Entity Context Menus

Last updated: Apr 11, 2026•8 min read.

SketchUp’s context menus offer different options depending on what type of entity you are working with. Knowing what’s available when you context click an entity can help you skip a few clicks and model with better precision.

Note: Not all context menu options will be available for every entity of the same type. If an option isn’t available it will usually appear as grayed out.

All

These options appear for almost every entity.

Option	Description
Entity Info	Open the Entity Info tray or dialog.
Erase	Delete the selected entity.
Make Component/ Make Group	Creates a Group or Component out of all selected geometry. Not available for single entities or ones that are already groups or components.
Hide/Unhide	Hides or Unhides the selected entity. Hidden entities appear as a ghosted version.
Save Out	Saves the selected entity. Can choose from To Device , To Trimble Connect , or To 3D Warehouse .
Reload	Reloads the selected entity using its source file. Can choose between From Device , From Trimble Connect , or From 3D Warehouse.
Zoom Selection	Zoom the camera to a distance where the whole selection is visible and centered in the drawing window.

3D Polyline

Option	Description
Divide	Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode	Break up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Explode Curve	Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center	Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select	Selects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
Soften	Soften a faceted surface.

Circle

Option	Description
Convert to Polygon	Converts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
Divide	Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode Curve	Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center	Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select	Selects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
Soften	Soften a faceted surface.

Component

Option	Description
Change Axes	Redefine the origin axes of the selected component.
Dynamic Components	Options for configuring and creating Dynamic Components. Component Options and Component Attributes open dialogs with more options. Swap Component swaps the selected component with another saved component. Redraw is a sort of reload option and redraws the component, useful after changes are made.
Edit Component	Edit the selected component.
Explode	Break up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Intersect Faces	Intersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entities within the current context.
Lock/Unlock	Lock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make Unique	Converts the entity into a unique component with a new definition.
Reload	Updates the current selection.
Reset Scale	Removes any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset Skew	Remove any skewing applied to the entity.
Save As	Save the entity as its own file.
Scale Definition	Applies any scaling operation performed on the entity to the definition in the Components Browser.
Unglue	Used to free a connected entity from a face.
3D Warehouse	Options for uploading the selected entity to 3D Warehouse, reloading a downloaded entity, or to see the component's details.

Curve

Option	Description
Convert to Polygon	Converts an entity to a polygon arc that can still be edited and generates standard facets when extruded.
Divide	Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. This option is not available when your line bounds a curved surface.
Explode Curve	Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center	Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select	Selects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
Soften	Soften a faceted surface.

Dimension

Option	Description
Edit Text	Edit the selected text.
Invert Selection	Deselect current selection and select all other entities.
Text Position	Reposition text at the start, center, or end of a dimension line.

Face/Surface

Option	Description
Align View	Aligns the camera to the selected entity.
Align Axes	Align the Drawing Axes to the selected entity.
Area	Calculate the total surface area of a Selection, specific Tags in the selection, or applied Materials in the selection.
Combine Textures	Requires two parallel textured faces, not available when only one face is selected. Create a texture unique to both faces. Often used to stitch together photographs.
Intersect Faces	Intersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entities within the current context.
Make Unique Texture	Create a texture unique to the selected entity. If already unique, this option is not available.
Modify Face	Modifies the face by adding a live component. Options are Chamfer, Fillet, Inflate, Twist, or Wave. After choosing a selection the Live Component Parameter window will appear.
Orient Faces	Orient all connected faces to the selections current orientation
Reverse Faces	Flip the front and back side of the selected entity.

Group

Option	Description
Edit Group/Close Group	Edit the selected group.While editing, select Close Group to finish.
Explode	Break up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Intersect Faces	Intersect two entities and create new faces where they intersect. With Model intersects the selection with all overlapping entities. With Selected intersects only with selected items. With Context intersects two entites within the current context.
Lock/Unlock	Lock the entity. Locked entities cannot be moved or edited.
Make Component	Converts selected entities to a Component entity.
Reset Scale	Removes any scaling applied to the entity.
Reset Skew	Remove any skewing applied to the entity.
Soften/Smooth Edges	Opens the Soften Edges panel/dialog.
Unglue	Used to free a connected entity from a face.

Image

Option	Description
Export	Save an image entity as a file that can be edited.
Explode	Break up a selection into all the entities that it's made of. An exploded entity will appear the same but can no longer be edited and will no longer respond to other operations as a single entity.
Invert Selection	Deselect current selection and select all other entities.
Reload	Updates the current selection.
Shadows	Choose to allow the selection to Cast or Receive shadows.
Unglue	Used to free a connected entity from a face.
Use As Material	Create a material from the selection.

Leader Line

Option	Description
Arrow	Selects an end point type for a leader line. Options are None, Dot, Closed Arrow, and Open Arrow.
Edit Text	Edit the text attached to the leader line.
Leader	Choose between View Based, Pushpin, and Hidden to change the behavior of your leader line.

Line

Option	Description
Divide	Divide an entity into any number of equal segments. Arcs bounding a curved surface will not have this option.
Select	Selects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
Soften	Soften a faceted surface.

Polygon

Option	Description
Explode Curve	Break up the selection into regular edges.
Find Center	Place a point at the center of the selected entity.
Select	Selects additional geometry related to the entity. Available options are Bounding Edges, Connected Faces, All Connected, All With Same Tag, All With Same Material, or Invert Selection. Deselect Faces reverses the operation.
Soften	Soften a faceted surface.

Section Plane

Option	Description
Active Cut	Activates or deactivates a Section Plane, indicated by a checkmark. Activating a Section Plane deactivates all other planes in that context.
Align View	Aligns the camera to the selected entity.
Create Group from Slice	Generates new edges that are part of a group wherever the Section Plane intersects with a face.
Reverse	Reverse the direction of the Section Plane.