Can You Group in SketchUp Free?

If you’re new to SketchUp Free, you might be wondering if it has the capability to group objects. The short answer is yes, you can definitely group in SketchUp Free!

Grouping allows you to organize your model and manipulate multiple objects as a single entity. Let’s explore how to create and use groups in SketchUp Free.

Creating a Group

To create a group in SketchUp Free, follow these simple steps:

Select the Objects: First, select the objects that you want to include in the group. You can do this by clicking and dragging your cursor over the desired objects or by holding down the Shift key while selecting individual objects.
Right-click: Once your objects are selected, right-click on one of them to open the context menu.
Select “Make Group”: In the context menu, scroll down and select “Make Group.” Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G (Windows) or Command+G (Mac).

You will notice that when you create a group, all selected objects will be enclosed within a bounding box. This indicates that they are now part of a single group.

Using Groups

Groups have several advantages when working in SketchUp Free:

Isolation: When you have complex models with many components, grouping allows you to isolate specific parts of your model for easier editing. By double-clicking on a group, you enter “edit mode” where you can make changes without affecting other objects outside of the group.
Moving and Rotating: When you select a group and move or rotate it, all objects within the group move or rotate together as a single entity.
This makes it easier to position and manipulate multiple objects at once.
Organization: By grouping related objects together, you can keep your model organized and make it easier to navigate and modify. It also helps in maintaining the overall structure of your model.

Editing Groups

To edit a group in SketchUp Free, simply double-click on the group to enter “edit mode.” Once inside the group, you can make changes to individual objects without affecting the rest of the model. To exit “edit mode,” either click outside of the group or press the Esc key.

If you want to ungroup objects and remove them from a group, right-click on the group and select “Ungroup” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+G (Windows) or Shift+Command+G (Mac).

Pro Tip: Nested Groups

In SketchUp Free, you can also create nested groups. This means that you can have groups within groups. It’s a useful technique when working with complex models that require different levels of organization.

To create a nested group, follow these steps:

Create a Group: Select objects that you want to include in your first-level group and follow the steps mentioned earlier to create a group.
Select Objects Again: Once your first-level group is created, select it by clicking on it.
Create Another Group: Right-click on the selected first-level group and choose “Make Group” from the context menu. This will create a nested group within your first-level group.

You can continue creating nested groups as needed to further organize your model.

So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SketchUp Free user, grouping objects is an essential skill that can greatly improve your workflow and organization. Start creating groups in SketchUp Free today and take control of your models!