As a CAD user for over a decade before I began using SketchUP one thing I noticed right away was that SketchUp was “missing” many commands and tools that I rely on heavily when using AutoCAD. For a while I assumed this was a limitation of the software and that I would need to look for a plugin to accomplish those tasks. As my knowledge and understanding of SketchUp grew I realized that SketchUp ‘Thinks’ differently than most CAD programs and many of the tools I thought were missing were actually there all along.

One of those “missing” commands is Array. For longer than I’d like to admit I just assumed SketchUp did not have an array command, and I was happy to just copy (another command that can appear to be missing when you first open SketchUp) over and over and over.

One day I watched a colleague create 25 trees in just a few clicks. I of course asked him how he was able to do that. His reply, “I just arrayed it.” I told him that I’ve never found an array command in SketchUp. So he showed me how he was able to create an array, and explained that while I was correct that there is no Array toolbar or button within SketchUp it is possible to create an array using the method outlined below.

1. Let’s start by drawing a simple 2d rectangle:

2. Next lets switch to a top view

3. Double click on the rectangle (this selects the surface and all bounding edges/lines. A single click will select the surface only)

4. Now we will select the Move tool:

5. Move the rectangle slightly to the right (press Ctrl to toggle copy on and off while in the move command)

6. After placing the second copy type: ‘ x5 ‘ (notice you now have 6 copies, typing x5 added 5 more copies after placing the original. They will all be placed the same distance apart that was specified/chosen for the first copy)

7. Let’s follow the same procedure for all 6 rectangles

• Select all six rectangles
• Select the Move tool
• Move and place (left-click) the rectangles up slightly
• Now Type: x5

8. Your screen should look something like this:

9. Now let’s try a Polar Array. Start by drawing a 3’ diameter circle:

10. Pick an endpoint on the circle you just created and draw an 8” diameter circle. It should look something like this:

11. Double-click on the half circle outside the larger circle, then choose the rotate tool:

12. Choose the center of the larger circle, press Ctrl to copy

13. Place new half circle 30 degrees

14. Type: X12

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