Prefer to have my left hand set in the ASDF location ready for typing. Have remapped all shortcuts and personal favs so that my left hand doesn't have to reach right of YHB. This means that all shortcuts are left of UJN and include combo's with shift/control/option/command. This allows for 68 tools to be referenced. If a multi-function mouse is used, even more shortcuts can be mapped with keyboard/mouse button combo's.
My keyboard shortcuts that I've been using since what feels like a decade: (feel free to copy, .dat file compatible shortcuts below to paste in your Preferences.dat file): 1. Can't live without these: Paste in Place = Ctrl + Shift + V (Like Ctrl + V, but different) Undo camera = Ctrl + Shift + Z (Like undo, but for camera) Eye tool = Ctrl + E (e for eye) Follow me = , (comma key, as comma looks like a curve + it's unused) Save As = Ctrl + Shift + S (is this not a default shortcut in Windows?) Protractor = Shift + Q (like 'T' guides but rotated) ('Q' because the cursor is the same) 2. Group / Component / Objects shortcuts: Change Axis = Shift + A (A for Axis, can't 'Ctrl + A' as it 'Selects All') Make group = G (yes, change default for group creation from Components) Make component = Ctrl + G (never used, Right click + Make component feels easy enough) Hide rest of the model = ` (tilde key) (before 1, above Tab key) Hide similar components = Shift + ` (tilde key, but with shift (actual tilde ~)) Hidden Geometry = Ctrl + W (near to Ctrl + E) Hidden Objects = Ctrl + Q (near to Ctrl + W) 3. Sections: Sections On Off toggle = \ (backslash) Sections plane visibility toggle = ] (sq right bracket) Sections black filled walls = ' (inverted comma, as SketchUp won't let us assign [ left sq bracket) 4. My additional time savers: 2D output for fast .jpgs = Ctrl + 2 (2 for 2D) (for quickly Exporting views) (can do Ctrl + 3 for 3D, but is rarely needed as a shortcut) // Default button is 'Page+Down' for Next Camera while 2D exporting fast, Page+Up for Prev // Model info = Ctrl + , (comma) (to change Units quickly) Preferences = Ctrl + . (period) (to add new shortcuts quickly) Ruby console = Ctrl + R (useful if you are creating / testing your own plugins) Edge On Off toggle = Ctrl + K ('K' for hidden lines, but with edges) Import = Ctrl + I (i for Import) =x= Default Zoom Extents is = 'Ctrl + Shift + E', 5:33 sorry Eric, but no need to Shift + Z (maybe it's Windows only though!) //if Windows only, Thanks Eric; else, sorry Eric; end if// Default Zoom Window is = 'Ctrl + Shift + W' (never used, as I find just scrolling is easier) // The 1st group of shortcuts should come as default with SketchUp, just a suggestion. =x= Paste this in your Preferences.dat file for all these (24) shortcuts: (Paste below the line: 0 0 0 S selectScaleTool:) 1 0 1 V Edit/Paste In Place 0 0 0 , selectExtrudeTool: 0 0 0 G Edit/Make Group 1 0 0 G Edit/Make Component... 0 0 0 ` View/Component Edit/Hide Rest Of Model 1 0 0 E selectTurnTool: 0 0 0 \ View/Section Cuts 1 0 0 2 File/Export/2D Graphic... 0 0 0 ] View/Section Planes 1 0 1 Z viewUndo: 0 0 0 ' View/Section Fill 0 0 1 ` View/Component Edit/Hide Similar Components 1 0 1 S File/Save As... 1 0 0 K View/Edge Style/Edges 1 0 0 W viewShowHiddenGeometry: 1 0 0 Q viewShowHiddenObjects: 1 0 0 R Window/Ruby Console 1 0 0 G Edit/Item/Make Component... 1 0 0 . Window/Preferences 1 0 0 I File/Import... 1 0 0 , Window/Model Info 1 0 0 3 File/Export/3D Model... 0 0 1 Q selectProtractorTool: 0 0 1 A selectAxisTool:
One subtly when assigning a simple letter shortcut... I toggle X-ray on and off a lot. Using a keyboard shortcut of "X" to toggle X-ray on/off seems logical. Unfortunately, if you're using the Move tool to create an arrayed copy, it relies on use of the "x" key in the Measurements area to define the copy multiplier, like "x4" or "4x" to get 4 copies. The issue here is that the X-ray keyboard shortcut of "X" is intercepted before the "x" key is seen by the Measurements area when using the Move command. I solved this conundrum by assigning the "F1" key to the X-ray shortcut. You could also work around this issue by adding a Control, or Option, or Command key modifier along with the X key (Mac).
Great video. I tend to assign my shortcuts the same as the ones used in Blender, as much as possible, just to keep the confusion down a bit when moving from one program to the other, haha.
Yep, some extensions do that. I use "JS mover" to move objects using arrow keys, and "Rotix" to rotate objects using arrow keys. Both free and part of JHS powerbar. There is also "curic rotate" that is great for rotating objects by 90deg... using arrow keys again. And all these are free. I believe "Sketchplus" also has the two functions you are looking for, but it's a paid extension.
Please make follow me tool guide how to draw QUARTER (using an arc) of something. There are no such a guide on UA-cam. Many people have issue with that , loosing 90degree angle
Once upon a time I assigned a certain keyboard shortcut to a certain action in the program, the keyboard shortcut was applied and since then I have not been able to change it in different versions of the program for several years
Amazing. For me the best SketchUp shortcut to setup at first is hide the rest of the model I can’t live without it.
Yes agreed. I personally don't use that one but probably should!
Prefer to have my left hand set in the ASDF location ready for typing. Have remapped all shortcuts and personal favs so that my left hand doesn't have to reach right of YHB. This means that all shortcuts are left of UJN and include combo's with shift/control/option/command. This allows for 68 tools to be referenced. If a multi-function mouse is used, even more shortcuts can be mapped with keyboard/mouse button combo's.
My keyboard shortcuts that I've been using since what feels like a decade:
(feel free to copy, .dat file compatible shortcuts below to paste in your Preferences.dat file):
1. Can't live without these:
Paste in Place = Ctrl + Shift + V (Like Ctrl + V, but different)
Undo camera = Ctrl + Shift + Z (Like undo, but for camera)
Eye tool = Ctrl + E (e for eye)
Follow me = , (comma key, as comma looks like a curve + it's unused)
Save As = Ctrl + Shift + S (is this not a default shortcut in Windows?)
Protractor = Shift + Q (like 'T' guides but rotated) ('Q' because the cursor is the same)
2. Group / Component / Objects shortcuts:
Change Axis = Shift + A (A for Axis, can't 'Ctrl + A' as it 'Selects All')
Make group = G (yes, change default for group creation from Components)
Make component = Ctrl + G (never used, Right click + Make component feels easy enough)
Hide rest of the model = ` (tilde key) (before 1, above Tab key)
Hide similar components = Shift + ` (tilde key, but with shift (actual tilde ~))
Hidden Geometry = Ctrl + W (near to Ctrl + E)
Hidden Objects = Ctrl + Q (near to Ctrl + W)
3. Sections:
Sections On Off toggle = \ (backslash)
Sections plane visibility toggle = ] (sq right bracket)
Sections black filled walls = ' (inverted comma, as SketchUp won't let us assign [ left sq bracket)
4. My additional time savers:
2D output for fast .jpgs = Ctrl + 2 (2 for 2D) (for quickly Exporting views)
(can do Ctrl + 3 for 3D, but is rarely needed as a shortcut)
// Default button is 'Page+Down' for Next Camera while 2D exporting fast, Page+Up for Prev //
Model info = Ctrl + , (comma) (to change Units quickly)
Preferences = Ctrl + . (period) (to add new shortcuts quickly)
Ruby console = Ctrl + R (useful if you are creating / testing your own plugins)
Edge On Off toggle = Ctrl + K ('K' for hidden lines, but with edges)
Import = Ctrl + I (i for Import)
=x=
Default Zoom Extents is = 'Ctrl + Shift + E',
5:33 sorry Eric, but no need to Shift + Z
(maybe it's Windows only though!)
//if Windows only, Thanks Eric;
else, sorry Eric;
end if//
Default Zoom Window is = 'Ctrl + Shift + W'
(never used, as I find just scrolling is easier)
// The 1st group of shortcuts should come as default with SketchUp,
just a suggestion.
=x=
Paste this in your Preferences.dat file for all these (24) shortcuts:
(Paste below the line: 0 0 0 S selectScaleTool:)
1 0 1 V Edit/Paste In Place
0 0 0 , selectExtrudeTool:
0 0 0 G Edit/Make Group
1 0 0 G Edit/Make Component...
0 0 0 ` View/Component Edit/Hide Rest Of Model
1 0 0 E selectTurnTool:
0 0 0 \ View/Section Cuts
1 0 0 2 File/Export/2D Graphic...
0 0 0 ] View/Section Planes
1 0 1 Z viewUndo:
0 0 0 ' View/Section Fill
0 0 1 ` View/Component Edit/Hide Similar Components
1 0 1 S File/Save As...
1 0 0 K View/Edge Style/Edges
1 0 0 W viewShowHiddenGeometry:
1 0 0 Q viewShowHiddenObjects:
1 0 0 R Window/Ruby Console
1 0 0 G Edit/Item/Make Component...
1 0 0 . Window/Preferences
1 0 0 I File/Import...
1 0 0 , Window/Model Info
1 0 0 3 File/Export/3D Model...
0 0 1 Q selectProtractorTool:
0 0 1 A selectAxisTool:
One subtly when assigning a simple letter shortcut... I toggle X-ray on and off a lot. Using a keyboard shortcut of "X" to toggle X-ray on/off seems logical. Unfortunately, if you're using the Move tool to create an arrayed copy, it relies on use of the "x" key in the Measurements area to define the copy multiplier, like "x4" or "4x" to get 4 copies. The issue here is that the X-ray keyboard shortcut of "X" is intercepted before the "x" key is seen by the Measurements area when using the Move command. I solved this conundrum by assigning the "F1" key to the X-ray shortcut. You could also work around this issue by adding a Control, or Option, or Command key modifier along with the X key (Mac).
Great tip. Thanks for sharing!
Great video. I tend to assign my shortcuts the same as the ones used in Blender, as much as possible, just to keep the confusion down a bit when moving from one program to the other, haha.
Thanks Eric, nicely presented info as always.
Thanks Eric. Repeated after you, accelerates the simulation at times!
This is amazing, for me it is a matter of mental health issue if not using keyboard short t when working with SKP
The only shortcut I wish it exists is to be able to orbit or maybe move/rotate objects using arrow keys (or maybe the numpad),
Thanks Eric!
Sounds like a good case for an extension. I don't know if that's possible or not but sounds like a good idea!
Yep, some extensions do that.
I use "JS mover" to move objects using arrow keys, and "Rotix" to rotate objects using arrow keys. Both free and part of JHS powerbar.
There is also "curic rotate" that is great for rotating objects by 90deg... using arrow keys again.
And all these are free.
I believe "Sketchplus" also has the two functions you are looking for, but it's a paid extension.
Please make follow me tool guide how to draw QUARTER (using an arc) of something. There are no such a guide on UA-cam. Many people have issue with that , loosing 90degree angle
Once upon a time I assigned a certain keyboard shortcut to a certain action in the program, the keyboard shortcut was applied and since then I have not been able to change it in different versions of the program for several years
At the top left…
keyboard shortcuts:
paste in place
Hide
….
X-Ray Face Style
a fixed text ??
How did you do that????
Is it possible in SketchUp?
Yes! It's a Watermark - which can be added to a Style. More info: help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/watermarking-model
Thanks Eric, so helpful as usual, many 👏 👏 👏
you're welcome!
Why always use sketchup in mac?
Operating system is a personal preference. It just so happens that most of the SketchUp team prefers to use Mac.
Great tips and tricks @sketchup