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Double your speed in SketchUp with keyboard shortcuts


MATT DONLEY / DECEMBER 5, 2014 / NEWS, SKETCHUP TUTORIALS, TIPS & TRICKS / 18 COMMENTS

How can you become faster at modeling? In this article, I highlight the keyboard shortcuts I use most often, and
demonstrate how helpful they are in saving time while modeling. You can also download my custom keyboard
shortcuts at the bottom of this article, and import them into your SketchUp.

I have always been a strong advocate for using keyboard


shortcuts. They are a tremendous time saver, enabling you to get
your ideas modeled more quickly. They reduce the friction
between the design and the software. Modeling becomes more
fluid and natural.

Many people are intimidated with the idea of having to remember


a ton of keyboard shortcuts, but I assure you, the majority of them
are obvious and easy to remember. Start out with a few simple
ones, like Spacebar, P, and R. Then build on from there.

Default Keyboard Shortcuts


SketchUp has a number of keyboard shortcuts configured by default. You can also add your own, custom keyboard
shortcuts by going to Window -> Preferences -> Shortcuts. Below are some of my most frequently used keyboard
shortcuts. By tapping the designated key, youll activate that tool without having to select it from a menu or toolbar.

Spacebar Select tool


R Rectangle tool
L Line tool
M Move tool
P Push/pull tool
S Scale tool
Q Rotate tool (This is one with a weird letter. But I remember it because the letter Q is round, and has a handle
on it. So you could grab the handle and rotate it around )
E Eraser tool
G Make Component (See below, I created a custom shortcut SHIFT + G to make group)
Arrow keys Lock axis

Watch the video below to see how fast keyboard shortcuts are, as well as my 6
custom keyboard shortcuts.

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Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

I pretty much always use exact dimensions, so Im always typing numbers to define measurements as well. The arrow
keys are also frequently used to lock axis any time Im drawing a line, or moving an object.

If youd like to see a guide to all the built-in SketchUp keyboard shortcuts, sign up for my email list and you can
download it for free.

Custom Keyboard Shortcuts


In addition to the default keyboard shortcuts that I use, I have found the need over the years to add a few additional
custom keyboard shortcuts as well. You can add your own custom keyboard shortcuts, or, if you like the one I use, you
can download my keyboard shortcuts and import them right into SketchUp. (Download link at end of tutorial.)

To add a custom shortcut, go to Window -> Preferences -> Shortcuts. Then, select the command youd like to create a
shortcut to. Where it says Add Shortcut, click in the text box then tap the key combination (or single letter) you want to
use for the shortcut. Click the plus sign, and youre done.

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Controlling what you see at any given moment

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s=iX
One of the ways Im able to increase my speed, and reduce frustration, is to have control over what objects I see in my
model. SketchUp has a great feature built in called Hide Rest of Model, and what that does is it hides anything outside
of the current groups or component that youre editing.

To be able to toggle back and forth between this is super helpful, so Ive assigned it to the letter X.

edtecSeldHN
=i

tLasUde=nhiJ
Ive also found it useful to be able to temporarily hide selected faces,
and quickly unhide them. For instance, when creating a model for 3D
printing, it needs to be solid. If you have any extra faces or edges
inside the model, they need to be deleted. Sometimes you can
locate these extra entities by switching to Xray mode, but it tends to
be a bit overwhelming when you can see all the edges in your model.

By temporarily hiding a face, I can quickly identify what needs to be


deleted, then I can unhide the face when Im done.

I use the letter N to hide selected, and the letter J to unhide last. This is silly, but the way I remember the shortcuts is N
stands for NO! I dont want to see this object right now. And J stands for Just Joking You can be visible now It also
helps that the letters are right next to each other.

oe)gtl(ogsaD
ldH
eiD
=C+TRL
One of the things I love about having dual monitors is that I can place all the popup windows in one screen, and have a
full workspace in the other. But sometimes I have everything in one screen if I need to have the other monitor occupied
by a PDF, or something.

SketchUp has a built-in command that hides all open windows temporarily. If things are getting cluttered and I need to
be able to see my model, I just hit CTRL D to hide all the windows, and when I need the windows back, I hit CTRL D once
again.

Creating groups
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Creating groups

edteocm
relsfogupreCatr=G+SFTHI
One of the most common things you do in SketchUp is turn things into groups and components. SketchUp already has
the letter G assigned to make a component from the selected entities, so it only seemed right to create a custom
shortcut using SHIFT + G to make a group.

Paste in Place

eacPlniePtas=V+SFTHI
Paste in place is a really useful action built into SketchUp, that is not very well known. To understand what Paste in
Place does, you first need to understand groups and components.

Paste in Place allows you to copy or cut an object from one group/component, and paste it into another without moving
it from its physical location. When you Paste in Place, the copy will appear at the same exact coordinates and
orientation as the original.

This is really useful for when you are reviewing the organization of your model, and need to move things from one
group/component to another.

Download my Keyboard Shortcuts


If youd like to download these keyboard shortcuts, you can download them below

Download Custom Shortcuts Here

Once youve downloaded them, go to Window -> Preferences -> Shortcuts, and click Import. Select the shortcuts file
you downloaded and click ok. Just be aware that that importing these shortcuts will override any custom shortcuts
you already have, so you might want to backup yours just in case.

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A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

DM
eyonltat
Matt has been creating SketchUp tutorials since 2012. After writing the book SketchUp to LayOut, he conducted the
"Intro to LayOut" seminar at the official SketchUp conference in Colorado. Matt writes about how to use SketchUp for
design, construction and 3D printing.

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Comments 18

DtSoctn
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 2:03 PM

Mat,
Why dont you do a video on publishing working drawings using sketchup instead of layout.
Have watched a few videos on this where it perhaps looks easy but there are a number of
hastles involved espescially in mechanical drawings where circles, groups etc are involved. It is
a frustrating process especially when sketchup offers to clean up your model, then deletes
many of the dimensions you have used workarounds to create.

Reply

Heaxuym
JRdonal
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 2:09 PM

Hi Matt,
I do my architectural work on a new iMac but seem to have lost my way in downloading and
installing your very helpful keyboard shortcuts. Can you enlighten me on importing this .dat file?

Thanks,
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Thanks,
Ron Hexum, Architect
Boise, ID

Reply

nteRharinM
itar
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 2:10 PM

re speed of SketchingUp: true!

You get used to these and pretty soon you turn the menubar off.

And if you keep the keyboard under one hand, the mouse under the other

Reply

Sem
D
davion
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 2:10 PM

Great explanation. Ive been do the same thing for years, but have always had one problem. If I
attempt to delete a Sketchup default shortcut, it appears to work, but when I reload ShetchUp,
the default is back again. For example: Zoom Extents I delete the Ctrl-Shift-Z and it changes.
But, when I exit and restart SketchUp, it is back again. Any idea why? Or, is there a way to really
delete the defaults? Thanks. You have a great site.

Reply

M
nhi
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 9:02 PM

Thanks Matt,

Your tips are very important for Sketchup users. Its not only help them to improve their speed
but also to build up in their mind groups or sets of similar commands.

And just to share with you a fun story, I have a friend who is a left hand person. And the mouse
is on the left side too. Whenever I come to his computer with Sketchup, I feel like his keyboard
and mouse are not there on the desk. Fortunately, He remains all the shortcuts as default so I
still can use them after switch my left-brain and right-brain.

To David,
Are you using PC or Mac. If it is a PC I think you have problem with Windows registry. Every

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shortcuts are stored there in this link HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSketchUpSketchUp
2014Settings. The issue might be caused by an antivirus software which prevent Sketchup to
modify registry. You could try to uninstall Sketchup then remove everything in the session
Settings above and install it again. Hope this can help.

Best Regards,

Reply

Sem
D
davion
DECEMBER 11, 2014 AT 10:20 PM

Thanks for the reply. Im using a PC. Ill try what you suggested, but the problem occurs on 3
different computers. Do you know for a fact that I should be able to remove/change the default
shortcuts?

Dave

Reply

hertkrdi
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 3:48 PM

As always a very helpful and well done tutorial. Thanks.


Only I cant install your custom shortcuts, as it opens not as file, which I can save. I could only
copy the written words , but I dont know where to go from there. Maybe its me being stupid,
wouldnt be the first time.

Reply

DM
eyonltat
DECEMBER 9, 2014 AT 1:40 PM

Instead of clicking download, right click and choose save as. That should save it to your
computer, and youll then be able to import to SketchUp.

Reply

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RoH
nsobman
DECEMBER 5, 2014 AT 8:42 PM

That hide dialogue is brilliant. Essential with dual screens. One I use all the time is hide rest of
model which was assigned to shift-H but I like the X. Agree shortcuts is the only way to go. Have
just installed the 3Dconnexion Spacemouse pro which has capacity for shortcut buttons. So far
so good.
Thanks Matt. Great stuff.

Reply

olliCtas
DECEMBER 6, 2014 AT 9:37 AM

Thanks for your tips and tutorials.

Reply

nm
VdoSaliseonaticFr
DECEMBER 7, 2014 AT 7:10 PM

Hello Good Day!!


Can you send me the list of detailed shortcut keys for sketch up
Thank You and God Bless!!

Reply

DM
eyonltat
DECEMBER 9, 2014 AT 1:38 PM

Just sign up for my email list, and you can download it.
http://www.mastersketchup.com/newsletter

Reply

iEl
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iEl
DECEMBER 9, 2014 AT 6:15 PM

Hi Matt. Thanks for all the tips and videos.

I got all excited about mastering the shortcuts today. I got several of them set up, used them all
day, and the power went out. After restarting, I tried to set them up again and its telling me that
many of the keys I want to assign cant be used. For example, I had X set up to toggle X-ray
view. I used that shortcut all day but now it says I cant use X for a shortcut ???

I was also not able to import your shortcuts. The 2015 Mac version has no Import button on the
Shortcuts Pref pane.

Also, you mention that you created shortcuts using combinations such as SHIFT+G for creating
a group. If I am not able to import your shortcuts could you explain how you created them?

Thanks again,
Eli

Reply

M
elcar
DECEMBER 11, 2014 AT 12:02 PM

Great tutorial Matt, shortcuts are the definitive way to go. BTW, shortcuts on a Mac are
automatically saved here: ~Library/Application
Support/SketchUp#/SketchUp/Shortcuts.plist but I dont know of a way to import shortcuts. I
think that list gets dynamically generated on Macs, so you probably need to enter the shortcuts
manually and then they will be transferred over to the new version when you update. There
doesnt seem to be a way to import/export shortcuts on Macs.

Reply

Tam
M
ozakei
DECEMBER 14, 2014 AT 12:12 PM

I use a USB gaming device with my left hand, a Belkin n52e which fits comfortably in your hand
and your fingers has 3 rows of easily progeamable buttons a and a thumb pad I assign all of the
views to. I never even touch the keyboard except to enter a dimension. Between the n52e and
mouse, I can fly with the drawing. The buttons are easy to program as the can be assigned a
single key, a key combination or a macro of several key actions. If you want to go nuts you can
toggle the gaming device from a blue Led to a red and green one which allows you to have 3
separate sets of shortcuts but using just 1 works fine for me. Hands on n52e and mouse and
almost never have to look down at the keyboard. Thats speed. Hope this helps.

Reply

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M
onetor
DECEMBER 28, 2014 AT 8:34 AM

How do I load these on my Mac?

Reply

DM
eyonltat
DECEMBER 30, 2014 AT 4:33 PM

I only have a PC, so Im not sure how the mac works. Youll likely have to add them manually.

Reply

dM
iaj
JANUARY 4, 2015 AT 4:36 PM

Thanks for sharing, this is a nice tip IMO.


I also use shortcuts, mine are a bit different.
CTRL+K=Preferences (Very handy to set other needed shortcuts)
CTRL+R= Hide rest of model
Shift+R=Hide similar components
CTRL+H=Hide
CTRL+SHIFT+H=Unhide all
CTRL+G=Make Group
Shift+C=Close group/components
Ctrl+Shift+W= Zoom window (native SU command)
CTRL+Shift+E=Zoom extents. (Native SU)
.

Reply

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