Simon, it already works on my Mac. I haven't tried it on my PC yet because I don't normally save SKP files out there. I can check when I get home from work unless someone else does before then.
2014-01-08_06-14-04.png

Brilliant.......does exactly what it says on the tin, just what I wanted

No worries. Sometimes it's easy to get stuck because you are thinking about how to subtract geometry rather than to not make it in the first place. Sometimes it's the other way around.

Incidentally, I have also written a little tutorial on this topic (as it seems to be "hot" for relatively inexperienced users of SketchUp):
http://sketchucation.com/resources/tutorials/37-beginner/136-aligning-the-rotate-and-protractor-tools

I'm no expert at rendering and those links will give you good info. I go into my studio photographer mode when I am setting up lights for Kerkythea. I also consider adding reflective surfaces to bounce light back in to the model and sometimes I add gobos as well.

Weird. There are ways of going back to the defaults on PC (View->Restore Default Workspace), but if it fixed itself you don't have to worry about it.

b

Where are you copying them from?

I copy the first view port created by the Send to LayOut action and paste that or copy with the Control key while moving. I've never had a problem such as you describe.

Hi Simon,

When importing a dwg/dxf file, do not miss the import options (bottom right of the file browsing window when importing). There you need to set the correct unit the original file was modelled in.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utZuae1KFxs/T0DQkqaoElI/AAAAAAAAHz8/t3pHK9BgUjs/s747/dwgdxf.png

Also, when you are at it, some dwg/dxf files contain geographical data. Best is to uncheck "Preserve drawing origin" below the units settings as SU may import the cad file many kilometres/miles from the origin thus causing serious head-aches with clipping and other issues.

The functionality of a DC can be affected by the way it is added into you model's SKP.
Did you load it from its original downloaded SKP file via the Component-Browser, or Import or Drag+drop or Copy+Paste it etc ?
Try the first way and see what happens... 😕