Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual

I have a 3d printer and needed to learn a 3d drawing program to be able to design my own objects. I had never used a computer aided drawing program before, so I downloaded several to try my hand at using them. I have a technical degree but found that the insistence of the CAD programs to implement rules before I was done with my creation to be difficult to intuitively work around. I ordered this book because SketchUp was one of the programs I was evaluating for use. This book is over 500 pages long, but on page 139 I was able to design and print a 'seasonal' dryer vent cover (I made a separate screen to insert into the screen cover that can be rotated inside the main cover to change the size of the vent holes for each season). The book has made me unstoppable!In all seriousness, I do recommend that if you are new to CAD programs that you read each and every page rather than just try to find the first project to create something. If you skip around, you might miss fundamental instructions like which template designs in inches or spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to accomplish a simple task like how to adjust measurements, how to make sure the measurements are what you want to begin with, how to get rid of the annoying person standing in the middle of the drawing field, and is she really necessary? (I don't find her annoying anymore, the people standing in the frame are named after developers, and s/he isn't necessary). I really like this book and recommend it to anyone who will actually read it as a valuable manual. This book is what made my decision for me to use SketchUp for my 3d modeling. It has given me many 'aha' moments and I am sure there are many more to come in the next 400 pages.I did some homework on several other How To books on SketchUp, but I don't want to draw a house. I wanted a manual that would leave me with a good foundation to create whatever I wanted. I found this book to be that manual. The instructions to export to stl for 3d printing are not mentioned in the manual, and with the new desktop 3d printers I hope the author will give it a nod in any future editions. For anyone modeling for 3d printing, the stl export is a free add-on.

Google SketchUp the Missing Manual exceeded my expectations. The author Chris Grover has provided a really broad scope of coverage that helps enhancing ones skill set in #D Modeling using SketchUp. I highly recommend the book. Take CareJFG

In general, this is a good book...way above the average.... it will be very helpful as a way to learn a very useful program--Sketchup but I regret to have to say that it comes up short, and for really dumb reasons....kinda like the "devil is in the details". I think the author needs to hook up with a better grade of proof readers (maybe some middle school teachers of computers or cad/cam ??) This book is probably the best we've got but so much less than it should be. If you want to learn Sketchup (and every even semi-educated person should (its as basic a tool as Word, Excel or Photoshop) buy the book at the same time you buy the program.

This is a really good way to learn Sketchup! Wish I had found it sooner. There was so many things that Google showed me how to do in their great videos, but when I would be working in the program, I would forget how to do them. It is hard to have a "Help" page up and a drawing at the same time, so now it isn't necessary.

CAUTION: This book applies to GOOGLE's version 7.1 of the SketchUp software and not to the current Trimble "free" version you can access online. Find a ver. 7.1 file online, download it and use it. The site oldversion-dot-com offers version the file "google-sketchup-7-1-6860-GoogleSketchUpWEN.exe" and I use it on a Windows 10 desktop PC.This book is pretty good as a reference but I have learned more via web searches for answers to questions and video tutorials. I wanted to fill the surface of an area in a figure. The Index doesn't include the word "fill" although it seems like a fairly common operation, at least to a beginner. I also wanted to rotate an object so it better aligned with another object. The Index includes two references to the rotate operation but I relied on a video that let me see movements and use of the protractor in different ways. Thus the three-star rating.So, you might use this book part of the time, but it's not a getting-started tutorial. You'll learn a lot by jumping in and trying things. Just start with a few boxes and cylinders and enjoy.

DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EXAMPLES ON HOW TO DRAW AND DIMMENSION. not a manual. need web training link to show how to do

Great book. The lessons are understandable and they will improve your use of the software quickly. I found it easy to read and the lessons straight forward. Nice find!

Detailed manual for Google Sketchup, which is software that lets one design objects for various purposes, including woodworking and 3D printing.