Organization of LayOut files, general question: Is it best to have a separate file for each sheet of a drawing set? This is recommended by Sanders/ Dooley in MasterSketchup books. If this is best practice, are there any pitfalls to be aware of?
Thanks,
Sam Harrison
I think it depends on what your project is. I get the idea of splitting up LayOut projects into multiple files for the types of projects Nick Sonder (not Sanders) does. For my projects, a single LayOut file makes more sense.
I have separate Layout files for different sheet types, so, one file for General Arrangements, another for Existing Conditions, Proposed Arrangements and so on.
My architectural project is small–a garage-ADU conversion. As-builts and remodeling CDs. I, wrongly, said “each page.” Sonder says “page sets.” For this project, perhaps a reduced set of templates:
.These page-set templates could be in play for future small projects. These files would all be smaller than one big file, but I don’t have a feel for how big any of them might be. My building model is 176 mb. My Mac Mini M1 8gb runs the beachball frequently.
Being new to SketchUp and therefore not having printed anything, is there written or video guidance and how to go to print?
(First error, wrote “Sanders” and “Donley,” second, failed to observe spell-check autocorrects.) Thanks for noting, DaveR.
Thank you,
Sam Harrison
So splitting the file up in those sets might make sense for you. The key is to ensure that when you have updates to the model, you update every file that is affected. the more files you have the more likely you’ll create conflicts between files after changes. Develop a solid workflow to ensure you don’t wind up with conflicts and errors.
The SketchUp model file usually makes up the bulk of the LayOut file size. Sheet count won’t make much difference.
Just a guess, but I imagine your model could use some optimization. You definitely want a clean model before you go to LayOut. That’ll help keep things working more smoothly.
I would start with the tutorials at learn.sketchup.com
As for going to print, once you have the LO file complete, use File>Export>PDF and export the thing. Probably the most instructive thing would be to create a sample LO project, export it to PDF, and then print it so you can get a feel for how things look in LayOut, in the PDF, and on paper.
I second DaveR’s suggestion of optimizing your model before going into LO.
Some plugins I found that make the biggest impact in optimizing your SU files are:
Material Resizer by Trimble… I can not over emphasize how much of a difference this plugin makes in controlling image data within your SU model. I was able to reduce 120Mb SU files down to 60Mb with this plugin alone! Essentially if you inserted either a material or a component with a material with an unnecessarily huge image associated with it, this plugin helps you quickly reduce its size. Save a copy of your model and test to make sure you are not over reducing the images. I find between 512px for the majority and 1080px for larger images such as marble walls works for me.
CleanUp3 by ThomThom… The main feature I use is the Merge Faces. This is great for cleaning up your own geometry as well as imported component geometry.
Purge… Go to Model Info - Statistics - Show nested Components and Purge Unused. Note this will remove all not used Tags, Styles, Components, Materials…
MeshLab… Not a plugin but a free standalone program that can be used to simplify 3D entities. I’ve used this when I find an 3D asset that I like, but has way too much detail. Depending on your needs, you might be able to reduce an assets faces and vertices to 10% the original.
Use best practices and only model the level of detail that you need. Sometimes remodeling a downloaded asset to a more simplified version is the way to go, such as a toilet or a sink.
Back to your main question, If the SU model is large, you are probably better off breaking the LO files into groups. If you can get the model small, say less than 20Mb to 30Mb, then you might be able to have everything in one LO file and not suffer the consequences of slow reference updates.
Thank you four times over, DaveR. It has taken this time to realize I have to tap on my query to see replies! 
You’re quite welcome.
BTW, you should be able to set notifications in your forum profile so you are alerted to replies.
Thank you for the suggestions, ArchyVR! I will finally try plug-ins and purging.
Apropos Merge Faces: Wnen applying a texture, I find it difficult to make one continuous surface, where there is a collection of planar groups intending make up a single plane, say of an exterior wall. Part of this is that when I want to apply a texture—corrugated steel, in this case—I group a single=face geometry, tag it “paint primer” and then apply the texture. The difficulty, I have had is keeping all the edges in the same plane as I trace the edge lines of the entities comprising the wall. Does the Merge Faces feature of CleanUp3 help with this kind of thing?
Merge Faces will remove coplanar edges separating faces that lie on the same plane AND when the geometry is in the same context (group or component.) It won’t merge them if they are in separate groups.
No Problem Samuel 
As for the lines being out-of-plane, there are two tricks you can try.
Hope that helps.
That you see the model file name gives me hope. Perhaps it will do the same for me when I reopen LO. I neglected to say that after your reply to another member clued me in on NOT having VPs on a shared layer I corrected for that. It took me a minute or two to find the Move to layer… command.
BTW, I only tried to see the model dilemma in the one Floor Plan. I’ll post again in the morning.
Many thanks!
Sam