This guide walks you through the core features of the Programa extension for SketchUp.
1. Opening the extension and signing in
In SketchUp, click the Extensions tab at the top of the screen.
Scroll down to Programa and click Open Panel. The Programa panel will appear.
Click Sign in with Programa. This opens the authorization page in your browser.
Complete the sign-in flow, then return to SketchUp.
2. Linking your SketchUp file to a Programa project
In the Programa panel, click the project dropdown.
Choose the project you want to link this file to.
Click Connect.
You'll know the connection is successful when the green dot flashes next to your project name.
Once connected, you'll see all of the items saved in your Programa product library for that project.
3. Finding items in your library
You have two ways to find what you need:
Search — type into the search bar at the top of the panel.
Filter — use the filter options (these are the same filters available in your Programa product library on the web).
4. Placing a 3D model from your library
Items in your library that already have a 3D file attached will show a 3D icon in the top-right corner of the item card.
To place one in your model:
Find the item in the panel (using search or filter).
Click the download icon on the item card.
Paste it into the desired location in your SketchUp model.
5. Finding a 3D model when your library item doesn't have one
Not every product in your library will have a 3D file attached. The extension makes it easy to find a visually similar model from 3D Warehouse and link it to your library item.
Search your library for the product (e.g. "mixer").
On the item with no 3D icon, click the three-dot menu.
Select Search 3D Warehouse. The extension will return hyper-relevant results.
Choose the model you like and click the download button. This syncs the 3D component to the extension window.
Click download again to paste it into the desired location in your SketchUp model.
6. Applying a material or finish from your library
You can use any image saved against a product in your Programa library as a SketchUp material — perfect for tiles, timber, stone, and other patterned finishes.
Example: applying a terrazzo tile
In the Programa panel, search for the material (e.g. "tile").
Find the product you want (e.g. your terrazzo).
Click the three-dot menu and choose Add to materials panel. A material swatch preview appears.
If the product has multiple images, use the arrows to choose which image you want to use as the swatch.
When the right swatch is showing, click Select swatch, then Add to materials.
A success message appears — click Find to open SketchUp's Colors / Materials panel.
Select the face in your model you want to apply the finish to. The material is now applied.
7. Applying a flat paint color from your library
Paint swatches in your library often sit on a background (e.g. a styled photo). If you apply the whole image as a material, you'll get repeating blobs, which isn't what you want. Use the color picker to grab just the paint color instead.
Search your library for the paint (e.g. "paint").
Choose the color you want.
Click the three-dot menu → Add to materials panel.
In the swatch preview, click the dropdown next to "Pick a color". This opens your color picker.
Select the eyedropper tool and click the part of the swatch with your desired color.
Click Select swatch → Add to materials.
The color is now in your Materials panel. Select the face in your model and apply the color.
8. Locating an inserted product in a large model
When you're working in a big file, it's easy to lose track of where you've placed something. The Find in model option selects every instance of a product across your file.
In the Programa panel, search for the product you want to locate (e.g. "mixer").
Click the three-dot menu on that item.
Select Find in model.
Every instance of that 3D component in your SketchUp workspace will be selected — if you've placed 10 mixers, all 10 are selected at once.
Quick reference
What you want to do | How to do it |
Open the extension | Extensions tab → Programa → Open Panel |
Sign in | Click Sign in with Programa in the panel |
Connect to a project | Project dropdown → choose project → Connect (green dot = connected) |
Place a 3D model from your library | Click the download icon on the item, then paste in place |
Find a 3D model for a library item that doesn't have one | Three-dot menu → Search 3D Warehouse → download |
Apply a material/tile | Three-dot menu → Add to materials panel → Select swatch → Add to materials → Find |
Apply a flat paint color | Add to materials panel → Pick a color dropdown → eyedropper → Add to materials |
Locate all instances of a product in your file | Three-dot menu → Find in model |
Feedback and support
We're actively improving the extension and want to hear from you.
Found a bug, a UX friction point, or have a feature request? Please email team@programa.com or reach out via live chat in app.