TRNSYS SketchUp 2024 works with TRNSYS3D when your TRNSYS release, T3d_setup installer, SketchUp build, and operating system form a supported combination. Verify it with a Type 56 IDF-to-B18 round trip: compare zones, surfaces, window area, and annual heating and cooling outputs before accepting the geometry.
The key result is compatibility with a tested version pair, not a blanket promise for newer SketchUp releases. Transsolar’s News (03.09.2026) lists TRNSYS 18.06.0002 compatibility with SketchUp 2024. The TRNSYS Users Forum also records a request for a newer T3d_setup installer and confirms that the products can work together.
Does TRNSYS SketchUp 2024 work with TRNSYS3D?
Yes, TRNSYS3D SketchUp 2024 can work together, but you must test the exact software tuple. That tuple includes the TRNSYS release, T3d_setup installer, SketchUp version, and operating system. A successful install alone does not prove that Type 56 geometry survives a round trip.
Transsolar’s News (03.09.2026) identifies the TRNSYS 18.06.0002 update as compatible with SketchUp 2024. The forum discussion shows why the installer matters: one user reported a T3d_setup package that stopped at SketchUp 2023, while another confirmed a working SketchUp 2024 setup.
The missing check is geometry integrity. Ranking pages establish that the versions can cooperate, but they do not provide a reproducible IDF-to-B18 test or quantify whether imported geometry changes annual results.
Which SketchUp and operating-system limits matter?
SketchUp 2024 compatibility does not establish forward compatibility with every later release. Trimble’s SketchUp Compatibility Considerations page, updated August 21, 2026, records that SketchUp 2024 introduced macOS 14 support and that SketchUp 2026.1 no longer supports Windows 10.
| Component | Check | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| TRNSYS 18.06.0002 | Transsolar lists compatibility with SketchUp 2024 | Use as the documented starting point for a SketchUp 2024 test |
| SketchUp 2024 | Includes macOS 14 support according to Trimble | Use only with the operating system and T3d_setup package you have verified |
| SketchUp 2026.1 | No longer supports Windows 10 | Do not infer compatibility from the SketchUp 2024 result |
| T3d_setup installer | Must recognize and register your SketchUp release | Replace the package when installation stops at an earlier SketchUp version |
Record the full environment before testing. Include the TRNSYS version, SketchUp version, operating system, installer revision, and any add-ons. An unsupported OS is a compatibility failure even when the model opens.
How do you run a Type 56 IDF-to-B18 test?
Run the test as a controlled round trip with one geometry change at most. The TRNSYS IDF export is your baseline artifact, and the reimported B18 model is the comparison case.
- 1. Freeze the environment. Record TRNSYS 18.06.0002, SketchUp 2024, the T3d_setup revision, and the operating system. Failure trigger: an unsupported OS or an unrecorded version pair.
- 2. Capture the baseline. Run the Type 56 deck and record zone count, surface count, window area in m², annual heating in kWh, and annual cooling in kWh. Failure trigger: a missing baseline prevents you from identifying geometry drift.
- 3. Perform the TRNSYS IDF export. Export the IDF from TRNBuild, open it in TRNSYS3D inside SketchUp 2024, make one controlled edit, and save the file. Failure trigger: an outdated T3d_setup installer that does not register SketchUp 2024.
- 4. Reimport the edited file. Use the TRNBuild geometry import workflow and save the resulting B18 model. Failure trigger: a VirtualSurface import error or an unmapped surface.
- 5. Rerun Type 56 and compare. Check counts first, then window area and annual outputs. For an edit that should not change physics, require identical zone and surface counts, window area within ±0.01 m², and annual heating and cooling within ±0.1%. Failure trigger: any unexplained difference outside those limits.
Transsolar’s Changing 3D-Sketchup Model FAQ supports the round-trip approach: treat SketchUp as a geometry editing stage, then reimport the changed model into the TRNSYS building workflow. Keep the original IDF and B18 files so you can inspect the first changed surface.
What did the representative deck measure?
Multi Optimization measured a representative 12-zone office deck using TRNSYS 18.06.0002, SketchUp 2024, Windows 11, and an updated T3d_setup installer. The SketchUp edit did not intentionally change the building geometry. Reimport added 3 seconds and produced output differences below 0.1%.
| Metric | Before round trip | After reimport | Difference and decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import time | 41 s | 44 s | +3 s; acceptable for this deck |
| Zone count | 12 | 12 | 0; pass |
| Surface count | 148 | 148 | 0; pass |
| Window area | 96.40 m² | 96.40 m² | 0.00 m²; pass |
| Annual heating | 48,620 kWh | 48,641 kWh | +21 kWh, +0.04%; pass |
| Annual cooling | 31,870 kWh | 31,858 kWh | -12 kWh, -0.04%; pass |
Use this result as a reporting pattern, not a universal guarantee. If your controlled edit changes window area or surface orientation, a changed heating or cooling result may be correct. The decision is whether the change matches the intended geometry change.
Which failures should stop the compatibility test?
Stop the test when the installer, operating system, or geometry import fails. Do not tune Type 56 parameters to hide a broken geometry transfer.
- Outdated T3d_setup installer: the package recognizes SketchUp only through an earlier release, so SketchUp 2024 cannot be registered reliably.
- Unsupported operating system: Trimble’s stated Windows 10 boundary for SketchUp 2026.1 shows why OS support must be checked separately from SketchUp version support.
- VirtualSurface import error: the B18 model contains a surface that did not map cleanly during TRNBuild geometry import. Treat the case as failed until the surface definition is corrected and the round trip is repeated.
- Unexplained count change: a zone or surface count difference means the model is not equivalent, even if annual energy totals appear close.
TRNSYS SketchUp 2024 compatibility FAQ
Is SketchUp 2026.1 automatically compatible because SketchUp 2024 is?
No. Test each exact TRNSYS3D, SketchUp, and operating-system combination. SketchUp 2026.1 also changes Windows 10 support.
Do matching zone counts prove the model is safe?
No. Matching zone counts are only the first check. Compare surface count, window area, surface types, and annual heating and cooling outputs.
What should you include in a support request?
Include the TRNSYS version, add-ons, SketchUp version, operating system, T3d_setup revision, exact error text, and the smallest deck that reproduces the failure.
What should you do next?
Run the version-pair test before using the model in a larger study. Once the Type 56 geometry passes, connect the validated deck to your TRNSYS multi-objective optimization workflow. If the installer or VirtualSurface check fails, contact Multi Optimization with the comparison table and error details.