I haven't used my SU for a few months. Now when I try, I can't. My stored project files will not open - I get the SU bar on top of my screen but no work area. If I do finally get something open then any little change that I try to make causes the SU to just quit itself and close up. By the way I am using SU 8 on a Mac.

The only thing that I did was a couple of weeks ago I got a update notice that a new SU verison was available eventhough I already had SU 8 I download and I think it installed. Was it an update to the SU 8 that I already had?

It is confusing when I open a component to edit and it gives me to option to "make a component".

Yes, I have been making nested components such as: I have all of my interior cabinet box components assembled and then I make that whole thing a component before I make the face frame right on the box. After I have all the face frame components made I make the whole face frame a component. The idea is so that I can copy the whole face frame, move it to the side, make another copy that I can take apart to show the individual parts. Is this how I show be doing it?

You guys are helping to clear things up. I am going through the "chiefwoodworkers" videos. Wow, it really helps a lot to be able to see how things are done while being thoroughly explained. For one, before seeing his presentation, I was never able to get a good understanding of how layers worked or how to use them.

Here is one of my files that I am having trouble with:

Benz - Master Bath Vanity.skp

Thank you guys for all of your help. I have started checking out those videos and I will also check out the plugin.

How do I upload the file?

One of the problems that I am having is that when I am working on a copy and I do get pieces separated which is taking too much time sometimes it happens on the original as well. I don't know what is happening.

I have also tried the "explode" function which has not helped. But then I don't really have any idea what it is suppose to do since I can not find any explanation about it in "SU for Dummies" or "SU for Woodworkers" or the SU Users Guide.

I am getting so frustrated with this sketchup. About half of it works fine but about half of it just does not comply.

For example - I make a completed cabinet, each piece is a component. I make a copy of it and move it to the side and give it a separate scene. I am trying to take it all apart and give dimensions to each piece to make a cut sheet. It will not come apart. Either the whole thing moves, or sections of it moves or after I click click click click until something finally happens and I can separate one piece it separates it from the original as well. On the copy whether I make it unique or not - does not help. It should not take me 3 hours to try to take this thing apart. Right now I have three different cabinets drawn (three separate files), I can not spend three hours on each one trying to take them apart. The "Woodworkers Guide to ShetchUp" is no help it just states make a copy and move it. It states that it is the easiest thing to do - then why does it not say how to do it and whatever I try it does not work right and is taking forever.

I am using the latest version of SU on a Mac.

Can someone please help me or give me info on a good manual that teaches how to use SU. I also have the dummies guide to SU but that leaves out a lot for woodworking specifics.

Thanks. I will start paying closer attention to the "replace with component" option and see what happens. If I still have problems, I'll let you know.

After I make each piece I make it into a component. When I make a unit such as a frame or cabinet then I also make the whole a component. The problem is that often when I go back and select a component to edit instead of giving me to option to edit it gives me the option to make a component.

I am trying to have different aspects of my projects represented. Such as have one view of the whole, then have one view of all of the parts separated, then with dimensions, one with the different sub groups, etc.

Thanks