# The measurements box isn't letting me set the length of a line **URL:** \ **Category:** LayOut\ **Tags:** advice\ **Created:** [January 21, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096 "2021-01-21T18:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/1 "2021-01-21T18:28:58Z")
Not sure what’s up. The measurements box in the bottom right corner isn’t letting me type in it. Trying to simply set the length of the line. Am I missing something? Seems as tho it should be pretty cut and dry. NOTE: I am working on the tutorials/classes online so not sure if that might have something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/2 "2021-01-21T18:31:54Z")
A common problem for new users is that they click in the Measurements window prior to typing the dimension. Don’t do that. If you are doing something that allows a numeric input such as indicating the length of the edge you are drawing, you just type. Don’t get the cursor anywhere close to the Measurements window. Notice how the cursor stays up in the model space and never goes down into the Measurements window while I am drawing. This is in SketchUp but the same thing applies in LayOut if you are working there. (You posted in the LayOut category but it isn’t clear if that’s where you are working. ![line](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/2/f/2f2ec77dd5708a39a568e403cba1f1557a559f8a.gif) And in LayOut. ![line LO](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/e/9/e9c20d7ed303e1e2658ea4989cd1e8c1bc259263.gif) ---
**Author:** ![courtney.queripel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@courtney.queripel](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/courtney.queripel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/3 "2021-01-21T20:04:25Z")
What about changing the length of a line using the measurements box? I typed 5’ and without moving the cursor, typed 8’ which changed the length. Then without moving or pressing any other tool, I tried to type 4’ 6" but I wasn’t able to. Can I not change the line length endless number of times? ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/4 "2021-01-21T20:05:06Z")
> [@courtney.queripel](#): > > What about changing the length of a line using the measurements box? In Sketchup or in LayOut? ---
**Author:** ![courtney.queripel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@courtney.queripel](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/courtney.queripel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/5 "2021-01-21T20:11:41Z")
Yes, I am using the measurements box to type in values. Am pressing ENTER after typing in 5’, and then 8’. But after I pressed ENTER the second time, I wasn’t able to type a new value in the measurements box. In SKetchUp. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/6 "2021-01-21T20:15:06Z")
You should be able to type a new dimension in SketchUp if you don’t start a new line or a different tool. So you would type 5’ and press Enter. Change your mind, type 8’ and press Enter. ![line](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/e/8/e86a46e8b1db6d60198b10fec3116795e7221305.gif) ---
**Author:** ![courtney.queripel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@courtney.queripel](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/courtney.queripel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/7 "2021-01-21T20:33:48Z")
Yes, precisely. BUt what if I change my mind a second time and want to enter a third value for that line I am drawing? That is what I havent been able to do, despite the Fundamentals tutorial telling me I can. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:36pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/8 "2021-01-21T20:36:44Z")
You should be able to continue changing your mind as long as you don’t change the tool or move the cursor. You can see I went from 5’ to 8’ to 2’. Here you can see that in action. As soon as the cursor moves, though, the tool is on to drawing the next line and you can’t change the previous length just be typing a new length. ![line](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/2/c/2c0f638d83ab8b321f92ab071cb8867c41833886.gif) ---
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/9 "2021-01-21T21:55:15Z")
Yes its LayOut. And it’s simply not allowing me to type in the box. The numbers just stay highlighted blue the whole time ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/10 "2021-01-21T21:56:26Z")
> [@tiffanywindsorstyles](#): > > The numbers just stay highlighted blue the whole time Have you clicked in the Measurements window? ---
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/11 "2021-01-21T21:57:10Z")
I’ve tried clicking the measurements window and I’ve tried not clicking the measurements window ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/12 "2021-01-21T22:01:36Z")
Not clicking in it would be the right thing to do. I wonder if it’s a clicking thing. single click _and release_ to start the line. Without touching any buttons, move the mouse in the direction you want the line to go. Let go of the mouse and type the length and press Enter. In LayOut you don’t get to change your mind. You’d have to redraw the line. ---
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/13 "2021-01-21T22:08:51Z")
I’ve tried that. Doesn’t do a thing. Just stays highlighted \<0",0"\> ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/14 "2021-01-21T22:09:42Z")
Does it work in SketchUp? ---
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/15 "2021-01-21T22:13:39Z")
like a breeze no issues in sketch when I open the learning file entitled Drawing\_Tools\_v6 it does give me the following popup window… ![Screen Shot 2021-01-21 at 5.10.07 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/8/6/86e9cf5096fc8204253812359b7d7ef036de750a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/16 "2021-01-21T22:15:43Z")
That looks like it points to a pattern image which shouldn’t be a problem. What happens if you quit LayOut and then open it again and start a new file? ---
**Author:** ![tiffanywindsorstyles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tiffanywindsorstyles](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tiffanywindsorstyles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/17 "2021-01-21T22:22:18Z")
Man maybe it’s an issue with that learning file cause I opened a blank doc and used the drawing tool with measurements no problem. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/18 "2021-01-21T22:25:30Z")
Interesting. I sent you a PM. ---
**Author:** ![kartoffeln777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b4bc9f/32.png) [@kartoffeln777](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/kartoffeln777)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/19 "2022-08-20T15:13:49Z")
I had a similar issue to this and it turned out that it was because I had a chrome extension running (vimium) that used keyboard shortcuts and was overriding my ability to use Sketchup shortcuts as well as didn’t allow me to set the line length similar to your issue. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![bergmandkevin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@bergmandkevin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bergmandkevin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096/20 "2024-07-04T22:29:58Z")
Yep this did it for me [Next page](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/the-measurements-box-isnt-letting-me-set-the-length-of-a-line/150096.md?page=2)