Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual

Creating a Dynamic Component (SketchUp Pro Only)

In Chapter 5 you saw how components give you a great way to create multiple instances of a single object like windows for a building or fence boards. If that's not enough SketchUp magic for you, you can use dynamic components, which let anyone using SketchUp change their properties. For example, you can change the dimensions of the window or change the color of those fence boards. In this section you'll learn how to create your own dynamic components. The only caveat is, you have to have SketchUp Pro (SketchUp vs. SketchUp Pro) to do it.

In the first part of this exercise, you create a bench dynamic component that lets anyone using the component change its color or material by making a selection from a drop-down menu. In the second part of the exercise, you'll modify the bench component so that anyone who uses your component can change the length of the bench.

Preparing Your Component with Color Swatches

When you want to create a dynamic component that lets other SketchUp designers change colors or materials, you must save those colors or materials within the component. That's how folks get access to the materials. An easy way to accomplish that is to create color swatches within the model. The swatches don't have to be anything more than a face with the color or material applied.

Note

This exercise uses a bench similar to the one created in Chapter 1. You can download bench_dc_begin.skp from http://missingmanuals.com/cds. The finished ...