Yes, you absolutely can open and work with multiple SketchUp files at the same time. This allows you to easily reference or switch between different projects or models you are working on.
How to Open Additional SketchUp Files
While SketchUp is open and you are working on one file, you can simply open another file using the standard methods:
- Using the SketchUp Application: Go to the File menu and select Open.... Navigate to the location of the other
.skpfile you want to open and select it. It will open in a new SketchUp window. - From Your File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS): Navigate to the location of the
.skpfile you want to open. Double-click the file icon. If SketchUp is already running, this will typically open the file in a new instance or window of SketchUp.
Repeat these steps for every additional SketchUp file you wish to have open simultaneously.
Switching Between Open Files
Once you have multiple SketchUp files open, each in its own window, you can switch between them just like you would with any other application windows on your computer.
As highlighted in the referenced video clip:
- You can use the operating system's task switcher. On Windows, this is commonly done by holding down the Alt key and pressing the Tab key (Alt + Tab). Each press of Tab cycles through your open application windows, including your multiple SketchUp files. Releasing Alt selects the currently highlighted window.
"The file is already open. And if I hold down alt plus tabulation. The car file is opened as well. So. I can go over both files easily."
This method provides a quick way to navigate between your different SketchUp projects without needing to close and reopen files.
Having multiple files open is useful for:
- Copying elements from one model to another.
- Comparing different design options side-by-side.
- Working on different parts of a larger project that are saved as separate files.
In summary, opening multiple files in SketchUp is straightforward and leverages standard operating system window management.
