0:03 In SketchUp, you don’t have to enter dimensions as you draw,

0:07 but in fact, everything you create does have real world dimensions and you can create models with very high precision.

0:16 Let’s learn how, starting with the line tool.

0:22 Begin drawing an edge in the red direction and keep an eye on the Measurements Box,

0:28 which displays the real-time length that you are drawing.

0:33 Remember click-move-click as the best way to use your mouse?

0:38 I clicked once to start drawing this edge,

0:41 which makes it easy to let go of the mouse to enter a dimension.

0:46 Type 5’, and press Enter.

0:51 Unless we click on another tool, we can still change this length.

0:56 Type 8’ and press Enter.

1:00 Type 6’ space 4" and press Enter.

1:07 We can enter the distance in feet and inches, or in metric as well.

1:13 Draw another line and type 95cm for 95 centimeters and press Enter.

1:21 When entering distance, SketchUp will also understand decimal input.

1:27 For example I could specify 3’ 6" or I could also use 3.5’ for the same results.

1:40 Here are a few other examples:

1:53 Although you can specify any units of measurement at anytime, feet and inches, meters and centimeters,

2:00 SketchUp does recognize a default unit, and for this you can simply type in numbers.

2:07 For example, my default is currently set to inches

2:10 so if I draw a line and simply type 48 then press enter, it will be 48 inches.

2:17 In fact, the default units allow you to use fractions so with my current default of inches,

2:26 I could draw a line and type 18 space 3/4 then press Enter and SketchUp will understand the fractional input.

2:37 Be careful though, fractions only work with your default units.

2:41 If I draw a line and specify 2 1/2’, my default is still inches, so when I press Enter, I’ve only drawn a line at 2 feet.

2:53 So again, only input fractions with your default units.

2:59 To change your default units, open the 'Model Info’ panel, under the Window menu.

3:05 In here, choose the ‘Units’ tab and I’ll change the format to decimal,

3:11 which will allow me to choose a different unit, say centimeters.

3:15 Here I can also change the precision amount.

3:18 Now when I draw a line and type 30 then hit enter, I have a line exactly 30 centimeters long.

3:28 With a better understanding of how to enter accurate dimensions,

3:32 let’s take a look at how this applies to several of our drawing tools.

3:37 Rectangles will be two dimensions, separated by a comma.

3:42 So I might enter 5’ 7" , 3’ 8" And press Enter.

3:53 Circles and polygons are created with a radius,

3:57 so drawing this circle and entering 60cm will create a circle with a radius of 60 centimeters.

4:04 When drawing polygons you will also enter a radius.

4:08 Be aware that you can toggle the polygon to be ‘inscribed’ or ‘circumscribed’ within the radius.

4:17 Toggle this back and forth with the Ctrl key on PC or Option key on a Mac.

4:24 At this point you should be able to easily understand any other tools.

4:29 The measurements box will provide hints for whatever tool you are using.

4:34 For example the Arc tool will ask for an initial length, followed by an angle.

4:46 The 2-point Arc tool will ask for an initial length, followed by a bulge distance.

4:52 Simply follow the prompts for whatever tool you are using.