How to "snap to" objects from point to point
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The following is EXACTLY what I've been trying to do with objects in Sketchup.
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=153767
But it describes a feature in "Building Maker". There does not appear to be
a "snapping" button in my menu controls for basic sketchup pro 7.1
I can open the file in Layout, and Layout indeed has that snap object icon, but I still could
not figure out how to use it in this manner and could find no tutorial on the web. I'd also
prefer to simply be able to do this in Sketchup as I'm working.How do I accomplish this? I'd just like to select one point on one object,
another point on a second object, and simply have them join at precisely this point.
I labelled the two points I wish to connect so that the sawhorse is assembled properly.
Trying to select the leg, and then using the move function only gets it 'close' but it is never quite right.
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frascati, If you hover over snap point 1 until endpoint appears and click then move to snap point 2 and hover until endpoint appears and click, those two point have to be in the same location. FYI, SU8, free version, will not load .dwg files.
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Frascati, just enable the X-ray mode then select a piece, pick a point with the and move the object on to the right place. Here is the assembled SU model.
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You might find this to be helpful.
As described, you should be able to select the component you wish to move, get the Move tool and then grab the component at the point that will correspond to the destination point.
One other thing I would suggest is that as much as possible build models by drawing components in situ so that you don't need to spend as much time assembling the model.
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Thank you very much for the suggestions. I've tried them all, with mixed success. It still is the case that in Sketchup, the move function used alone, even with making component or using x-ray mode, is very very clunky. I would be very suprise if there were not some plug in available that allows simply what is described here for general work in Sketchup
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=153767...beggars the imagination that this is not in the regular tool set. I just downloaded the "mirror" plugin and it also blows my mind that this is not in the regular tool set. It saves soooooo much repeat work on most objects and it's very clean. It's a good example of a great refinement on the "move" function. Previously I'd cut paste rotate and attempt to ham hand the two together with the move funtion. It never quite meshed. With the "mirror" plugin it's just select, click the plugin, select three points, enter and viola. Perfection.
Why this can't be done object to object is curious indeed.
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If you are having difficulty moving a point on one component to correspond to a point on another, you could insert a guideline between the two points and then follow it with the Move tool. Personally I don't find using the Move tool to be problematic but that's probably due to practice.
As for mirroring, there are two native mirroring options available in SketchUp. they are Flip and Scale, -1. Both work quite well and I find they suit my needs for almost all mirroring applications. Because I mainly draw furniture which is nearly always symmetrical, I mirror components frequently. Rotating components for furniture is generally not the appropriate way to create the symmetrical counterparts.
All of the components except the top and the buttons in this model have mirrored counterparts. All mirroring was done with the Flip command.
As examples of creating mirrored components see the videos here and here.
The mirror plugin is excellent, too but I find Flip is generally faster for my needs. No need to pick any points for defining the mirroring plane.
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I can see both sides here. Likewise I find no problem myself in moving objects around to fit, or align with others using the various ref points that show up; however I have many customers who want to use sketchup, but are used to using AutoCAD or similar. In my experience snap references are biggest omission in SU world, and I struggle to change users over. They want to take my library, and insert products in precise locations easily, and perhaps with an orientation reference. Our product is very like meccano, or furniture, and could really benefit from this.
I remember when I started SketchUp I had to purge my mind of most other CAD preconceptions; in here we all know that was the best move we ever made, but we have to convince the rest !
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