Group

A group holds a set of faces and edges together as a single object in a 3D model. It matters most in surface-based programs such as SketchUp, where lines and faces that touch merge automatically. Leave a table ungrouped and it fuses with the floor where they meet; try to move it later and you pull a piece of the floor with it.

What groups are for

Grouping is the most basic way to protect and organize geometry. When walls, slabs, stairs and roof are built as separate groups, each can be selected, moved or hidden with one click. Groups can also be nested: a kitchen group might contain cabinets, the countertop and built-in appliances as sub-groups. That hierarchy makes it much easier to find your way around a large model.

When to switch from group to component

Groups suit one-off parts. Copy a group and each copy behaves as its own object; editing one leaves the others alone. If the same part repeats across the project, a component is the better choice, since a fix is made once and the file stays light. A well-grouped model pays off in rendering too: assigning materials, hiding objects to set up a view and tracking down problems all go much faster. Our SketchUp FAQ for beginners answers the questions new users most often ask about groups.