Rectangles at any angle?
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I'm having a hard time figuring out how to draw some things quickly on account of the rectangle tools apparent simplicity. For instance, if I have a "diagonal line" that I want to draw a rectangle against, how do I do it? It seems that i can draw all four sides manually with the line tool. Or if I know the dimensions of the rectangle I can draw it loose and then move it into place. Or I can?...
Thanks
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You can always enter precise values for the rectangle tool. See this article of the SU Guide:
http://download.sketchup.com/sketchuphelp/gsu6_win/Content/C-Drawing_Tools/DrawTool-Rectangle.htmI am not sure what you mean by the diagonal... Maybe: if you start your rectangle on a diagonal line, you can always infer to that line to place the opposite corner.
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Hello and welcome.
SketchUp has a ruby tool to draw rotated rectangles available on their script download page.
The tool shows up in the Draw menu once installed. To install, download, unzip and move/copy the file into your Sketchup/Plugins folder.
On a Mac, the location is:
Hard Drive/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/Plugins -
@gaieus said:
You can always enter precise values for the rectangle tool. See this article of the SU Guide:
http://download.sketchup.com/sketchuphelp/gsu6_win/Content/C-Drawing_Tools/DrawTool-Rectangle.htmI am not sure what you mean by the diagonal... Maybe: if you start your rectangle on a diagonal line, you can always infer to that line to place the opposite corner.
In the link you posted, the rectangle is at 0 degree or 90 degree angles to all 3 of axis. If I want my rectangle to be at a different angle, I'm not sure how to do it except to draw the rectangle first and then rotate it. I have not been able to get any inference to change the angle (in relation to the axis) of the rectangle, only the dimensions and placement of it.
Thanks
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@jim said:
Hello and welcome.
SketchUp has a ruby tool to draw rotated rectangles available on their script download page.
The tool shows up in the Draw menu once installed. To install, download, unzip and move/copy the file into your Sketchup/Plugins folder.
On a Mac, the location is:
Hard Drive/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/PluginsThanks! This is it. I'm just very curious about why several of my first questions about Sketchup don't seem to show up in the help or even in searches of the forums. I think these are basic things to using the program. I need to watch more tutorials.
drew
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Yeah, my answer (the link) was mainly for your last question. Apart from Jim's suggestion, you can also place (align) the axes differently and the rectangle tool will accommodate itself to the new axis system.
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@drewgandy said:
For instance, if I have a "diagonal line" that I want to draw a rectangle against, how do I do it?
Sometimes the Ruby Console (billed as a programmer's tool for writing plugins, but I like it for modeling) answers your need. Try diving into Chapter Two, Ruby Console.
The first project there is the main and jib on a sloop. The main is orthogonal, the jib is not. Both are easy because any three points are always coplanar. Your four-point rectangles must be coplanar. The second project there adds a rectangle for the bottom of a banister: an example of a rectangle at an odd angle.
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