# How the offset tool is supposed to work

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Created:** [January 31, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644 "2016-01-31T17:05:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![olibara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@olibara](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/olibara)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/1 "2016-01-31T17:05:38Z")

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Hello  
I’m trying to use the ofset tool but no way !  
I draw a line  
I select the Ofset tool  
I put my mouse on the line  
I see a little red dot appearing  
But impossible to get a clone of my line  
Left Click & Drag  
Right Click & Drag  
Shift+Drag  
Ctrl+Drag  
Left,Right arrow  
Up, Down arrow  
Nothing works !

Is there any help somewhere ?

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**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/2 "2016-01-31T17:07:43Z")

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A single line cannot be offset. It can be copied.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![olibara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@olibara](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/olibara)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/3 "2016-01-31T17:10:33Z")

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Thank but I do no try first with a single line,

I first draw a rectangle then remove an edge of the rectangle  
And now I want to offset the remaining edges to create the wall of an open “box”

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**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:** [January 31, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/4 "2016-01-31T17:14:40Z")

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![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/2/2d266e2cc5793db6fa4d325df4df8585ad330726.gif)

Select all the edges.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/5 "2016-01-31T17:17:06Z")

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And again from a different angle.  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/e/e5446ffb436c99e76a98601178b89baf79b2eae4.gif)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![olibara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@olibara](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/olibara)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-the-offset-tool-is-supposed-to-work/19644/6 "2016-01-31T17:38:02Z")

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Thank you !  
Got it !

My mistake was to forget to select the open Rectangle  
Then I fall into the single line issue !