1. How To Fix Unexpected File Format

I was finishing my work on SU then before rendering it on Twilight i SAVED it before i render it. So while rendering, the PC shuts down for no reason! Then when i tried opening the file the message ' Unsuspected file format' pops up. In the case of an incomplete download, the problem isn't with the model itself; rather, the failed download results in an incomplete file that SketchUp can't.

I’m sorry to tell you that I was unable to recover the file, even after spending an hour on it. It seems the file is corrupted. Unless the gurus here make a miracle, I don’t think it can be recoverable. Another thing you could do, is to contact the by filling out the form and describing your problem. Since the form has a 5mb upload limit, I’d suggest including the link to your Dropbox file into the Issue Description box. I can relate to a hard work of months being lost and know how you feel.

There is still a tiny chance that others might be able to resurrect the file but also, be prepared for the worst as well.

Hi guys i've found a fix for this problem, please follow the following procedure to fix the problem forever As many might know, 3 ds Max's Sketchup import fails on Sketchup 2013/2014 files You have to explicitely save to V8 format in Sketchup to make the Files compatible with the 3ds Max importer. I know about using Sketchup 8 and this is not a Sketchup version problem.

Import fails from models created by SU 8 (and all earlier versions as well). It's definitely something about the revit models themselves. What I don't know.

Some revit models generate this error and some don't. Its not how large the model is (small ones fail and big ones don't sometimes) and its not phasing information. And its not the DWG version thats exported (it happens when Revit exports acad 2013, 2007 and 2004 formats).

I'm at a loss here. Dwg export from Revit 2015 imported into Sketchup Pro 2014 saved down to SU8 format inported into 3ds Max Design 2015. The problem occurs on import into 3DS with some but not all files. Size doesn't seem to matter (some big ones work, some small ones don't) and I've tried every settings permutation I can think of (saving as dwg 2013, 2007, and 2004 from Revit and saving as 7, 8 and 2014 from sketchup).

None of it makes no difference. Its got to be a setting or soemthing in the Revit file itself. I know this is a complicated fringe case but I really need to make this work.

How To Fix Unexpected File Format

Embellishing/changing, adding details to models in sketchup is ten times quicker than trying tro add all that detail directly in Revit. I had a file from Sketchup 2015 that I couldn't load into 3ds Max 2015, receiving the same error as in the OP. Tried saving to Sketchup 8 (and 7, and every version up to the latest) and none would load into Max 2015. Spacefrog, I tried your suggestion and found that in the SDK the path to the DLL has changed - there's now x64 and an x86 versions. Strangely, even though my Max install is x64 the x86 DLL worked better. But it still didn't work.

The files would almost load (and wouldn't start unless I told it to not import hidden geometry), but then fail with the same message. (Whereas the x64 DLL caused the import process to not start in the first place - it acted like the DLL was missing or something.) In frustration I tried a last resort: Importing the Sketchup 8 file into a version of 3ds Max 2014 I have on another machine. And presumably your fix would work with this older install as well, Spacefrog.

But for whatever reason, Max 2015 isn't working in my case, where Max 2014 does. I am getting the same error using: 3dsMax Design 2015 Sketchup Pro 2015 The file I am having troubles with is a Sketchup file that was originally a Revit import. I tried the solution outlined by spacefrog with both the x64 and x86 and neither work.

I've attached a screenshot of the error message. I import my models in chunks (site, exterior, interior, etc.) which are all inside one Sketchup file.

The site imported fine but the exterior will not import. I'm thinking the geometry might be a problem so I'm messing around with exploding and saving down to SU versions 8 and 7, so far no luck.