
Or maybe model the new car that they bought. Everyone comes to SketchUp for a different reason. In SketchUp, this translates into workflow and Good Practices. I recently came across an old adage I had never heard before: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad”. Taking a few minutes to look at each item and learn how they work will quickly highlight some weak spots a user might have in their knowledge base.


Reading the 1 page Reference Card is easier than reading the 390 page manual. The latest one for SketchUp 2017 is here*: sketchup2017refcardmac.pdf (308.7 KB) The latest one for SketchUp 2017 is here*: sketchup2017refcardwin.pdf (308.6 KB)Īnd one for Macs: sketchup8refcardmac.pdf (384.3 KB) I also found this quick reference guide for Windows: sketchup8refcardwin.pdf (388.4 KB) While this particular guide is for version 6, it pretty much describes the same tools as they exist in 2017. Once I found this guide, ug_sketchup_win.pdf (3.0 MB), I was able to read it through and then go back to specific sections until I felt I had a pretty good grasp of everything. It is unfortunate that there is no single coherent on-line reference that can provide one-stop-shopping for SketchUp answers. As a result, the recommendation to please RTFM before using, becomes a swirling dark hole of videos and contradictory information that tends to confuse more than to inform. This is not intended as a negative comment or observation, but it is necessary to highlight that SketchUp is easy enough for most folks to learn, but powerful enough for professionals as well.

Internet has a slightly different opinion that leans more toward Intermediate than Beginner. SketchUp says that it is “The easiest way to draw in 3D” on their website. While, today, the practice of careful RTFMing is more important than ever before, most folks just rip off the wrapper and start poking at things. An iPhone 7 (which I don’t have), has a manual that is 586 pages long. My antique Samsung flip-phone has a manual that is 206 pages long. When I was little, the instructions to use a telephone were pretty simple and fit on a dozen pages (most of which included pictures and instructions in telephone etiquette). As products have grown more complex, however, the manuals have grown even more so. It’s always been a Good Idea to read the instructions for any product before you use it. If you’ve worked for any length of time at all in tech support, you have probably heard the term RTFM.
