Layers
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Hello everyone
I am new here,have been working with Sketchup about one month now.Found training videos very helpful along with extensive info on the net. However having create approximately 25 percent of a drawings I had on Auotocad I am wondering if using layers for each individual component is the correct way. The drawing is reasonably complex with approximately 100 separate components I am using layers because I can turn them on and off as required and hopefully when I come to print it will allow me to output the various sections of the drawing that will be required. -
Hi Pvm, hi folks.
In SketchUp (SU), layers are used to control the visibility of elements.
They do not separate geometries. To do that, use groups and components.
If an object is to be unique, use a group. If it is to be used more than once, use a component.
Just ideas.
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Welcome to SCF.
As to your question about layers, the answer is, it depends. It might be appropriate to associate different layers with each component or it might not. It depends upon the model and what you need to get out of it. Keep in mind that layers do absolutely nothing to separate entities and they are intended only for control of visibility of components/groups. Also, it is a good idea to follow the basic rules of layers and draw all geometry on Layer 0 and leave it there. Only make associations to other layers for components/groups but not the geometry inside them.
For my use, drawing furniture from which construction plans and shop drawings are created, it is enough to sort components by type. For example all the table legs in the model might be associated with a layer. The top might be on another layer. Aprons on a third. I don't have any need to make a layer for the right front leg and another for the left front and so on.
What is it you're modeling, anyway?
while I was typing, the esteemed Jean Lemire also answered. One thing I do that is different to his approach is I make even objects that are unique components instead of groups.
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Thanks to Jean Lemire and Dave R for your clear answers. My drawing is a 4 inch wide belt linisher which i use in my hobby workshop. I manufacture the linisher from an autocad drawing I produced, but I would like to put it on SketchUp so I can use the many features it offers.I am going to try the component route first
only because as a retired engineer the word component sounds better for representing a phosphor bronze bearing than group etc. -
Although there are many reasons to use components instead of groups in SketchUp, I've never seen your reason before. I guess that adds another.
I'd love to see some photos of your linisher as well as your SketchUp model.
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Hello everyone I tried using components while drawing my linisher. However I soon realized the component tool likes more than one object, so I am working with groups now as suggested by Jean Lemir. and find this suits my current drawing much better as each object is different this now enables me to manipulate the various objects separately without effecting other objects. But I have a further question,is it possible to create an object by name prior to actually drawing it?.Reason to save trying to separate a newly created element when making an object.
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Well, you cannot create a group/component without anything inside, so the answer must be no.
However you can start with very basic geometry. Draw a rectangle on a wall, double click on it, right click and make a group or component. Then double click again to enter its editing context and add as many details as you want. When you close it (click outside), anything you've drawn "inside" will still be inside.
I often use components instead of groups even if they are completely unique. There is a reason. Look at te attached screenshot for instance. Here I am building an old house from different centuries and I want to be able to display its development in the past so I keep each "block" as a separate component. I made one red for this example. It is on the ground floor and behind a porch that was built later so it is hardly accessible when working on it.
If I use a component here, I can always quickly Copy-Move it away a bit, work on it and get the other instance reflect all the changes simultaneously.
Or I can right click > "Save as..." (a separate skp file) and work on that and at the end, in the master file, right click again and "Reload".
Finally, from components, you can always make your re-usable collections while you cannot do that with groups.
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I don't understand your question. In SketchUp there's no object or element until you've drawn it. And what are you separating it from? If you make a component or group of the part you've drawn before moving on to the next part, you shouldn't have any problem with separating anything.
FWIW, as you've found, if you edit a component all other instance of the component will get edited. There is, however, the Make Unique command in the Context menu which will allow you to break the relationship between components. This is very powerful.
It's just my opinion but I think if you are going to use groups instead of components to avoid the editing thing, you'll be working harder than you need to. Of course that's one of the cool things about SketchUp. You can work in a lot of different ways.
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Thanks to Gaieus and Dave R for answering my question and the follow up re components verses groups, I have tried your suggestions and they are as you say. However for now until I get more experience with SU I am going to continue with groups, a bit more work as you say but I can edit each part quickly and when I come to dimension each part hopefully it will be simpler.
By the way Gaieus. Waistcoats are not so pointless when you live in England.
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@pvm said:
By the way Gaieus. Waistcoats are not so pointless when you live in England.
But at least they are short I hope we can agree...
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