How to Copy and Create Arrays in SketchUp

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Easily create custom arrays in just a few clicks

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Last Updated: December 23, 2024

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External Array

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Linear Array

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Tips

Arrays are multiple copies of entities that you create in SketchUp. It can take a while to 'get' it, but once you do, you will find it very helpful. Read this article to learn how.

Making a SketchUp Array: Quick Steps

Open SketchUp and select the item you want to copy.
Click the Move icon and begin dragging the item.
Press CTRL where you want a copy and click Enter when you're done.
Use the distance meter in the lower right corner to set a fixed distance between items.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Creating an External Array

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2
Click on the Move icon and start to move it. After you start to move it, press down on CTRL and move it to where you want the copy. If you want 5 of them, press 5x.
- 5x and then Enter
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3
If you want your copy a particular distance away from the original, once you have moved it, type in the distance and enter.
- 5' and then Enter

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating a Linear Array

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That is because you will be creating a space for the array to fill.
2
Select the entity, start to move, press CTRL and move a distance away. Once you have it there, type in the number of total copies you want. In this instance, 4/ to create a total of 5 doghouses.
- 4/ and then Enter
  - If it doesn't look right and you haven't done anything else, you can type in another number and it will change.
In the screenshot at the beginning of the article, 3/ and Enter was pressed to get all of the doghouses.

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Tips

When using Move to make the copy, be sure to press CTRLafter you start to move it. The original will go back and you will be moving the copy.

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Do all of the editing you plan on doing with arrays at the time you are working with it. You cannot go back to it once you have left it to do something else.

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