The "Duh!" thread (aka the Doh! thread)

d12dozr

Found a cool one today.

Copy a line over and type 6" to set the distance. Then type *10 to array it 10 times.

What I already knew was that you can type *8 or *4 or whatever to adjust the number of arrayed items.

However I just found out that if you then type 3" or 10" it will keep your array but adjust the spacing. Pretty sweet!

-Brodie

I learned that just a couple months ago from Dave R at a local meetup

aarondietzen

Shift + Eraser to smooth...

I know that this has always been there, but I just discovered it recently (Duh!) thanks to another thread here... I cannot tell you how many times I have tweaked, and redone a push/pull or follow me command just to minimize the number of lines on a solid!

Ah... feels good to share my stupidity!

massimo

Ctrl+ eraser is to smooth. Shift+eraser is to hide.

aarondietzen

@massimo said:

Ctrl+ eraser is to smooth. Shift+eraser is to hide.

Stupidity x2!

thomthom

Ctrl+Erase = Soft+Smooth
Shift+Erase = Hide
Ctrl+Shift+Erase = Un-soft+Smooth (But not Unhide!)

TIG

@thomthom said:

Ctrl+Erase = Soft+Smooth
Shift+Erase = Hide
Ctrl+Shift+Erase = Un-soft+Smooth (But not Unhide!)
Use 'Entity Info' to manipulate selected edges' hidden/soft/smooth status OR alternatively use the context-menu 'Unhide' [or 'Hide']...

aarondietzen

@tig said:

@thomthom said:

Ctrl+Erase = Soft+Smooth
Shift+Erase = Hide
Ctrl+Shift+Erase = Un-soft+Smooth (But not Unhide!)
Use 'Entity Info' to manipulate selected edges' hidden/soft/smooth status OR alternatively use the context-menu 'Unhide' [or 'Hide']...

"Learn something new everyday!"

In this case... several new things.

pilou

@unknownuser said:

However I just found out that if you type 3" or 10" it will keep your array but adjust the spacing. Pretty sweet!

-Brodie

Duh!

That is sweet!

The manual doesn't even mention this!
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94863

Seems that is more missing here
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94867&topic=2458142&ctx=topic

emerald15

@heaps said:

It even works with circular arrays - just type in the angle in degrees

You've lost me now...I usually type in x(number) not *(number). But how do I get back to degrees... how does one type 'degrees'! ACAD is 'dd%d' but what is SU?

TIG

Typing an 'x' or '*' is the same - so you can type x2, *2 , 2x etc for 'times'.
To 'divide' the copies use /2...
You never need to use a 'degree' symbol with Rotate, any typed in +ve or -ve numbers that don't contain an x, * or / are taken as degrees anyway... In Move [and tools like Line] it's taken as 'current units', unless you add a units suffix, so typing 1000 while using mm Moves the object 1000mm, but to move it a specific distance in feet+inches can be done even while the model's current-units is mm - e.g. typing 3'4" will Move that exact amount [1016mm] etc...

Incidentally, if you want to type 'special characters' in Sketchup Text - like degrees [°] - there are OS specific key-strokes, on a PC it's Alt0176, on a MAC I think it's OptionShift8. There are lots, so if you use some regularly have a crib sheet handy...

jgb

This is also a question, based on the above.

Using SCALE, you can just type a percentage value in the VCB. This is handy to set a specific scale factor like 92%. It is also handy to set a scale factor that is between SCALE's preset snap tolerance of .1% so just type 90.15 in the VCB where SCALE snaps only to 90.1% or 90.2% and you need the precision.

OK, my question, How do I set scale to a dimensional value?
ie: my object is 12 inches, and I want it to be 13 inches, without doing the percentage math. AND I am holding the CTRL and SHIFT keys down to scale all and from the center. When I release the mouse button to type, my position is lost.

thomthom

@jgb said:

OK, my question, How do I set scale to a dimensional value?
ie: my object is 12 inches, and I want it to be 13 inches, without doing the percentage math. AND I am holding the CTRL and SHIFT keys down to scale all and from the center. When I release the mouse button to type, my position is lost.

Just scale roughly first - then use the VCB to adjust with accuracy afterwards - typing in the length.

pilou

Just draw a 13 inch segment from a vertex from your object and Scale your object by the line!

Alas this just work only with "cubic" objects!
If you have inclined faces you must don't use the native Scale tool!!!

TIG

Pull out to approximate size [using any modifier keys you desire], then immediately type in the required size, before selecting another tool.
The length has to have a 'units suffix'.
Type 13 will make it 13x bigger ! but 13" makes it exactly 13 inches, or 330mm which makes it exactly that size in mm, this is done irrespective of the model's current-unit settings...

jgb

Post by Pilou on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:57 am
Just draw a 13 inch segment from a vertex from your object and Scale your object by the line!
Yeah, I do that, thanks.

Post by thomthom on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:59 am
Just scale roughly first - then use the VCB to adjust with accuracy afterwards - typing in the length.

Can't seem to make it work. I type the value but when I type the " (inch) it erases the value.

I noticed that when I press the SHIFT key, the VCB shows me the ratios of each axis, which is handy.
You can then adjust the ratios of each axis in the VCB using a comma to separate the % values in the same order as the axis ref to its left.

AND you can post adjust the size to a dimension but only in FEET, not inches.

TIG

I beg to differ.
I can successfully Scale an object to exactly 13" using the " suffix.
Pick a point to scale it by an arbitrary amount - 1.1 say - commit the scaling - THEN type 13" to apply the desired exact dimension...
What are your unit-settings ? I have tried virtually every combo and they all let me enter 13" successfully ??

brodie

@jgb said:

This is also a question, based on the above.

Using SCALE, you can just type a percentage value in the VCB. This is handy to set a specific scale factor like 92%. It is also handy to set a scale factor that is between SCALE's preset snap tolerance of .1% so just type 90.15 in the VCB where SCALE snaps only to 90.1% or 90.2% and you need the precision.

OK, my question, How do I set scale to a dimensional value?
ie: my object is 12 inches, and I want it to be 13 inches, without doing the percentage math. AND I am holding the CTRL and SHIFT keys down to scale all and from the center. When I release the mouse button to type, my position is lost.

Make sure your object is a group/component. Double click it so you're inside the group and use the tape measure to measure your 12" segment. The VCB will report back that it's 12". Now just type 13" and hit enter. A dialogue will pop up asking "do you want to resize the active group or component?" Hit yes and you're home free

This works wonderfully when you get a 'not to scale' drawing that you need to be to scale.

-Brodie

jgb

@tig said:

I beg to differ.
I can successfully Scale an object to exactly 13" using the " suffix.
Pick a point to scale it by an arbitrary amount - 1.1 say - commit the scaling - THEN type 13" to apply the desired exact dimension...
What are your unit-settings ? I have tried virtually every combo and they all let me enter 13" successfully ??

Saw my error....
I would scale approx, then enter 13". The 13 would vanish.

I need to Left Click after the approx setting, then while the scale box was still active, enter 13", and it worked. "Minor detail"

Brodie;

Thank you all.

brodie

@tig said:

Pull out to approximate size [using any modifier keys you desire], then immediately type in the required size, before selecting another tool.
The length has to have a 'units suffix'.
Type 13 will make it 13x bigger ! but 13" makes it exactly 13 inches, or 330mm which makes it exactly that size in mm, this is done irrespective of the model's current-unit settings...

Nice tip, I didn't know that one.

So many SU easter eggs.

-Brodie

cotty

Here is a nice trick from Jean for rotation axis inferencing.