Combining objects in 3D studio?

[DinkyDogg]

In 3DS Max, is tehre a way to comine multiple objects into one, so that when I select one it selects them all? That would be pretty helpful. I'm using 3D studio Max 6.

Thanks for any help!
-Jake

[jdiwnab]

If you are wanting to perminatly group objects together (like 2 parts being welded together) you can use Boolean commands. I forget exactly were they are though. Where ever they are, you want to add them together. There are little icons that represent the different boolean functions. (At least there were in 4 and 5). You select the kind of function you want to do and then select 2 parts you want to join. You can join more, but you need to do many additions.

If you are wanting to put parts together (like legos), you want to use the group command. It should have it's own menu in the menu bar. You select the objects and just go to group. You may want to rename the group though (Group 1 isn't very descriptive). You can group boolean objects and use boolean on grouped objects, but if you do the latter, you can't really undo it, they are one part now.

[UsmanB]

boolean is in the create panel, and then u have to choose booleon compounds from drop down menu i believe, too lazy to open 3dmax

[rowe]

Just a question, why isn't this in the animation thread? I would have never seen this unless I was reading the portal.
To get to the boolean, go to the create panel, there should be a drop down menu set at Standard Primitives (unless you changed it), select compound objects, and boolean should be one of the options.

[DinkyDogg]

Originally Posted by rowe

Just a question, why isn't this in the animation thread? I would have never seen this unless I was reading the portal.

I didn't realize there was one. Thanks, all my animation/modeling related inquiries will be posted there now!

The Group tool sounds like what I want. I've used booleon before but i have many objects I would like to combine, and it would be nice to have it be reversible.

[DinkyDogg]

Sorry guys, but I still can't figure out how to group objects. I don't see a button or menu bar or anything anywhere, and the help files aren't helping me. Could any of you give me specific instructions about how I could objects so I can select them all with one click (not the boolean union commands). Thanks!

-jake

[pezdispenser]

Originally Posted by DinkyDogg

Sorry guys, but I still can't figure out how to group objects. I don't see a button or menu bar or anything anywhere, and the help files aren't helping me. Could any of you give me specific instructions about how I could objects so I can select them all with one click (not the boolean union commands). Thanks!

-jake

All you have to do is select the objects (using CTRL-click), go up to the "group" drop-down menu, and hit group.