit for the long awaited dimensions.