How Do You Copy a Selection in SketchUp?

To copy a selection in SketchUp, you can use either the menu bar or a keyboard shortcut, similar to many other software applications.

Once you have selected the geometry (like edges, faces, groups, or components) you wish to duplicate, you can easily create a copy using one of the standard methods.

Methods to Copy in SketchUp

The primary ways to copy your selected items in SketchUp are straightforward and efficient:

• Using the Menu Bar: Navigate through the application's menus.
• Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Employ common key combinations for quick action.

Copying via the Menu

The most explicit way to copy is through the Edit menu. After making your selection, simply go to the menu bar at the top of the SketchUp window.

• Choose Edit > Copy from the menu bar

This action places a duplicate of your selected entities onto your computer's clipboard, ready to be pasted elsewhere in your model or even into another application that supports SketchUp geometry pasting (though usually pasting back into SketchUp is the goal).

Copying via Keyboard Shortcut

For faster workflow, keyboard shortcuts are highly recommended. SketchUp uses the standard shortcuts familiar to Windows and macOS users.

• Use a keyboard shortcut
  • Ctrl+C for Windows users
  • Command+C for macOS users

Pressing these key combinations immediately copies your current selection to the clipboard, just like using the menu command.

Summary of Copy Methods

Here's a quick overview of how to copy your selection:

Method	Action	Platform
Menu Bar	Go to Edit > Copy	Windows, macOS
Keyboard	Press Ctrl + C	Windows
Keyboard	Press Command + C	macOS

Using either method allows you to then use the 'Paste' command (Edit > Paste, or Ctrl+V/Command+V) to insert the copied selection into your model.

Practical Tips for Copying

• Select First: Always ensure you have the desired geometry selected before attempting to copy. You can select items using the Select tool (Spacebar). Click individual items, drag a selection box, or triple-click a face to select connected geometry.
• Copying Components/Groups: Copying groups or components is often more efficient than copying raw geometry, as it keeps the objects organized and makes subsequent editing easier.
• Move/Copy: SketchUp's Move tool also has a built-in copy function. After selecting an object and starting the move command, press the Ctrl key (Windows) or Option key (macOS) once to toggle copy mode. This allows you to make multiple copies at specific intervals or distances. This is a powerful technique for creating arrays or patterned duplicates, different from the simple 'copy to clipboard' described above but essential for efficient modeling.

Understanding these methods allows you to easily duplicate elements within your SketchUp models, speeding up your design process.