On 9/1/2017 1:17 AM, Jerry Osage wrote:
On Fri, 1 Sep 2017 00:52:13 -0400, Bill
wrote:

Jerry Osage wrote:
On Thu, 31 Aug 2017 07:34:23 -0400, "dadiOH" wrote:

"Puckdropper" puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com wrote in message
eb.com...

Try this simple thing: A hollow box with open side. Draw a square, then
draw a square inside it. Use the push pull tool to pull the outer face
to the desired height. (You can select the tool then enter the value.)
Now use the push-pull tool to pull the inner face to the desired depth.
Two comments for the OP.

1. You learn Sketchup by using it. I had it for a couple of years, played
a bit but nothing clicked. Then I watched the videos, played some more and
voila...CLICK. I seriously doubt any program comes even close to being as
useful for woodworkers (or any other "makers"), just mind Leon's admonition
about components.

2. Entering dimensions can be very useful but it can also be confusing. As
you draw, the dimension of what you are drawing appears in the little box at
the lower right; if you want to specify a dimension, just stop drawing and
type it. Don't try to click on the box and type, just type.

And to me that's counter-intuitive, but I figured it out. Well, actually
the first tutorial told me. But I played around some before getting into
the tutorials.

I guess I just need to devote more time to using it. I think I have a
basic understanding of the basic tools -- however, I'm still waiting for
that Click to happen.

What started this is that I made a quality, very well insulated, and
heated Dog House. I have been adopted by three stray hound pups and it
gets down into the low teens and sometimes single digits here.

I did a few rough sketches, jotted down the dimensions, made a materials
list, bought everything and made the house.

Then.... I thought, What the Hell, I'll draw it up in SketchUp - it
should be an easy project - I was wrong. I've spent more time than the
whole project took - and still don't have it right in SketchUp. That
has made me determined to learn it well enough that it is fun and not a
chore. At least that is the plan...

Thanks everyone for your input.

After you've played with the program a bit, I think it is easier to
learn from a book. Important details go by to fast (for me) in videos.
That said, I got to feeling pretty good about my abilities with SU, but
I know if I tried it right now I would flounder, because I didn't keep
using it. That said, it is more intuitive than the "vi" editor, and more
fun too.

I've been using it for several hours today. And I forgot several times
about making a component. And as Leon mentioned - that can be a real
pain, especially since I didn't catch my mistake until it was much too
late.

LOL, believe it or not you are learning a valuable lesson ins doing
that. You are now realizing exactly why to make parts into components.


I have also learned to "save" often. That way when things fall apart -
actually, all stuck together - I can do a "Restore" and go from there.

Good idea but if you make a mistake just a few to several steps back you
can use the UNDU command, Short Cut- CRTL Z. This will let you back up
numerous steps with out perhaps going too far back with a restore.
The UNDO command is a valuable tool. There is also REDO.



It's been real and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun yet.


You will get there, I love designing on this program.