• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

Is Sketchup Trying to Keep me From Using My Sketchup Make, the Free Version?

K

kmanning

Messages
1,267
Hi,

I have the older Sketchup Make 2017 installed on my computer. Now every time I try to open it, I either have to click "Agree" or click "No Thanks, and Exit." At the left, there are 2 buttons I can choose from. One says "Free Pro Trial" and the other button says "Try Sketchup Free," and neither one is actually truely free, and is a lie. It's just free for 30 days. THAT IS NOT A TRULY FREE SOFTWARE. At the top, I've noticed it says'License to Sketchup Make, Pro, and other version, expired. Are they trying to keep me from using my old 'Sketchup Make 2017, for which I have the right to use without paying for it? I clicked on the button "Try Sketchup Free, but it just takes me to their website to purchase a yearly subscription, and I didn't see anywhere I can choose the "Sketchup Make" version, which is the TRUE free one. One of the 2 buttons at the left that appears to be highlighted in red is "Try Sketchup Pro," But I'm not sure if it's really highlighted or not. And on the bottom right, there is a button that says "Agree," and I'm thinking that if I click on agree, I'm agreeing to purchase the "Sketcup Pro." But the button is red and appears to be highlighted, but I'm not sure if it's really highlighted or not. It seems like they're trying to force those of us that have the older free versions to either purchase their latest products or subscribe to their subscriptions, which is their way of keeping you in their wallet for the rest of your lift, or for as long as you want to use it. Or do I just simply click on the "Agree" button.

Ken.
 
I have the same version and it's fully functional..when it starts i just press the "continue with free version" button and works flawlessly
 
Flightmaster2015 said:
I have the same version and it's fully functional..when it starts i just press the "continue with free version" button and works flawlessly
Click to expand...

Hi,

That's the button I clicked on but it did not open my sketchup program but instead, it took me to their website, either to purchase or subscribe. I've recently updated to Windows 10 Pro but when I installed Sketchup, I reinstalled the 2017 version I already had. It's been about 30 days since updating to Windows 10 and when I tried to run it, that's when I got that message. It even said at the top, in red letters, that the license was expired. I did went ahead and clicked on the Agree button and it seems to work okay now. I don't understand why it started doing that when I haven't applied for nor downloaded the Pro version or any other later versions.

Ken.
 
kmanning said:
Hi,

That's the button I clicked on but it did not open my sketchup program but instead, it took me to their website, either to purchase or subscribe. I've recently updated to Windows 10 Pro but when I installed Sketchup, I reinstalled the 2017 version I already had. It's been about 30 days since updating to Windows 10 and when I tried to run it, that's when I got that message. It even said at the top, in red letters, that the license was expired. I did went ahead and clicked on the Agree button and it seems to work okay now. I don't understand why it started doing that when I haven't applied for nor downloaded the Pro version or any other later versions.

Ken.
Click to expand...

No problem here for either Sketchup2017 or 2014. That is with Windows 10 Pro.
 
Hi Ken:

Depending on which Sketchup Make 2017 installer you have, it may "phone home" to a lesser or greater extent.

After Trimble acquired Sketchup from Google, they intended to make Sketchup more profitable, and they use more methods to keep soliciting purchase of the payware version(s) and newer versions of that software.

IIUC, Sketchup 2017 was when auto-launching of a web component was included in the main executable code of Sketchup to "phone home" for various purposes, among which was not only soliciting purchase of the payware version(s) and newer versions of that software, but also to track what extensions were most popular, and to alert users of the availability of paid versions of extensions, and updated versions of free extensions.

AFAIK, there are less obtrusive (earlier) versions of Sketchup 2017 Make installers, and there are ways to stop unwanted communications with web sites via Windows Firewall and/or edits to the Windows HOSTS file ...which one can use to minimize / block such distractions. :stirthepo


IIRC, mandatory remote storage of one's project files on Trimble's servers for free versions of Sketchup did not start until version 2020 or 2021.

Sketchup 2017 has a couple of features with Material mapping pins that are convenient, but 2017 broke- / never fixed- Combine (vertical) Textures.

For that reason I recommend using Sketchup 2016 (64-Bit) Make instead of Sketchup 2017 Make.

Remember, there is almost no feature in any new / paid version since 8.x which is not available via a free 'Extension' (aka "plugin Ruby script"). ;)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
What I suggest is to turn off notifications on upgrades to any and all plug-ins. that would help in SketchUp contacting "Home".
 
Hi Gary and Pyscen,
I have Sketchup working now. I went ahead and clicked on the Agree button, I think it was, and everything change back to normal.

Ken.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top