What's the best way to learn SketchUp Shortcut Keys?
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I think by the short sample of users we have here (me included) that there's no point in memorizing shortcuts!
One should assign them as we are using commands and simply let go from standard.
Repetition is key for shortcut keys.
NEVER assign a shortcut for unrepetitive work. That's what the toolbars are there for and even if you can have all the modifier keys... there's a limit to how much line methods you can add on the L key...
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I found the easiest way to remember shortcuts was the NOT have toolbar buttons for the native modelling tools...
to work at any speed I HAD to remember the shortcuts, because the menu is tedious...
once I knew the standard tool shortcuts adding extra ones to my memory bank was much easier...
when I set a shortcut, I tend to remove the toolbar button...
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@numerobis said:
@david_h
why do you need a shortcut for "Orbit" and "Pan"? For a laptop with touchpad?because I can.
maybe those are longcuts. -
Most important: Don't try to learn them all at once!
My method (for any bit of software) is something like...
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Recce the software, play with it for a few days, to get a feel for which things I most want quick access to. For example, with Sketchup, it quickly became clear that the navigation shortcuts and axis locking were going to be indispensable.
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Are there any of those commands that I already have a 'muscle memory' for? If so, assign accordingly. For example, I use the single quote for turning guides on and off because I use other graphics software where that key shows/hides the snapping grid - so I just found my fingers going there without even thinking about it, because the function is analogous. Don't fight the reflexes you already have, work with them!
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Each session, pick a particular operation that this project is going to need a lot of, and try to learn just one or two new keys. For me, that's the key (pun intended!) - I learn the shortcuts on an actual job that needs doing - having a "dummy" session purely to learn new shortcuts rarely work well for me.
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Make sure the shortcuts are backed up somewhere! Stick that file on a memory stick that I always carry, so that I can make the software work how I like with just a quick file load, or restore settings if something goes wrong with a new install.
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Thanks for the feedback and great tips guys.
One thing that throws a spanner in the works when it come to muscle memory and shortcut keys is that its either a left or right hand operation depending on whether one is right or left-handed. My two handed typing skills get me by. Its a mixture of eight finger typing and a little one finger typing. It works for me and muscle memory comes into play.
Maybe all the shortcut keys for a left-hander should be on the right side of the keyboard and in that case of a right-hander the light side of the keyboard? Could this be a follow through building on normal typing with muscle memory?
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It's not just muscle memory at play here. It's also logic, intuitiveness and above all confort when working with the mouse simultaneously. I work with the right hand on the mouse, so I tend to have all my shortcuts on the left side of the keyboard, within confortable distance from the CTRL+ALT+SHIFT modifier keys. One key shortcuts like line, can be farther away from the modifiers...
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I myself leave native SU tools to the keys assigned. No much reason to change them as they are well chosen: "l" for Line, "e" for Erase etc...
Then I see if there are some free keys left for other commands I use a lot. Of course there are some so I make them shortcuts: "n" - Top View, "x" - X-ray, "g" - Group, "k" - Component...
I do this even when the commands have already more complex shortcuts such are "Ctrl+c". Simply, single key is more convinient for use than combination of keys.Then when all are occupied I use combinations with "Ctrl" (more often) and "Alt" (very rarelly).
I don't bother to make shortcuts for commands used just occasionaly.
I let the process of work decide what I need.
What I always had on all versions of SU is:"Ctrl+e" - Explode (funny thing - this is so used command but with no shortcut originally assigned)
"Ctrl+h" - Hide/Unhide the rest of the model (a very useful command - I recommend this to everyone)
"Ctrl+g" - Hidden Geometry
"Ctrl+i" - Paste in PlaceEventually if I use some plugin a lot then I just see what key combination is "free" for it.
So, if you ask me about shortcuts I can tell you two things:
1) Let the process of work decide what you need, and
2) Stick to some hierarchy. -
@aureus said:
"Ctrl+h" - Hide/Unhide the rest of the model (a very useful command - I recommend this to everyone)
So useful, in fact, that "H" without CTRL is much faster to use. Who cares for "H" as pan? That's why you have your mouse for!
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I think the only "muscle memory" that's involved is the brain ! If I want to draw a circle, my finger goes to "C" not because my hand automatically goes there, (in a typing / Typist sort of way), but because my brain has learned the shortcut. I guess you could say I automatically then select C without looking down at the keyboard, but that's missing the point.
I'm not sure I've made my point clearly but I think typing is true muscle memory in that you don't even consciously think about where the letters are on the keyboard - you just type ! Shortcuts are different in that you DO think about it, (for a split second granted), and then you type the letter.
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Funny you should ask... about a week ago I finally (after 2-3 years with SU) decided to start using keystrokes. I found a list of the basics... & already I've almost forgotten using the icons. I guess it was just time!
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Just to make it all the more confusing, because I work in several languages I have a blind keyboard. Meaning there are no markings, so I simply know the relevant key depending on which language I am in. The keys I most often screw up are Z and y as they are the most often used but reversed in so many layouts.
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@box said:
Just to make it all the more confusing, because I work in several languages I have a blind keyboard. Meaning there are no markings, so I simply know the relevant key depending on which language I am in. The keys I most often screw up are Z and y as they are the most often used but reversed in so many layouts.
Bah, seems like you're a genius!
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along with his blind keyboard he has three blind mice.
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What a silly bunt I am.
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I was kidding. You're a good lad to have the place.
As for shortcuts...
I keep all app keys the same or close to the same.
Don't forget that SketchUcation Tools has a shortcut list tool under SketchUcation Tools > My Shortcuts
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@jql said:
@aureus said:
"Ctrl+h" - Hide/Unhide the rest of the model (a very useful command - I recommend this to everyone)
So useful, in fact, that "H" without CTRL is much faster to use. Who cares for "H" as pan? That's why you have your mouse for!
How do you pan with your mouse?
What kind of mouse do you use?With mine I can only zoom in, zoom out and orbit (scroll wheel).
Also, in my case the 'h' keyboard is reserved for "Hide". Here I made an exception - I changed an originally assigned shortcut for a SU native tool - Pan.
By the way, 'Pan' is also useful from time to time.
But I use 'Hide' more often................................
One more thing - if you assign a shortcut to some tool that is reserved for Windows commands (Ctrl+P, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+A...), you'll be able to use it untill you restart SketchUp.
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If you're a shortcut guy yourself, you'll probably use both hand for fast working on Sketchup.
I know I do...
Use shift while holding middle button and pan away. It's more stable than left click+middle button.
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