I’m coming back to SketchUp (Pro subscription) for the first time since it was owned by Google and the thing that’s driving me around the bend is trying to work out how to set xyz dimensions explicitly for any object when creating or editing it: for example, I’m trying to create a box 12.35mx8mx7.3m and everything I try either scales the whole rough object or just one face, neither of which I want. I’m sure I’m missing something obvious, but extensive searching has failed to give me an answer.
The most logical thing would be to create the box that size to start with. Draw a rectangle making it 12.35 by 8 and use Push/Pull to add the third dimension of 7.3.
If you’ve already drawn a randomly sized box, you can use Scale in several steps to get the dimensions you want or Push/Pull or Move. I’m guessing you’re really thinking of something more complex than a box, though. The exact process of resizing it depends on exactly what it is and what dimensions really need to be changed.
Thanks - what I was hoping for was a way to adjust the core dimensions of any object after its creation - the case in point is having designed a room of the dimensions noted and later wanting to add 0.5m to its length (as an example. The only way I can see to do it is to select each face and edit it individually, which seems a complete nonsense.
It depends on exactly how you’ve creaed the model. Might be that Scale will work if you do it correctly but scaling might scale things you don’t want scaled. Maybe the Move tool would be a better option.
You can scale to specific dimensions if that’s the way you want to work.
And just maybe you need to look elsewhere for a different application that works the way you want to work.
As our architect also uses SketchUp, I’m rather stuck with it. It’s a strange combination of some very smart features and and absolute failure to understand how 3D modelling works.
Yes I really do think someone doesn’t quite get it.
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it’s ok, we’ve all been there at some point, you could start by the basic training courses I suppose
(or a training session with an actual professor, i’ve trained enough people to tell you, it works well)
learning a new software is akin to learning a new language. sure, it doesn’t follow the same logic that you’re used to, but it doesn’t mean it’s bad logic. just different.
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The Move Tool is your friend in such a case.
Click in sequence on the scenes tabs of this SU file for ideas.
Extendind a room.skp (249.3 KB)
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