How Do You Copy and Paste Multiple Times in SketchUp?

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Copying and pasting is a fundamental action in any design software, and SketchUp is no exception. Whether you want to duplicate objects, components, or groups, SketchUp provides several ways to copy and paste multiple times. In this tutorial, we will explore three different methods that will help you save time and effort in your SketchUp projects.

Method 1: The Move Tool

If you want to copy an object multiple times using the Move tool, follow these steps:

  1. Select the object you want to copy by clicking on it.
  2. Activate the Move tool by pressing the “M” key or selecting it from the toolbar.
  3. Press and hold the Ctrl key (Command key on Mac) to enter copy mode. You will notice a “+” symbol next to your cursor.
  4. Click on a reference point to start moving the object.

    While holding Ctrl/Command, move your cursor to create a copy of the object.

  5. Click again to place the copied object in its new location. Repeat this step as many times as needed.

Note: Using this method, you can also create an array of copies by specifying an array count. To do this, press and hold Ctrl/Command while moving your cursor, then type “x” followed by the desired number of copies (e.g., “x5” for five copies).

Method 2: The Copy and Paste commands

The second method involves using the Copy and Paste commands:

  1. Select the object(s) you want to copy by clicking on them while holding Shift or Ctrl/Command for multiple selections.
  2. Right-click on the selection and choose “Copy” from the context menu.
  3. Right-click on an empty space in your SketchUp workspace and choose “Paste” from the context menu.
  4. The copied object(s) will appear in the same location as the original. To move them to a different position, click and drag with the Move tool.

Note: You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C (Command+C on Mac) to copy and Ctrl+V (Command+V on Mac) to paste.

Method 3: The Rotate/Copy Tool

If you want to create copies of an object while rotating it around a center point, you can use the Rotate/Copy tool:

  1. Select the object you want to copy by clicking on it.
  2. Activate the Rotate tool by pressing the “Q” key or selecting it from the toolbar.
  3. Click on a reference point that will serve as the center of rotation.
  4. Move your cursor in any direction to set the rotation angle. Type a value followed by “x” (e., “45x” for a 45-degree rotation).
  5. Press and hold Ctrl/Command to enter copy mode.

    You will see a “+” symbol next to your cursor.

  6. Click anywhere in your workspace to create a copy of the object with the specified rotation angle. Repeat this step for additional copies.

Note: You can also enter specific angles while copying by typing them directly after pressing Ctrl/Command, without using the Rotate tool beforehand. For example, press Ctrl/Command, type “45x”, and then click anywhere in your workspace to create a copy rotated 45 degrees.

Conclusion

Copying and pasting multiple times in SketchUp is a breeze once you know the right methods. Whether you prefer using the Move tool, the Copy and Paste commands, or the Rotate/Copy tool, these techniques will help you duplicate objects efficiently and save valuable design time.

Remember: Practice makes perfect! So, don’t hesitate to experiment with these methods in your SketchUp projects to become a master at copying and pasting.