What is a Staging Model?

A Sketchup model in fact works as a 3D database.

Without you needing to think about it, Sketchup tries to make sure that at all times that e.g., there is only one component with the same definition name, only one material with the same name, and that all subcomponents with a certain tag use the very same tag, that instances of a component do not inadvertently fork their parent definition, and so on.

This is called database integrity. Compfire leverages this integrity. As a unified library, Compfire can extend parts of this integrity to thousands of different models.

Compfire does parts of this integrity check when you import all Library items into one and the same model at the same time. This is called a Staging or Sandbox model.

In the Staging model space, you may experiment and play around with components and items, replace materials, and change item metadata, and see to it that they fit together as a whole.

Asset consistency and integrity is key in high-value production workflows.

When all looks good, you can export all changed items back to the production Library.

Get Synergy

The purpose of the Sandbox model is to give the user a space to maximise data synergy. In the Sandbox model, you can check and ensure that the identical subcomponent is shared across the right parent components, that e.g. the same three grey paint materials are shared across all components, that a tag shared across many components is spelled consistently, and so on.

Keep It Clean

Simply open Sketchup's Component and Material Panels, and check for needlessly forked or erroneously duplicated components or materials. You can rectify the issues by manually or automatically replacing or renaming components and materials, as needed.

All Good? Export!

When your model has sufficient integrity, you can proceed to exporting the updated items, or all at once.