I just started using SketchUp and the object dimensions are not showing up as I’m drawing objects.
I just started using SketchUp and the object dimensions are not showing up as I’m drawing objects.
How can I turn on the object dimensions?
What do you mean by “object dimensions”? Dimensions aren’t automatically added to the model as you create it. There is a Dimension tool that you can use to place dimensions.
Share an example SketchUp file so we can see what you are working with.
Do you mean the measurements window?
Aloha Francisquito and Dave,
For some reason the object measurement window was not showing up in Sketchup for iPad and Sketchup Web.
It’s working now.
The next thing that i’m trying to figure out is how to turn on and set the snap setting. This feature is critical for designing so the objects are snapped to the nearest inch or foot-depending on what I am designing. Please let me know how to turn on the Snap feature when working in Sketchup for iPad and Sketchup Web.
Thank you,
John
There is no grid snapping in SketchUp and for precise modeling it is recommended that you leave Length Snapping turned off. By default, Length Snapping is enabled in the web version. I believe it’s the same for SketchUp for iPad. You can adjust the length snapping interval in Model Info,
Again, for accurate and precise modeling you should turn Length Snapping OFF.
Hey @DaveR, I’m curious, why you suggest turning off length snapping for more accurate modeling? Assuming I was ok snapping to the specified lengths, wouldn’t that be more likely to ensure accuracy without the need to type in absolute dimension?
First of all I am not the only one who suggests turning Length Snapping off.
User after user has proven that having Length Snapping enabled actually results in imprecise modeling. I’ll give you the fun of searching through the forum for threads in which users are complaining because dimensions aren’t what they expect them to be with Length Snapping being the culprit. If you are OK with imprecise models, go ahead and use Length Snapping if it makes you happy. If all you’re doing is concept models with no need to extract accurate dimensional information from it, maybe Length Snapping is fine for your modeling.
The general wisdom is to leave Length Snapping turned off and enter precise dimensions as needed. If you are creating objects where they will exist in the the model you can accurately use existing parts of the model for inferencing if what you’ve already modeled is created precisely.
I will add that if accurate and precise information is needed from the SketchUp model, it’s a whole lot easier to create the model that way than it is to go back and fix a sloppy model.
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Ah, yes I can see from several forum posts here there are documented conflicts with length snapping. Thanks for sage advice 
.
I’ve had success myself using the feature in 2D plan drafting, mostly orthogonal spaces, which I now see may be the ideal environment for maintaining accuracy. I can also see from the threads that once you add angles, inferences, and the 3rd dimension, that length snapping can get unpredictable. Even though I’m certain my colleagues already are aware of the issues raised here on the forum, I’ll be taking what I’ve learned back to them. Thanks for the clarifications @DaveR
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Length snapping causing so many issues when I start teaching or consulting with my clients… it really needs to be turned off. We aren’t building with pixel grids like I would a website or phone app. Users need to be able to accurately model and inference using proper input, not watching the measurements box and hoping that the snap works as intended.
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For 2 decades.
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