Thanks for the "use a 2d program" tips. Helpful. Parallel projection and standard views don't seem to help. Here's an example. I'm laying out a picnic setting. Ground area done. Tree in the middle done. Table built. Trying to move the table towards the tree. Top view. I can select and move the table, but Sketchup assumes I wish to raise it off the ground and connect it to a branch of the tree. I have NO wish to move it towards me (away from the ground) or away from me (towards the centre of the earth), I just want to move it north, south, east or west, so I can position it, rotate the model, look at it from different angles, move it again etc. I could hide the tree, but then I can't see the tree. This would be SO EASY if Sketchup could limit itself to working in the only two dimensions I can work in!

Thanks John, that helped - looks like Sketchup doesn't really do it too well, but through searching I found the 'watermark' function which at least lets me print my contact info on a drawing. Thanks again.

I'm happy you got it sorted.