Utilization

Google Sketchup

Sketchup legends on an X-keys ProSketchup Tools at Your Fingertips

By Dan Slider, Multiple Headgear Wearer, P.I. Engineering.

I'm not a Sketchup expert. I don't have time to become one. My X-keys Pro keeps most of the tools and features I need at hand so I don't have to remember shortcuts or click through multiple menus to search for them.

I grouped the keys by category to suit how I use Sketchup. One great advantage of using X-keys is you don't have to be stuck with my layout. You can move, regroup, remove, or add tools you need. You know you have the layout right when you stop looking at the keys and start reaching for them instinctively.

X-keys also allows me to add special features to a key, playing off the features Sketchup built into their shortcuts. For example, hold my Paint Bucket key down, and it becomes an Eyedropper for sampling color or texture in the model. Sketchup does this when you have the Pain Bucket tool selected and press the Alt key (but who can remember that?). I've noted the special features I added below.

Somewhat random tip: pop the clear lens off and write on blank keys in pencil to identify them temporarily. Pop the lens back on and they won't smear.

If you would like a complimentary set of Sketchup legends for your X-keys, please contact me via: sales@xkeys.com.

My Sketchup 8 LayoutKey layout for teh Sketchup X-keys Pro

Top Row Left Side:

Launch Sketchup and File options Save, Save As, Open, and Open Last - the keys you need to get started and to make frequent saves as you work.

2nd Row and Upper Top Row:

View Options: Parallel/Perspective Toggle, ISO, Front, Back, Left, Right, Bottom, Top, Hand Tool, Zoom Extents, Zoom Last

I use these a lot as I'm moving around a model and they are great for jumping back to a standard view after you've been working close in on details. The two blank keys stay available for instant programming of a feature or tool du jour.

Special Features: The Hand Tool sends an Esc when it's released. Hold the key down and move the mouse to pan around the model, release it and the tool you are using pops back into your hand.

Left Bank:

Group and component creation and editing options. Hide and Unhide options, Shift key.

Hide and Unhide come in very handy in a detailed model with lots of layers. Having a dedicated Shift apart from the QWERTY keyboard lets me keep my hand over the X-keys for this frequently used modifier.

Center 20 Keys:

Modeling, measuring, and cleanup Tools: Line, Rectangle, Circle, Arc, Tape Measure, Paint Bucket, Rotate, Offset, Eraser, Delete, Delete Construction Lines, Follow Me, Push/Pull, Push/Pull + Face, Move, Move + Copy, Undo, Redo, Copy and Paste.

These are my most frequently used tools and switching between them without having to take my cursor off the model lets me fly in Sketchup and concentrate on the design without having to stop to remember the shortcut. The Push/Pull + Face tool leaves the originating face intact when you apply the tool. Sketchup toggles this feature with the Ctrl key when you have the Push/Pull tool selected..

Special features: Holding the Paint bucket key down turns it into an eyedropper for sampling colors or textures. This allows for rapid retouching of your model.

Right Bank:

Selection and labeling tools: Select, Deselect, Intersect Selected, Select All, Dimension, Text Box, Esc, and two open keys for on-the-fly programming.

Having a dedicated Esc key is particularly handy in Sketchup for getting out of an action. Intersect Selected comes in handy when working with complex shapes. I don't use the Dimension or Text tools a lot, but I like having them in plain sight when I want them.

Special Features: holding down the Select key allows you to select multiple objects (same as adding a Shift).

Reverse Faces Key

My latest key (so new it doesn't have a key legend yet) is Reverse Faces. When I'm adding parts to a model Sketchup and I frequently disagree on whether a surface is facing inside or outside. Their means of correcting this is to Right-click and cursor down to select Reverse Faces from the context menu. That's way too much work for me. Especially if I'm in a hurry and have a lot of faces to reverse.

Programming the Sketchup Reverse Faces key in MacroWorks 3

I assigned the shortcut Alt+R to this function in Sketchup, but that still means selecting the face and deselecting it or selecting another face or object when I'm done. That may not seem like a lot to ask, but every click is precious so if I can replace it with a line or two of macro on my X-keys, I will.

My new Reverse Faces key starts with a mouse click to select the face, sends Alt+R to reverse it, and sends Ctrl+T to deselect it, all from a single key press.

Warning

Once you start using an X-keys with Sketchup, you won't want to give it up. When I have to help somebody else or work at another workstation, I find myself reaching for X-keys that aren't there.

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