I’ve read the Help article which clearly states that I should be able enter precise dimensions in the Measurements Toolbar.
When I create a new rectangle (for example) after the first corner is clicked I see the Dimensions change as I draw it out. I can’t however edit that field it’s always read only!!
What am I missing?
I’ve struggled more with Sketchup’is interface than I ever did with 3DSMax, Blender AutoCAD or Lightwave!!!
Simply start drawing your rectangle then take your hand off the mouse and type the measurements you want in mid air and hit enter. Don’t attempt to click in the measurement window.
Thanks for that mate, it’s super unintuitive!!!
Anyway now that I’ve created a plane, where do I see it’s dimensions?
After triple clicking the plane I see that it is all ‘selected’ but the Measurements box is blank.
Again, sorry for the basic questions but I’m really trying hard to get started with this tool…
Right click, Entity info.
Or Window/Entity info.
Thanks but no that doesn’t work.
If I select the plane (triple clicking) when I bring up the Entitiy Info it just shows:
5 Entities
Layer0
Hidden
(can’t post more than one image)
If I just select the face of the plane and click Entity Info I get this:
I still can’t see the dimensions of this plane I just drew.
What am I missing!?
Jim
You will have to manually draw the dimensions on using the dimensions tool, although these will only be visible on the model not in the entity info.
There is an extension that you can use however which gives you the dimensions of a selected component or group in a pop up box (see [Plugin] jf_get_dimensions.rb • sketchUcation • 1
I don’t think @JimDiGritz is asking about the dimensions tool but the scale tool.
Edit: example
Aidan Chopra explains how to enter precise values in SketchUp.
Thanks for your replies.
I’m not making myself clear!!
I want to see how big a shape is (in this case a simple plane).
For example I create a plane 4m x 3.2m.
After creating it I realise that I might have made a mistake and keyed in 4m x 3.3m.
How do I quickly check that the dimensions of the plane that I have just created are indeed 4m x 3.2m?
I’d expect the program to show me the dimensions of an object when I select it.
I’m not looking to resize/rescale it.
Jim
With entity info open, click an edge, it will say 4m, then click the other edge and it will say 3.2m if that is what it is. Clicking the face will give you the area, an edge the length, multiple edges the combined length etc etc
You can use “Element Stats” (part of Fredo tools) e.g. …
It does…
But the “object” you’re looking for doesn’t exist.
The Rectangle tool creates four coplanar Edges and a Face.
However, there is no “rectangle” Entity in SketchUp nor is there a “plane” Entity.
Keep the Entity Info dialog open while modeling.
There, you’ll learn the terminology and properties of the Entities you’re working with.
Thanks, so SketchUp can’t tell me the dimensions of a Face then? I have to look at the Entity info for each Edge… really?
Since a Face is a constrained planar surface I would expect to be able to see the bounding dimensions as well as the discrete edge dimensions that constrain it…
A rectangle is the simplest type of face, and you might expect to be able to get the width and height. But, the majority of faces are not rectangles. Entity Info is showing the value that all faces of any type have, which is its area.
One other tool to know about is the tape measure. If you select a length edge of your rectangle and discover that it’s the wrong length, you can use the tape measure to create a guide line at the correct distance from one end of the rectangle. You can then select the other end’s width edge and use the Move tool to move it to where the guide line is.
Also, if you realize you made a mistake, without selecting another tool, you can re-enter the new values, and again without clicking in the dimensions textbox.
Entity Info displays the Area of a Face.
There’s nothing unique in SketchUp about a rectangular Face or any other shaped Face; it’s just a Face.
In its elemental form, a Face requires a closed loop of three coplanar Edges… by definition, a triangle.
On the other hand, a Face might be supported by any combination of Edges, Curves (polylines) and Arcs.
No, simply glance at Measurements box.
The last dimensions you type and hit Enter are the dimensions of the rectangle.
And notice those dimensions remain visible there in the box until you exit the tool.
You’re welcome to go back and check with the Tape Measure or Entity Info, but why live in the past?
Among SU’s many strengths is speed.
Did you ever find a better way of doing this? I too am trying SketchUp from a background of using other programs and it’s pretty amazing to me that you’ve made a rectangle, but now we will never let you see the dimensions of said rectangle again.
It knows the area of my rectangle when I select that; it knows the lengths of the edges when I select them - hard to see why this wouldn’t just be combined…
Geo, I am intending to use SU, if I find it suits my workflow, for doing woodworking plans. So in my case “living in the past” would actually be more like “measure twice”. It’s never safe to assume everyone is using a program or has the same workflow as you.
Ricki, there are a number of ways to get the dimensions of the rectangle if you need to know it. The method used would depend on various factors. When is it that you want to know that dimension? What will you do with that information when you get it? There’s the Tape Measure tool, the Dimension tool, Entity Info and a number of plugins/extensions that could give you that info.
My primary use for SketchUp is woodworking. Examples here if you want to see them. In my SketchUp workflow, I don’t usually care to know what the dimensions of most parts are until the end. I enter dimensions when needed but I don’t have to enter that many while drawing. I establish the outside corners of the project and draw everything to fit inside. For example, if I have the legs of a table placed correctly, I don’t need to know the shoulder to shoulder distance on the apron. I just draw the apron to fit between the legs. I can get the overall length of the apron when I need to know it but I don’t need to know it while drawing it.
Well, this is entirely experimental at this stage (for me, anyway), but one of the things I’m hoping to use it for is to layout templates for laser cutting, which is why I’m thinking it should be very precise.
Re: furniture, this is also something I’m interested in using it for, and I see your point about the measurements there, that makes sense. I had a look at your work too - can I ask, is that the level of output from the free version, or did you do the upgrade?
Daves work is outstanding but is not related to the version of sketchup used.