Unable to set guidelines from face of component

Mac 10.5.5 using Maker Not experienced.
Tape tool will create guidelines on edges of component. Cannot create them on face whether or not using arrow key to fix to plane. They appear but when hit return to complete they disappear. View set to show guidelines and guidelines toggled on. Previously had no trouble and a few times today it gave me vertical guideline when I hit return.
Side issues: selected crosshairs for cursor, but only have standard, auto save not working (get error message saying could not save).

You just can’t create guides starting on a face, neither from raw nor from grouped faces.

Try this plugin for creating lines and guides.
Right-click popup menu to change the stipple pattern “on-the-fly”.

http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/s4u-linetool