Introducing the LayOut Interface

LayOut’s interface contains the basic tools and features you need to create documents and presentations to suit your design needs. Parts of the LayOut interface, and the way you navigate a LayOut document, can look and feel a lot like SketchUp. There are still some key differences to keep in mind.

Each section of the LayOut interface contains a different set of options to help you with your documents:

1. The Menu Bar – Most of LayOut’s basic functions appear in the menu bar:
   • File – Basic file options where you can open a new document, save the current one, and adjust your document setup. For more information on these options see Creating and Saving a LayOut Document,
   • Edit – Editing options like undo, redo, copy, and paste. You can also create a clipping mask, group or ungroup entities. or adjust your preferences.
   • View – Here you can adjust your Toolbar visibility and settings, render models in your document, adjust the zoom settings, or enter presentation mode.
   • Text – Home to all the options for inserting text in your document. For more information see Adding Text, Labels, and Dimensions.
   • Arrange - Settings to help arrange how entities in your document appear. For more information see Arranging, Moving, Rotating, and Scaling Entities.
   • Tools – An optional way to access LayOut’s toolset.
   • Pages – Tools to manage the pages in your document. For more information see Managing and Navigating Pages.
   • Window – Options to manage the trays or modals that appear in LayOut.
   • Help – A link to this Help Center along with options to return to the Welcome page, check for updates, and for signing out.
2. Default Toolbar – LayOut’s default toolbar contains the most used tools and a few other options. See LayOut Tools for more information.
3. Document Window – The document window is where you can add SketchUp models, images, text, shapes, or whatever meets your design needs.
4. Trays and Panels – LayOut’s panels help you access even more features:
   • Colors – Options to add colors to entities in your document. See Choosing Colors for more details.
   • Pattern Fill – Help your ideas stand out on screen by filling shapes with a pattern. For more information see Filling Shapes with Colors and Patterns.
   • Shape Style – Customize the color, width, style, and end points for lines and arcs. See Customizing Line Widths and Styles for more information.
   • SketchUp Model – Contains options that adjust a selected SketchUp model in a document. See Working with SketchUp Models for more details.
   • Scaled Drawing – Adjust the options of a selected scaled drawing in your document. See Creating a Scaled Drawing for details.
   • Dimension Style – Options adjusting the format and style of your dimension entities. See Marking Dimensions for more information.
   • Text Style – Text formatting options. See Formatting Text for details.
   • Pages – Manage and navigate the pages in your document. See Managing and Navigating Pages for more information.
   • Layers – Create, manage, and navigate layers in your document. See Using Layers for details.
   • Scrapbooks – Manage and organize scrapbooks containing entities you use and reuse in your documents. See Working with Scrapbooks of Reusable Entities for details.
   • Instructor – The Instructor offers simple instructions on how to use the active tool. Keep this panel open for animations, usage guidance, and other details about LayOut’s tools.
5. Status Bar – The status bar displays helpful tips for the tool you are using and how to use optional tool modes when available.
6. Measurements and Zoom – The measurements box is where you can type in values to help when drawing or to modify existing entities. The zoom dropdown contains different zoom options to adjust your document’s view.

Navigating the LayOut Interface

The easiest way to navigate LayOut’s interface is with a three-button mouse. However, you can also use a one-button or Apple Magic Mouse if needed.