Here is something that can drastically affect model size.
I used CabMaker 3 extension and inserted 14 cabinets into the model. Most of the parts are components. I then saved the file as kitchen_1 size 6,369 K.
I then opened the Component Inspector and chose In Model. It took just under 3 minutes to display all the components in the inspector. For these 14 cabinets there are a total of 745 entries in the inspector. I then save the file as kitchen_2 size 18,512 K. There were 745 thumbnails - 1 for each component.
I then chose Components instead of In Model and closed the Inspector window.
I then opened the first file kitchen_1. In this case I left the Component Inspector closed. I created a simple cube and turned it into a component. After about 3 minutes I regained control. I then saved the file as kitchen_3. It is 18,518 K. I opened the component Inspector, chose in Model and within a second all 746 thumbnails appear.
It appears that Sketchup doesn't update the images when creating components within a script. Instead it does so after creating a component using the UI or when displaying the components in model.
[image: jbh6_kitchenascomponents.png]
I then installed a new version of CabMaker 3 which uses groups instead of components. I opened kitchen_2, selected all cabinets and ran the editor after which I purged. Then I opened the Component Inspector in Model which displayed a single component - the handle.
I then saved the file as kitchen_4 size 3,521 K. Sketchup is also more responsive and there are no apparent wait times when creating a component using the UI.
I would recommend to anyone working on very large projects to at least consider using groups - especially with nested containers that contain groups or components and no geometry. Of course there are situations where components make sense. Especially with geometry having high poly counts and where you want to make a change and have all copies change.
Too bad we don't have a way to tell Sketchup not to create an entry for components in the component inspector on a component basis.
[image: h14z_kitchenasgroups.png]