How to use the A23D Asset Importer Extension for SketchUp

The A23D Asset Importer provides you with the ability to download assets directly from the A23D website into your SketchUp scenes. It adds an A23D Bridge panel to track download and import progress, choose a custom asset folder, or import an A23D asset from disk.

Installing the extension

1. Visit the SketchUp integration page.
2. Download the latest version of the extension compatible with your SketchUp application.
3. Unzip the downloaded file if needed. The extension installer is the .rbz file.
4. Open SketchUp.
5. Open Extension Manager.
6. Click Install Extension.
7. Select the A23D Asset Importer .rbz file.
8. Enable A23D Asset Importer if SketchUp does not enable it automatically.
9. Restart SketchUp if the extension does not appear right away.

After installation, the A23D Bridge panel opens automatically. You can reopen it from the A23D toolbar button or Extensions > A23D Bridge.

Note: If SketchUp warns that the extension is unsigned or unidentified, open Extension Manager > Settings, set Extension Loading Policy to Approve Unidentified Extensions, then restart SketchUp.

Downloading assets with one-click

1. Open SketchUp and keep the A23D Bridge panel open.
2. If the panel says Connected, SketchUp is ready to receive assets.
3. On the A23D website, open the asset you want to import.
4. In the Software dropdown, choose SketchUp.
5. Choose the resolution you want.
6. Click Send to SketchUp.
7. Return to SketchUp. The A23D Bridge panel shows the asset as it downloads, unzips, and imports into the scene.

Browser permission

When you click Send to SketchUp, your browser may ask to allow access to apps on your device. Click Allow so A23D can connect to the A23D Bridge in SketchUp. If you skipped it, open site settings for www.a23d.co, allow Apps on device, reload the page, and try again.

You can also manually add https://www.a23d.co:443 to your browser's list of allowed sites to access Apps on device. This setting can be found at:

• Chrome — chrome://settings/content/loopbackNetwork
• Edge — edge://settings/privacy/sitePermissions/allPermissions/loopbackNetwork
• Brave — brave://settings/content/loopbackNetwork
• Firefox — Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Device apps and services

Safari may not always complete one-click sending because of its local app connection behavior. If that happens, use Chrome or Edge, or download the asset and use Import from disk.

PBR Textures in SketchUp

The SketchUp extension is designed for A23D 3D models. For standalone PBR texture sets, download the textures from A23D and apply them through SketchUp materials or your rendering extension, such as V-Ray or Enscape.

Using multiple SketchUp windows

Only one SketchUp window receives website imports at a time. If you have more than one SketchUp window open, click Connect in the A23D Bridge panel of the window you want to import into.

That window becomes the active receiver. Other open SketchUp windows will show as not connected until you click Connect in them.

Choosing a custom asset folder

Use Asset Folder in the A23D Bridge panel if you want website downloads saved to a specific location before import.

You can type a folder path or click Browse... and choose a folder. Leave the field empty if you do not need a custom location.

Importing an asset from disk

Use Import from disk when you already have a downloaded A23D model on your computer.

1. In SketchUp, open the A23D Bridge panel.
2. Click Import from disk.
3. Select the A23D .fbx model file from the extracted asset folder.
4. Confirm the import. The extension imports the model into the current scene.

You can also open the disk importer from File > Import A23D Asset.

Uninstalling the extension

Open Extension Manager, find A23D Asset Importer, and disable or uninstall the extension.