I’m trying to learn SketchUp using a MacBook Pro. The trackpad doen’t seem to work very well. I’ve tried SketchUp Web and the download desktop version. Without getting too long-winded (it’s been a frustrating couple of days) can someone please give me advice on whether I can use a trackpad? The tutorials don’t seem to help much, they’re either out of date, or don’t work. Any help would be most gratefully appreciated!
I don’t use a trackpad, nor do I have a Mac… however, this may help:
- there is a help article:
Trackpad Controls | SketchUp Help
- and a dedicated topic:
(The recommended hardverre is still a 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse.)
You can switch between mouse or the trackpad navigation (and change settings) using the 3rd icon on the lover left corner of the web interface:
Thanks for this, that’s very helpful. I’m hoping to use the trackpad on the download desktop version of Sketch Up as well. If anyone has any info about how to use trackpad on that version?
The desktop app is built around mouse input events. So, with a couple of exceptions, it will only respond to touchpad inputs that by default generate the same events, for example tap (left button), ctrl-tap or two finger tap (right button), two finger up or down (scroll), drag, etc. unfortunately, gestures such as pinch or spread don’t work. Orbit is hooked into ctrl-drag (or is it cmd-drag? I use it rarely enough that I forget) and pan happens if you start orbit and then press shift. @colin often works via touchpad when traveling and can probably give you more suggestions.
Thanks for this. Will save me a lot of time looking for functionality that doesn’t exist!
I use SketchUp Pro with trackpad. You can orbit moving your fingers (3) and presing CTRL and CMD at the same time. When you start orbiting you can release the keys pressed. If you press CTRL + CMD + SHIFT you can pan. (I prefer to press “h” instead pressing 3 keys.
You can zoom in and out with two fingers.
Left and right press is as ususal in Mac.
Brilliant, thanks!
On occasion I have to use SketchUp using only a trackpad on macOS, and here’s a hidden “feature” that I find invaluable: you can turn on “Three Finger Drag” which means you can move windows with just a single hand and no modifier keys or extra taps, and you don’t have to “press” or click the trackpad itself. You can find this in System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options and there’s a small toggle to turn on Three Finger Drag.
I don’t know why Apple hid this so deep in an obscure place, but it’s a game changer for me. Now with the orbit tool, three finger drag orbits the model, and two finger zooms in/out, holding shift pans, and two-finger tap is right-click. It becomes almost as efficient as a mouse.
Also, turn on “Tap to click” in the Trackpad settings. That will make clicking easier as you won’t have to actually press the trackpad anymore. It’ll be more like a touchscreen or phone.
To navigate your model efficiently you’re going to have to make use of hotkeys. Especially to swap between Orbit and other tools, like Select, Move, etc. In general, don’t rely on clicking toolbar buttons to pick tools and you’ll save tons of time on a trackpad.
I also use the three-finger option, and when combined with the Control-Command shortcut you can set an orbit going with a brief touch with three fingers, and a short hold of control and command. After it is going you can release everything except one finger, and gently stroke the trackpad to continue orbiting. While that is going on you can press or release Shift to get in or out of pan.
It’s a lot less effort than pressing and holding a mouse wheel down.
I actually dislike the tap to click option, which is frequently on by default on PCs. I find that if I drag-move, release, drag-move again, it’s often taken to be a tap to click.