How do I create a library of components that I have created that can then be used in other models that I create. I have a suspicion that I will need to first create the “library” location, and then move components from my various models that I want to reuse into the library. The videos that can find online only show how to do these tasks for releases after 2017 or are for a Mac. I an a windows user and am using the free version of SketchUp 2017 Make.
In the Details menu of the Components panel choose Open or Create a local collection. Create a new folder for your components. You can create multiple folders if you want and even subfolders to help with organization.
Where are your components at this point?
All my components are saved in the models in which they were created.
I figured out how to create the common components library.
- Created a new file folder called Common Components within the Sketchup - Components folder.
- Opened a model.
- Opened an In Model view of components and also beneath that the Common Components view.
- Etc …
X. Saved to Favorites
You can open the secondary pane in the Components panel. Set one pane to In Model and the other to your desired collection. Then drag the component thumbnail from In Model to the collection. You can add more components as you go along.
Example of my components. The list on the right are sub-folders within the Hardware folder. Some of those folders were created during demos and I need to clean them up.
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Hi Dave
Perfect! I have everything I need and am on my way. My client wants 3 bathroom vanities. Each is a slightly different width but the height and depth on all three is the same. So there are a lot of common components or components that only need a width dimension changed. I was able use the common component library I created to very efficiently create the second vanity.
I am looking forward to learning much more as I have signed up for your class via FWW that starts at the end of May.
Cheers and with thanks and gratitude.
Berkeley
Just pointing out that Make is not licensed for Commercial use.
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Good deal. I hope you find the class helpful.
As Box points out, you need to be using SketchUp Pro, not Make.
Hello Box and Dave
Thank you both! Box, I did not RTFP (Read the Fine Print) in the License so will be upgrading to Pro this afternoon.
Cheers and best wishes,
Berkeley
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Cool!
Another note on the components you create and save for later use: Set the component origin and axes to make insertion simple. Here are some of the knobs and pulls in my collection. All of them have the origins and axes positioned so they can be dropped easily and precisely on drawer fronts and doors.
Since the axes have the same relative location in all of the components, it’s also simple to replace one with another.
You could give components like these gluing properties. I usually don’t do that because they won’t align correctly when using intersecting guidelines to mark the location. I almost always model furniture with the front parallel to the red model axis so the component axes work fine for me. YMMV.
Hi Dave
Great suggestion and I immediately saw the benefits. I will have to research how you assigned the axes so I can start the same practice. If you can direct me to a page in Tim Killen’s Google SketchUp Guide for Woodworkers or the current version of SketchUp for dummies by A. Chopra and R. Huehls. Of course a link to a YouTube video would be best I would be very grateful.
Dave in looking at the examples, I am inferring that you place the axis on each component in a specific place that facilitates placing the component in a model. Is this correct?
Berkeley
PS: I just purchased a license for Pro before responding to you. I hope that when I download the application that there will be no problems in working with the models and components that I have already created.
Sorry. I don’t know if either of those sources have anything on this topic. I did something a million years ago showing how to do it, though.
Yes. That’s it exactly. When you bring a component in from the Components panel, you have ahold of it by the component’s origin and the component’s axes will be aligned with the model axes. In the case of the knobs and pulls, I placed the origin at the center and the red axis on the surface that would lie on the front face of the drawer or door.
There shouldn’t be any problem. Newer versions of SketchUp will open older .skp files with no problem. You will need to either make SketchUp 2022 look for the components where you saved them or copy them to the appropriate folder for SU2022. Each version of SketchUp installs as a separate application. The new version does not overwrite the older one.