Why there is nothing expressed on the screen to constrain an object for moving. Why do we have to use the arrow key. Unable to understand the wisdom behind it.
“To constrain the Move tool in SketchUp Pro to a specific axis, simply press the corresponding arrow key while using the Move tool; the left arrow key locks to the green axis, the up arrow key locks to the blue axis, and the right arrow key locks to the red axis, allowing you to move an object only along that chosen axis.”
There are indicators on screen when you are moving in a given plane, the dotted line you are moving on turns the color of the axis you are moving in, this can be done without locking an axis with the arrow keys. If you do want to lock an axis the arrow keys are the most efficient method of doing this. What are you confused about? You are wishing there was an onscreen button to push with your mouse pointer instead? How would you lock axis while simultaneously moving an object on screen? I’m unable to understand your question.
Red and blue are very logic, completely conform your screen.
Since your keyboard is only 2D they had to find some other way to lock to green and decided on the [left arrow] key.
Ok I see it. I had to hold the arrow key down while moving for a constrain to work. Why it does not show the axis the constraint is applied to? Many times I have moved it in the wrong axis without noticing it. It will be helpful to have the locked axis constraint indicated on the screen.
Ideally, move tool should have a selection on screen to select the axis. I think!
You do not need to hold the key down. The arrow keys are toggles, press and release once to lock an inference on, press again to unlock that inference, or press a different arrow key to lock another plane.
There is an onscreen indicator, the dotted line onscreen line becomes bold and turns the color of the direction.
First I move without arrow keys, see the dotted line turning green and red when i’m on axis?
Then I hit an arrow key to lock the move tool to the green axis, see the line turn bold green to indicate lock?
Perfect. Yes I tested it and it is working perfectly.
The problem I faced is that, if you select only one face of the cuboid and try to move it to elongate it then if you press the wrong axis arrow key it will deform the cube. That is why I was suggesting axis constraint indicator will be helpful.
Well yes, moving ungrouped geometry will often result in deformation.
To move - and not deform, either pre select the whole cube, or group it before moving it.
Maybe I did not make suggestion clear enough
So upon clicking the arrow key corresponding two sided arrow pops up along the axis or somewhere.
Even when moving a single face of connected geometry the bold dotted line in the axis color clearly shows when an axis is locked.
yeah, I thought the fact that all movement was restricted to one axis was clear enough for people to understand what was going on…
Ace, could you record your screen to show us what’s not working in your opinion?
Yes I understand that but I am saying that when you click the constraint ARROW key it should be indicated on the screen that you have the constrained on PRIOR to selecting and moving the object.
well pressing on an arrow PRIOR to selecting and moving an object will have no effect anyway, since you need to start moving for constraint to become relevant…
and pressing on the arrow AFTER selecting and moving will have an effect onscreen.
Select object
Click Arrow key
(WOULD like to see the constraint Axis on the screen)
Before moving. So I always know what direction I am moving the object prior to moving
sure, but how is sketchup supposed to know that you want a moving constraint unless you press the move tool ? maybe you want to rotate, should it lock the plane AND the axis ?
Sketchup needs to know what tool you plan on using in order to display the relevant inferences…
but anyways. you should look at Curic Gizmo. it would solve some of your issue with the locking thing 
by jove, that’s it ! all this time I didn’t want to understand !
thanks chap.
Let me try to rewrite the above
Select object for example a CUBOID
Click Arrow key ON the keyboard
(WOULD like to see the constraint Axis INDICATED on the screen)
Before moving
So I do not move the object accidently in the wrong direction
Why are you working so hard fighting how it works?
The cursor keys lock inference for more than just the Move tool.
Select object for example a CUBOID
Get the Move tool
Click Arrow key ON the keyboard
There is no reason the CUBOID would accidently move in the wrong direction.
If you are getting lost and wanting to know which axis is which direction, consider SketchUp>Preferences>Drawing>Miscellaneous> Display Crosshairs. Then you will see each axis immediately every time you use the move tool, prior to moving.
You won’t ‘accidentally’ move the object once you practice and work with how the tool works.
And if you do ‘accidentally’ move something - let me introduce you to my little friend:
CTRL + Z
Did you notice that if you start moving something locked to red but change your mind - you can just tap the left arrow for green and it will start moving that way… or blue, or red again.
Please try to use the tools before you decide to ask the dev team to rewrite how it’s been working for 20+ years…
“Then you will see each axis immediately every time you use the move tool, prior to moving.”
I see the axis with dotted lines only after I start to moving the object.