Learn SketchUp Plugin : Tool Steps by Joachim von Rost

Tool Steps – Learn SketchUp tools step by step, right in the program Have you ever opened SketchUp, seen all the icons and menus, and thought, “Where do I even start?” You’re not alone. Many beginners (and even experienced users who want to brush up on their skills) are overwhelmed by the variety of tools.

Tool Steps is the plugin that solves exactly that problem. It’s an educational “training box” inside SketchUp that guides you from basic to more advanced tools – one clear step at a time.

What is Tool Steps? Tool Steps is a learning and training plugin that focuses entirely on the tools you actually use on a daily basis. Instead of being overwhelmed by all the icons, you get a structured system where you work with a limited number of tools at a time, until they are in your spinal cord. Step-by-step levels The plugin is built in levels. You start with a few basic tools (4-base tools). Once you have used all the tools in one level, the next level is unlocked and introduces some new, slightly more advanced tools. This way, you are constantly building on what you already know – without skipping important basics.

How the toolbox works in SketchUp Tool Steps adds a dedicated box/palette in SketchUp where all the current tools for your current level are displayed as buttons. You click on a tool in the Tool Steps box and then click directly in your model to use or test it. The connection between theory and practice becomes immediate and concrete. Focus and less “tool stress” By limiting the number of active tools per level, learning becomes more manageable and significantly less stressful – especially for beginners and self-students. You work methodically with a few tools, practice them thoroughly, and only move on when you have really used them all. Perfect for courses, self-study and onboarding Tool Steps is ideal for:

Ability to restart and repeat Want to repeat? Then it's easy to start over from the first level and go through the tools again. This makes Tool Steps useful both as a one-time course and as a recurring training tool - relevant for completely new users and for more experienced users who want to brush up on their basics. Availability and installation Tool Steps is published in the SketchUp Extension Warehouse. You install it like other extensions:

Open the Extension Warehouse in SketchUp Search for “Tool Steps” Click Install

Why you should try Tool Steps today If you want to build a solid, professional SketchUp skill set – or if you’re a teacher and want to give your students a clear progression – Tool Steps gives you a structured, level-based methodology right inside the program. It combines simplicity (click a tool → test in the model) with a well-thought-out pedagogical approach. This makes it a natural “must-have” for anyone who takes SketchUp learning seriously.

Try Tool Steps today and experience how much easier it is to learn SketchUp when you focus on the right tools, in the right order, at the right pace.

https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/e4cb9601-1214-4f2e-aef8-19ff9d49e056/tool-steps