# Animate Nested DC components **URL:** \ **Category:** Dynamic Components\ **Created:** [September 12, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914 "2026-09-12T19:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SeanM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SeanM](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SeanM)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914/1 "2026-09-12T19:04:30Z")
Hello, I am trying to animate a component so that its separates into its constituent parts. I can get the first (parent) DC to “come out” (the Assy), but I am unable to get the nested components to separate when I click into the subsequent component layers. It usually shoots the component way off, or it bounces, or both. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/5/f/7/5f74f3c214b773f4fae71c8c9d45e5be7f38373e.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/b/b/7/bb763b38c50c93ddfbb03a5a5b0d2a1772e383e3.jpeg) I am also trying to export this to an .mp4. But when I save the scenes, it wont maintain which state the DC is in. All the scenes just play showing what ever state the component happens to be in. ( I think Ill just start another thread for this when I sort out my first issue). ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914/2 "2026-09-12T22:49:45Z")
> [@SeanM](#): > > All the scenes just play showing what ever state the component happens to be in. That’s normal behavior. The scenes show the current position of the component. If you want to animate the object between scenes you need to make copies of it and give each one its own tag. Then change tag visibility between scenes. Here’s some screenshots from a model I animated.Compare the visible tags. ![Screenshot - 9_12_2026 , 5_52_14 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/5/1/8/518f5d74979e08e0c0274882cb62cee97dce9144.png) ![Screenshot - 9_12_2026 , 5_52_40 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/8/7/1/8713e8bef44ef7b10820629a8a80582ae7383cab.png) ![Screenshot - 9_12_2026 , 5_52_55 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/b/c/2/bc24b39e5d793388cdfd676510f18552cce362db.png) And the resulting animation: [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/5/f/5f756b5d1e8953254e9c98f361affac3651fd7e7.jpeg)](https://flic.kr/p/2prXvhz) ---
**Author:** ![pcmoor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/pcmoor/32/3427_2.png) [@pcmoor](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/pcmoor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914/3 "2026-09-13T07:49:01Z")
Dave’s explanation is the only native way! or approach with scenes. Unless the DC code was ever to become native, which is unlikely. That is, DCs require the activate to redraw, it is an extension (ruby script), an indirect connection. So, as you experience, there is no trigger to cause the change. ---
**Author:** ![SeanM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SeanM](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SeanM)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914/4 "2026-09-13T19:13:03Z")
Thanks gentlemen. That’s what I thought, that the scenes could not save states. The AI Assistant seemed to indicate that it could, so I wasn’t sure. I thought maybe something changed since I haven’t used SU in a few years. I have made all my previous scene animations using layers as you’ve pointed out. Now if I could just get this fricken DC thing to animate. But if I still have to make copies, and put on individual layers, and turn layers on and off, there is little point in actually making it interactive. Once again, much obliged for your insight. ---
**Author:** ![pcmoor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/pcmoor/32/3427_2.png) [@pcmoor](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/pcmoor)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/animate-nested-dc-components/349914/5 "2026-09-14T00:33:15Z")
In regard to onclick, they must be all on same level, otherwise parent will always override I suggest using a counter/timeline with custom animate, say 10000 points over 10 seconds then use conditional statements to access and move items at any or multiple points over various periods ```auto parent onclick =animatecustom("points"10,0,0,0,10000) points 0 child 1 x = if (and(parent!points>0, parent!points<100), parent!points,100) z = if (and(parent!points>0, parent!points<100), parent!points/4,25) child 2 y = if (and(parent!points>50, parent!points<300), parent!points-50,250) ``` please upload file for further help and context