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.
Option
Description
Entity Info
Open the Entity Info tray or dialog.
Erase
Delete the selected entity.
Make Component/ Make Group
Creates a Group or Component out of all selected geometry. Not available for single entities or ones that are already groups or components.
Hide/Unhide
Hides or Unhides the selected entity. Hidden entities appear as a ghosted version.
Zoom Selection
Zoom the camera to a distance where the whole selection is visible and centered in the drawing window.
3D Polyline
Option
Description
Divide
Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode
Break 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 Curve
Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center
Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select
Selects 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.
Soften
Soften a faceted surface.
Circle
Option
Description
Convert to Polygon
Converts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
Divide
Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode Curve
Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center
Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select
Selects 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.
Soften
Soften a faceted surface.
Component
Option
Description
Change Axes
Redefine the origin axes of the selected component.
Dynamic Components
Options 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 Component
Edit the selected component.
Explode
Break 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 Faces
Intersect 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/Unlock
Lock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make Unique
Converts the entity into a unique component with a new definition.
Reload
Updates the current selection.
Reset Scale
Removes any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset Skew
Remove any skewing applied to the entity.
Save As
Save the entity as its own file.
Scale Definition
Applies any scaling operation performed on the entity to the definition in the Components Browser.
Unglue
Used to free a connected entity from a face.
3D Warehouse
Options for uploading the selected entity to 3D Warehouse, reloading a downloaded entity, or to see the component's details.
Curve
Option
Description
Convert to Polygon
Converts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
Divide
Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode Curve
Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center
Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select
Selects 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.
Soften
Soften a faceted surface.
Dimension
Option
Description
Edit Text
Edit the selected text.
Invert Selection
Deselect current selection and select all other entities. .
Text Position
Reposition text at the start, center, or end of a dimension line.
Face/Surface
Option
Description
Align View
Aligns the camera to the selected entity.
Align Axes
Align the Drawing Axes to the selected entity.
Area
Calculate the total surface area of a Selection, specific Tags in the selection, or applied Materials in the selection.
Combine Textures
Requires 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 Faces
Intersect 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 Texture
Create a texture unique to the selected entity. If already unique, this option is not available.
Modify Face
Modifies 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 Faces
Orient all connected faces to the selections current orientation
Reverse Faces
Flip the front and back side of the selected entity.
Group
Option
Description
Edit Group/Close Group
Edit the selected group.While editing, select Close Group to finish.
Explode
Break 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 Faces
Intersect 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/Unlock
Lock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make Component
Converts selected entities to a Component entity.
Reset Scale
Removes any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset Skew
Remove any skewing applied to the entity.
Soften/Smooth Edges
Opens the Soften Edges panel/dialog.
Unglue
Used to free a connected entity from a face.
Image
Option
Description
Export
Save an image entity as a file that can be edited.
Explode
Break 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 Selection
Deselect current selection and select all other entities. .
Reload
Updates the current selection.
Shadows
Choose to allow the selection to Cast or Receive shadows.
Unglue
Used to free a connected entity from a face.
Use As Material
Create a material from the selection.
Leader Line
Option
Description
Arrow
Selects an end point type for a leader line. Options are None, Dot, Closed Arrow, and Open Arrow.
Edit Text
Edit the text attached to the leader line.
Leader
Choose between View Based, Pushpin, and Hidden to change the behavior of your leader line.
Line
Option
Description
Divide
Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. Arcs bounding a curved surface will not have this option.
Select
Selects 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.
Soften
Soften a faceted surface.
Polygon
Option
Description
Explode Curve
Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center
Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select
Selects 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.
Soften
Soften a faceted surface.
Section Plane
Option
Description
Active Cut
Activates or deactivates a Section Plane, indicated by a checkmark. Activating a Section Plane deactivates all other planes in that context.
Align View
Aligns the camera to the selected entity.
Create Group from Slice
Generates new edges that are part of a group wherever the Section Plane intersects with a face.
