# Hidden surfaces seem lost forever

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/hidden-surfaces-seem-lost-forever/16089>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Created:** [October 8, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/hidden-surfaces-seem-lost-forever/16089 "2015-10-08T21:20:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mmarcovitch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/mmarcovitch/32/102653_2.png) [@mmarcovitch](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/mmarcovitch)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/hidden-surfaces-seem-lost-forever/16089/1 "2015-10-08T21:20:34Z")

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In the attached file, I hid some of the exterior walls, but can no longer retrieve them. They appear gone. Any idea where they went and how to get them back?

[Night Hawks 3D.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/AoDdzRwEH9CNoBeUMbYRiR73LP0.skp) (269.0 KB)

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**Author:** ![TIG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/tig/32/198_2.png) [@TIG](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TIG)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/hidden-surfaces-seem-lost-forever/16089/2 "2015-10-08T21:42:16Z")

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Switch the View \> Hidden Geometry toggle ON  
You’ll see lots of dotted things - these are hidden objects.  
Select them and use the Context-menu \> Unhide.  
You are not using SketchUp’s tools sensibly.  
Make some Layers for things you want to be NOT seen.  
[ALWAYS leave Layer0 as ‘current’ and ON, never model edges/faces on any other Layer…]  
Select those objects [i.e. groups/components - BUT NOT edges/faces] and use Entity Info to assign those Layers to them.  
Then switch those Layers OFF.  
To see the objects again simply switch those Layers ON…  
Hiding objects is a recipe for confusion and panic.  
Only hide edges of abutting nested parts etc so the join is not seen.  
Use various Layers assigned to ‘containers’ for general control of visibility.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/b/bc943bd9bf6b3a64801245ed40a9dd3d7fbdf865.png)  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/2/254525bdeeb615803d643b33c5712e230ae5cb0e.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mmarcovitch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/mmarcovitch/32/102653_2.png) [@mmarcovitch](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/mmarcovitch)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/hidden-surfaces-seem-lost-forever/16089/3 "2015-11-04T00:09:44Z")

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Thanks! That does work when the hidden edges appear. But in my case, the hidden edges aren’t there either. Somehow, I think I actually deleted the parts. I re-drew all of them after exhausting all the options.