GeorgeC

I am new to sketchup and trying to learn how to use it.

I am coming along pretty well in so far as drawing the shape of the piece of furniture (in this case a bathroom vanity) that I want to build, but have not been able to draw to exact scale. I can draw out the rectangles, lines, etc to almost the exact size I want, but never to just the exact size.

Say I want a rectangle that is 53 1/2" by 22". I watch the dimensions in the lower left hand corner dimension box, but I can never stop on the exact number I want. There must be some way to just type the exact dimensions and pull the rectangle to these dimensions. I must be missing something simple.

George

mics_54

That's exactly how you do it... click the box tool. begin drawing the box then before finishing the box, type in 53 1/2", 22" It will finish the box to those dims.

mics_54

...if ther orientation is wrong..then switch the order to 22", 53 1/2" and it will draw it correspondingly. It also helps to set your drawing preferences to the proper template..if you aren't doing that. One trick I use in figuring out the order (width vs height) of dims is to start drawing a box wider than it is high. I look at dims in the box and that way I can tell which dim to put first in the order.

GeorgeC

I must still be doing something wrong. If I quit drawing the rectangle then the rectangle goes to a solid surface assuming that I am through. The dimension box in the lower left hand corner never lets me change any information that is there.

I guess the question is, How do I stop drawing the rectangle and get to the dimension box and enter data?

Some of us you have to be patient with.

George

phinds

Do exactly what you are doing, and then when you have stopped drawing the box look in the lower right corner. It doesn't matter what size the box is NOW. There is a dimension box in the lower right corner. When you type, the numbers you type appear in the lower right box and the rectangle takes on the size of what you type, just as mics said.

Paul

__________________
phinds
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www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/

Willie T

Sometimes the final measurement in that lower righthand corner can be impossible to read. Fix it this way:

Go into <VIEW> <Toolbars> and select <MEASUREMENTS>

This should change the dimension box to the lower left side of the screen. Much easier to read there.

mics_54

I know what you are doing ...you are holding down the left mouse button when you are dragging the box. Don't do that. Select the box tool, click the left mouse button and release it...move the curser in the direction you want to draw the box and STOP...don't click the mouse button...enter the dims with the keyboard without doing anything else...then hit enter.

Willie T

He can actually hold down the left mouse button and draw any size rectangle.... doesn't matter.

When he lets go of the mouse to type, it will change that rectangle to the new size rectangle he asks for when he hits <ENTER>

And it does not matter how long you wait with that original rectangle sitting there - as long as you do NO OTHER DRAWING ACTION - That original rectangle will still change to the new size an hour later.... IF you have touched no other keys before typing in the new size.

mics_54

Holding down the mouse button and dragging any tool tells the program that when you release the button to complete the operation.

Also know that if you click the starting place for a line, circle or box in the place you wish to begin and then change your mind...you can hit the space bar to cancel the operation and start over without having to finish the line etc and then erasing it.

mics_54

George...you are hitting enter?

What type of computer are you using?

mics_54

you are right willie...not sure what he's doing. As long as he doesnt change tools he can keep entering new dims and change the box as many times as he wants.

Willie T

Just try it.

mics_54

you dont need to select the dims in the box to change them...just type the dims..SU knows you are changing the dims automatically. It's a common error to try and select the edit box to change the contents...it isnt necessary.

Willie T

I use the <ESCAPE> key for that because it does not remove the selected tool action from the cursor tip. (Saves having to reselect the tool)

mics_54

I assure you...I am aware of the SU functions. I was addressing his statement about the box changing to a solid surface.

Willie T

You cannot type in the measurements box. All it is there for is to display the amount of movement of your courser on the drawing... or as MIC said, to display numbers you type.

Willie T

Sorry, it kind of read (to me) that you were telling him the action was locked-in when the mouse key was released. My apologies.

mics_54

the dims you type are displayed in the measurments box as you type them

GeorgeC

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I was not hitting ENTER. That was the problem.

George

GeorgeC

That was one of my original problems. I was trying to use the mouse to select the box. Finally figured that one out.

ENTER, ENTER, ENTER, ad finitum.


George