Organizing a Model

To appreciate SketchUp's organization tools, you don't need to be the type who has a separate compartment for every spoon, bottle stopper, and spatula in your kitchen drawers. If you spend a little time learning how SketchUp's organization tools work, you can organize geometry as you go with little effort.

Here's a quick overview of the techniques for organizing your model:

• Organize related geometry into groups or components, which enable you to isolate geometry into smaller chunks within your model. Grouping Geometry explains how to create groups. For an introduction to components, see Adding Premade Components and Dynamic Components. To create your own components, see Developing Components and Dynamic Components.
• Nest groups and components within other groups and components to create a hierarchy. You can give your groups and components meaningful names and find them easily using the Outliner. Check out Working with Hierarchies in the Outliner for details.
• Toggle the visibility of groups and components on or off. In SketchUp, to control what's visible in your model, you use groups and components in combination with Tags. If you use other image-editing or CAD modeling programs, the behavior of SketchUp Tags is completely different from those programs. Controlling Visibility with Tags offers tips and tricks to help you manage SketchUp Tags successfully.