How Do I Change the Length of a Line in SketchUp?

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If you are working with SketchUp and need to change the length of a line, you’re in luck! SketchUp offers a simple and intuitive way to modify the length of any line within your design. Whether you need to make a line longer or shorter, SketchUp provides the necessary tools to accomplish this task with ease.

Using the Scale Tool

To change the length of a line in SketchUp, you can utilize the Scale tool. This tool allows you to resize objects, including lines, by specifying a scale factor. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Select the line that you want to modify. You can do this by clicking on one of its endpoints or by using the Select tool and drawing a selection box around the line.
  2. Once your line is selected, activate the Scale tool.

    You can find it in the toolbar or by navigating to Tools > Scale.

  3. Click on one of the endpoints of your line and drag it to adjust its length. As you drag, pay attention to SketchUp’s measurement box located at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  4. Alternatively, if you know precisely how much longer or shorter you want your line to be, type in the desired value followed by an abbreviation for units (e.g., “10mm” for 10 millimeters).
  5. Release your mouse button or hit Enter on your keyboard when you’re satisfied with the new length.

Note: Keep in mind that when using the Scale tool on a single line, both endpoints will move together. If you want to change only one endpoint’s position while keeping the other fixed, consider using one of SketchUp’s other transformation tools like Move or Push/Pull.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips to help you work more efficiently when changing line lengths in SketchUp:

  • Use guides: If you need to resize multiple lines to the same length, consider creating a guide at the desired length using the Tape Measure tool. This will help you ensure consistency across your design.
  • Lock your dimensions: To prevent accidental modifications to your line’s length, you can lock its dimension.

    Right-click on the line, go to Entity Info, and check the “Locked” box next to Length. This will make your line uneditable until you unlock it.

  • Undo and redo: If you make a mistake or want to revert any changes, use SketchUp’s Undo and Redo commands (Edit > Undo/Redo) or their keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y).

In Conclusion

Changing the length of a line in SketchUp is a simple process that can be accomplished using the Scale tool. By selecting your line, dragging its endpoint, and specifying a desired value, you can easily modify the length of any line within your design.

Remember to use guides for consistency and lock dimensions when necessary. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to adjust line lengths with confidence in SketchUp!