why is tig's initial response missing?

That works! thanks!

ok - but suppose I want to stretch the viewport horizontally or vertically without affecting the contents?

If I want to re-size a viewport containing LayOut-generated labels, the label's arrow tips remain anchored to the SketchUp object, yet the label's text remains un-moved. Same with dimension annotations. How can I overcome this?

thanks. by the way - can you explain 'intersect faces with context'

If I create a 3D slab, punch a hole through it, select the hole in its entirety (both faces and the cylinder between), use ctrl+move to copy it to a new part of the slab - the copied hole now has faces at both openings. What's up with that? I can't even select either of said faces without the entire face of the slab being selected also. To select the hole's face, I need to draw a line over one edge of the hole's perimeter, then erase the now-selected face and repeat on the back side of the slab. Then that sometimes results in the opposite face returning. And further, if I don't double check the back side of the slab, i sometimes find the slab's face missing. This post applies to any 3D opening - not just cylindrical holes.

using pro version 2015. i just updated the profile.

The message says 'component'. But in reality, I'm editing a group.

Why do I sometimes get this message when opening a GROUP for editing: “Some instances of the selected component are locked. Would you like to unlock the locked instances, or leave them locked and make the selected component unique?”

OK - here is my understanding:

To modify a color in a custom collection:

1. Tools menu > Paint Bucket.
2. Display the secondary pane by clicking the icon directly below the exit button.
3. In the secondary pane, scroll thru the drop-down list and choose the custom library.
4. In the primary pane, scroll thru the drop-down list and choose the “In Model” library.
5. In the secondary pane, right-click the color icon that you want to adjust and pick ‘Add to model’.
6. Said color icon now appears in the Model Library; click it and then click the Edit tab.
7. Adjust color and/or transparency……also rename if you wish.
8. Click the Select tab
9. Drag the color icon back into the Custom Library and choose ‘overwrite’ when prompted.
10. No need to do anything else. You can exit SketchUp without even needing to save the drawing.
11. The modified color will appear in the Custom Library when you re-start the program.
12. Note- if you change color transparency, do not expect the color icon, when it’s displayed in the custom library, to show the two-tone diagonal slash as normally shown in non-custom palettes.

Sorry. I misunderstood 'secondary pane'. Thought you meant the flyout menu. Question - how does one go about editing a color in a custom collection? If I select a color, then click the Edit tab, the tab is grayed-out.

Please explain: "You can easily add new colors/materials to your custom library by opening the secondary pane and dragging thumbnails from In Model to the new library."
How can I drag a thumbnail into the secondary pane which is just a list of clickable choices?

can a custom color palette be created by using the same colors from the 'colors-named' or 'colors' palette and reassigning each color with a name of my choosing?

small buttons; all keys have been assigned shortcuts.

Way cool.......I downloaded the 'soften' ruby script and I like it. Only problem is I have so many toolbars now that the workspace has become miniscule!

That works! Thank you.

As far as the edges being softened....must I always unsoften them in a separate operation after I complete the lofting operation, or can Fredo's settings handle it?

I wish there was a way for my work pc and home pc to share a cloud-stored template and scrapbook folder.

1. why is the result assymetrical?
2. why is the result always softened?

curviloft is assymetrical.skp

Sometimes we overlook the simplest means. Thank you.

On the attached file, I generated a step-by-step process for creating an offset that maintains a proper width. But is there a faster way to accomplish this? Curviloft is faster, but the offset piece is partially squashed.
HOW TO OFFSET DUCTS.skp

offset elevation view.pdf