Hey I need all the help I can get on this one so here is the problem: I have a scene with a lot objects, and many of my chairs in my scene are made of like 15 different objects. I would like to know if there is anyway to combine multiple numbers of objects to create one object, I know of the attatch command, but I believe that only works with lines. It would be great if someone knows, so instead of 1 chairs having 10 different objects, I want 1 chair to only have one object by combining all the different objects together.

This is a big problem, because everytime I want to move the chair (or whatever object) I have to select all 10 objects.

If you know please tell me.

Thank You!

-Austin: Using Maya 2009
My CGSociety Portfolio
IRC Nick: AustinZ

place a edit mesh modifier onto the stack of one chair ( if they aren’t editable meshes already )
in this modifier you find an “attach” and “attach list” - so attach is not for lines only ....

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Hey Thanks it worked, when I do it, a diologue box shows up asking me if I want to use Material to Material ID, Mat ID to Material, or don’t copy material ( it says something like that), and I don’t know which one is the correct to choose, I’ve chosen the options, but the materials get wacky, which is the best one too choose, and is it a problem if all the chairs have been cloned, because it seems that when you change one, it changes all of them, thats great, but again it seems that things get a little funky with the materials, can you please tell me what steps to do, or anybody for the matter. Thank You Again for replying!

-Austin: Using Maya 2009
My CGSociety Portfolio
IRC Nick: AustinZ

Have you tried using the “Group” option?  This will make the chair one selectable object, but you will still have full access to the individual objects as well if you need it.  And materials won’t be an issue.

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

Thanks for replying everyone who replied, I used group, and it is exactly what I was looking for. And now I know about grouping meshes. Thanks!:)

-Austin: Using Maya 2009
My CGSociety Portfolio
IRC Nick: AustinZ

Careful with Groups.... try not to use Transforms on them unless you are sure you will keep the objects grouped.  Anyway, try various things in a test file and find out the conditions when you use groups, so you know what compromises you are making.  Copying groups and rotating them can lead to issues later if you are not careful.  I use them, but I try not to clone and transform them too much unless they’re going to stay that way.

Maneswar Cheemalapati [FA]