How Do You Move an Object with Arrow Keys in Sketchup?

In SketchUp, the arrow keys are primarily used to constrain the direction of your move operation along specific axes after you have started moving an object. They do not typically initiate the move or control the step-by-step distance directly like cursor keys in text editors.

Using Arrow Keys for Axis Locking During a Move

When you are actively using the Move tool (M) on a selected object, tapping an arrow key allows you to lock the movement direction precisely to one of the model's main axes. This is known as inference locking.

Here's how you use them:

1. Select the object(s) you want to move.
2. Activate the Move tool (press M or select it from the toolbar).
3. Click a point on the object to start the move (this is your move origin).
4. Begin dragging your mouse in the general direction you want to move.
5. Tap the desired arrow key to lock the movement direction:
   • Up Arrow: Locks your move to the Blue Axis (typically vertical).
   • Left Arrow: Locks your move to the Green Axis.
   • Right Arrow: Locks your move to the Red Axis.
6. You will see a notification near your cursor confirming that the inference is locked to the chosen axis. The line showing the move direction will also turn the color of the locked axis.
7. Move your mouse along the locked axis to position the object.
8. Click the destination point to finish the move, or type a precise distance value and press Enter.

Arrow Key	Axis Locked To	Direction (Typical)
Up	Blue	Vertical
Left	Green	Horizontal
Right	Red	Horizontal

This method is crucial for achieving accuracy and aligning objects perfectly within your model space by restricting movement to a single axis at a time.