I can’t see how to make a group unique. Components are ok, they have a “make unique” command, however groups not.
Let’s see if this can help explain with pictures. Remember my objective is to use one base model, then create a number of variations, which I can see in different scenes. I want to start each variation with a base model. So I want to copy the base model 10 times, and then modify each copy. Then scene 1 shows variation 1, and hides 2-10, scene 2 shows only variation 2 etc.
My model contains NO components.
here you can see i have only layer 4 showing, and I can confirm that ALL the groups, sub groups, and parts of those groups are on layer 4.
I then copy the group called V4 which is my base:
I then rename it to V5, and tag the selected “outer” group to layer 5.
I now try to hide layer 4, so I should see only the new copied model. but, it’s empty. I can see the selection box, however not the contents.
So I turn back on layer 4, select all the sub groups (however one can’t select their sub groups) and set them to layer 5
And then turn layer 4 off again, I see “some” more of original model
I now select one of the sub groups, “Rooms” and then edit it and do select all (same as selecting all it’s direct group children) and change to layer 5
And now toggle layer 4 off again, and I see some more of my copied element…
So basically you have to go into every group, and select all it’s contents, and set to the new layer, and then do that for every group inside every group and so on…
Depending on the complexity of the model, this could take hours, per copy…
So this is why I really would want to see a “change layers of this and all child elements” option within Sketchup… I know I am not the only one to ask.
If there’s some other way to achieve my requirement, then great, however so far it seems installing ruby plugins and so on is the only answer?