SketchUp Flustration

[way77]

Flustered frustration = Flustration.

I have a love /hate w this program most of it centered around this sample scenario. For a current project, I mapped out a room and built a desk. The desk is placed against a wall. Later I wanted to move it over 10" or so. You make the selection, and then when you move it it, either moves parts of the wall or leaves facets of the desk behind that didn't get selected. I think this is a huge design flaw in how SU treats groups. If you draw a rectangle and extrude it SU should automatically treat this as a group. You may say build the desk part somewhere else, group it and move it into place. That's not always possible. Am I missing something here?

As a sidenote I recently used a trial version of Bonzai 3d which is a remarkable program. When you draw an object it treats it as one piece. This is a solid modeler so that has something to do with it. It just seems that once you draw something in SU, it's almost impossible to make changes or design alterations.

[Gaieus]

SU always treats loose geometry the way you describe. You can build any separated geometry right in place, just pay attention to some basic rules. If you start making a desk inside the room already (by the way, why not group the building first?) so any way, on a loose plane, I guess you start with say a rectangle. When you are done with the rectangle, double click on it > Make group and from then on, work on the group in edit mode. It will even take care of gluing it on the face (say the floor) you start it on, so you won't risk sinking it into the floor or moving above when moving it around the room but it will always be on the floor plane.

[david_h]

@way77 said:

Flustered frustration = Flustration
Great Sniglet By the way.

[dcauldwell]

way77

If its any consolation, after years of using SU I still have to keep reminding myself "group", "group", "group".
I think the ease of use of SU lulls you with its simplicity - then suddenly you realise you have created a spiders web of complexity, and unraveling it can be a nightmare (does this sound heartfelt - it should!)

David

[way77]

Thanks for your help. I experimented a bit w what you suggested. I drew a rectangle, R click to make group, then R click to edit group. It draws a larger dotted line box around it. I then drew another box and the dotted line expanded to include it also. Why is it doing this? I think the Matrix has me (again!).

@gaieus said:

SU always treats loose geometry the way you describe. You can build any separated geometry right in place, just pay attention to some basic rules. If you start making a desk inside the room already (by the way, why not group the building first?) so any way, on a loose plane, I guess you start with say a rectangle. When you are done with the rectangle, double click on it > Make group and from then on, work on the group in edit mode. It will even take care of gluing it on the face (say the floor) you start it on, so you won't risk sinking it into the floor or moving above when moving it around the room but it will always be on the floor plane.

[pilou]

Group and name!
When you will have hundreds and thousands of objets you will give thanks to me

[brodie]

You can click an open space outside that dotted box to exit from the group
-Brodie

[Ecuadorian]

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

(sketchup.google.com)

[dedmin]

Yes, SU is simple, but it is always a good idea to read the manual...

[david_h]

@unknownuser said:

reminding myself "group", "group", "group".
I think the ease of use of SU lulls you with its simplicity - then suddenly you realise you have created a spiders web of complexity

Isn't this why they gave us OUTLINER? Not that I think OL is the end-all beat-all of organizers, but it has helped me in these very conveluted situations once I got Used to using it.