Context menu items for entities

SketchUp’s context menus offer different options depending on what type of entity you are working with. Knowing what’s available when you context click an entity can help you skip a few clicks and model with better precision. 

Note: Not all context menu options will be available for every entity of the same type. If an option isn’t available it will usually appear as grayed out. 

All

These options appear for almost every entity. 

OptionDescription
Entity InfoOpen the Entity Info tray or dialog.
EraseDelete the selected entity.
Make Component/ Make GroupCreates a Group or Component  out of all selected geometry. Not available for single entities or ones that are already groups or components.
Hide/UnhideHides or Unhides the selected entity. Hidden entities appear as a ghosted version.
Zoom SelectionZoom the camera to a distance where the whole selection is visible and centered in the drawing window.

3D Polyline

OptionDescription
DivideDivide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface. 
ExplodeBreak up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Explode CurveBreak up the selection into regular edges.
Find CenterPlace a point at the center of the selected entity.
SelectSelects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
SoftenSoften a faceted surface.

Circle

OptionDescription
Convert to PolygonConverts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
DivideDivide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface. 
Explode CurveBreak up the selection into regular edges.
Find CenterPlace a point at the center of the selected entity.
SelectSelects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
SoftenSoften a faceted surface.

Component

OptionDescription
Change AxesRedefine the origin axes of the selected component.
Dynamic ComponentsOptions for configuring and creating Dynamic Components. Component Options and Component Attributes open dialogs with more options. Swap Component swaps the selected component with another saved component. Redraw is a sort of reload option and redraws the component, useful after changes are made.
Edit ComponentEdit the selected component.
ExplodeBreak up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Intersect FacesIntersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entites within the current context.
Lock/UnlockLock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make UniqueConverts the entity into a unique component with a new definition.
ReloadUpdates the current selection.
Reset ScaleRemoves any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset SkewRemove any skewing applied to the entity.
Save AsSave the entity as its own file.
Scale DefinitionApplies any scaling operation performed on the entity to the definition in the Components Browser.
UnglueUsed to free a connected entity from a face.
3D WarehouseOptions for uploading the selected entity to 3D Warehouse, reloading a downloaded entity, or to see the component's details.

Curve

OptionDescription
Convert to PolygonConverts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
DivideDivide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface. 
Explode CurveBreak up the selection into regular edges.
Find CenterPlace a point at the center of the selected entity.
SelectSelects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
SoftenSoften a faceted surface.

Dimension

OptionDescription
Edit TextEdit the selected text.
Invert SelectionDeselect current selection and select all other entities. . 
Text PositionReposition text at the start, center, or end of a dimension line.

Face/Surface

OptionDescription
Align ViewAligns the camera to the selected entity.
Align AxesAlign the Drawing Axes to the selected entity.
AreaCalculate the total surface area of a Selection, specific Tags in the selection, or applied Materials in the selection.
Combine TexturesRequires two parallel textured faces, not available when only one face is selected. Create a texture unique to both faces. Often used to stitch together photographs.
Intersect FacesIntersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entities within the current context.
Make Unique TextureCreate a texture unique to the selected entity. If already unique, this option is not available.
Modify FaceModifies the face by adding a live component. Options are Chamfer, Fillet, Inflate, Twist, or Wave. After choosing a selection the Live Component Parameter window will appear.   
Orient FacesOrient all connected faces to the selections current orientation
Reverse FacesFlip the front and back side of the selected entity.

Group

Option Description
Edit Group/Close GroupEdit the selected group.While editing, select Close Group to finish. 
ExplodeBreak up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Intersect FacesIntersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entites within the current context.
Lock/UnlockLock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make ComponentConverts selected entities to a Component entity.
Reset ScaleRemoves any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset SkewRemove any skewing applied to the entity.
Soften/Smooth EdgesOpens the Soften Edges panel/dialog. 
UnglueUsed to free a connected entity from a face.

Image

OptionDescription
ExportSave an image entity as a file that can be edited.
ExplodeBreak up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Invert SelectionDeselect current selection and select all other entities. . 
ReloadUpdates the current selection.
ShadowsChoose to allow the selection to Cast or Receive shadows.
UnglueUsed to free a connected entity from a face.
Use As MaterialCreate a material from the selection.

Leader Line

OptionDescription
ArrowSelects an end point type for a leader line. Options are None, Dot, Closed Arrow, and Open Arrow.
Edit TextEdit the text attached to the leader line. 
LeaderChoose between View Based, Pushpin, and Hidden to change the behavior of your leader line.

Line

OptionDescription
DivideDivide an entity into any number of equal segments. Arcs bounding a curved surface will not have this option.
SelectSelects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
SoftenSoften a faceted surface.

Polygon

OptionDescription
Explode CurveBreak up the selection into regular edges.
Find CenterPlace a point at the center of the selected entity.
SelectSelects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
SoftenSoften a faceted surface.

Section Plane

OptionDescription
Active CutActivates or deactivates a Section Plane, indicated by a checkmark. Activating a Section Plan deactivates all other planes in that context.
Align ViewAligns the camera to the selected entity.
Create Group from SliceGenerates new edges that are part of a group wherever the Section Plane intersects with a face.
ReverseReverse the direction of the Section Plane.