What Is the Keyboard Shortcut for the Tape Measure Tool in SketchUp?

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When working with SketchUp, having a good understanding of keyboard shortcuts can greatly enhance your productivity. One commonly used tool is the Tape Measure tool, which allows you to measure distances and create guidelines in your model. Knowing the keyboard shortcut for this tool can save you time and effort.

Default Keyboard Shortcut

The default keyboard shortcut for the Tape Measure tool in SketchUp is T. Pressing the T key on your keyboard will activate the Tape Measure tool, allowing you to start measuring distances in your model.

Using the Tape Measure Tool

Once you have activated the Tape Measure tool using the keyboard shortcut, you can start measuring distances by clicking on two points in your model. SketchUp will display a measurement label indicating the distance between those two points.

Note: You can also type specific measurements directly into SketchUp’s measurement input box. To do this, simply activate the Tape Measure tool using the keyboard shortcut, click on one point, and then type in the desired measurement followed by an “enter” or “return” key press.

Creating Guidelines

In addition to measuring distances, the Tape Measure tool can also be used to create guidelines in your model. Guidelines are temporary lines that help you align objects or create accurate geometry.

To create a guideline using the Tape Measure tool, follow these steps:

  • Select the Tape Measure tool by pressing T.
  • Click on a starting point where you want to place your guideline.
  • Move your cursor to define a direction for your guideline.
  • Type in a distance or use inference points to guide your guideline placement.
  • Click to place the guideline.

Using guidelines can make your modeling process more precise and efficient, especially when you need to align objects or create symmetrical geometry.

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

If you find that the default keyboard shortcut for the Tape Measure tool doesn’t suit your workflow, you can easily customize it in SketchUp. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the “Window” menu and select “Preferences” (Windows) or “SketchUp” menu and select “Preferences” (Mac).
  2. In the Preferences dialog box, select the “Shortcuts” tab.
  3. Scroll down to find the Tape Measure tool in the list of commands.
  4. Click on the current keyboard shortcut for the Tape Measure tool to edit it.
  5. Type in your desired keyboard shortcut.
  6. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Note: When choosing a new keyboard shortcut, make sure it doesn’t conflict with any existing shortcuts in SketchUp or other software you use.

In Conclusion

The keyboard shortcut for the Tape Measure tool in SketchUp is an essential tool for measuring distances and creating guidelines in your models. By using this shortcut, you can work more efficiently and save time during your modeling process.

Remember that customizing shortcuts is always an option if you prefer a different key combination. So go ahead, experiment with this powerful tool and discover how it can improve your SketchUp workflow!