New Sketchup inferencing - making my life difficult

SketchUp
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Recently, Sketchup came out with an updated inferencing engine - which in many cases is great, I’m sure.
However, when a model gets complicated and I try to rotate things using the rotate tool - I have difficulties with the updated inferencing engine that I never had before - after years of use.

In my experience - this is what happens -
Say I want to rotate a model element parallel to the ground plane.
1. I hover the rotate tool over anything in the model that turns it blue
2. I press the SHIFT key and lock the inference plane
3. I move the rotate tool over to the thing I’m trying to rotate and click on the point of the element I want to be the center of rotation.
4. Sketchup ignores the point I clicked and forces it to rotate around the part of the model I used to infer my rotational plane. (step 2 above.)

Every once in a while I can get it to both infer the rotational plane and also allow me the freedom to choose a separate center of rotation, but not reliably. It’s especially difficult on complex models where there are a huge number of non-orthogonal elements near by.

Is there a sure fire way to accomplish this task under the updated inferencing engine? (infer rotational plane without losing control over center of rotation.)

Any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Aiden

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Have you tried toggling the blue axis rotation with the Up Arrow key instead of using Shift? That will lock the orientation without inferring to a reference plane. You don’t even need the reference plane to get the blue orientation, either. Right arrow for red, left for green. Use down for off-axis orientations. For those you’ll need a reference plane but it won’t be limited like the Shift key lock.

Shift still has its uses, too.

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Wow - that is so helpful. I will use that constantly. Thank you DaveR!

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FYI

5

Thanks Dan,

I did see that one a while ago - and am glad you suggested I review it.
I need to make a conscious effort to integrate new functionality into my workflow.
The down arrow key makes all the difference.

Have a great day and thanks for helping me.

Aiden

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