Problem altering instanced groups.

[torstenmiddelkoop]

Hi there,

 

I have some difficulties organizing my objects. Say I have a windowframe, with glass and glassholders. I want to group them so i can instance the total windowframe easily. Now the problem is that when i alter one of the groups, say move the glass 10 cm back, the other groups don't alter with it.

 

How do I need to organize the objects so that changes are made in all of the instanced groups? Or do i not need to use groups at all?

 

Thanks!

[Scott Schroeder]

If you need to move something and want it to affect the other glass instances, you need to move it in sub-object mode (vertex, face, element, what-have you). Then it will update the other instances to that change.

[torstenmiddelkoop]

Cheers! That seems to do the trick. I have read on some forums people tend to not use groups, is this smart? I have no idea how to organize the objects without the use of grouping.

[RyderSK]

I have read on some forums people tend to not use groups, is this smart?

 

There are lot of technical issue that arise from them due to how 3ds Max implements them on low-level base, not necessarily out of workflow issues. Here is good write-up from Lukas Dubeda on the topic:

 

What are groups in Max, how they work and why you should avoid using them

 

With that in mind, those issues aren't as prevalent in archviz scope, and their benefits for workflow imho far outweight their negatives. Using selection sets, parent objects, smart layering...that's all cool, nice, and fancy, but if you have patience to use them, and not keep making mistakes the longer and bigger the project is, I would have to congratulate you. But I keep using them and find them invaluable :- )

 

Just avoid stacking them up too much if you plan on instancing, and placing modifiers upon the grouped instances. The more (((group)group)..n+1) + mod stack + instance, the bigger is the tendency for some cluster**** to happen on the way. Max gonna be Max.

[torstenmiddelkoop]

Thanks Juraj for the detailed insight! I have worked in Sketchup and Blender a lot longer and started a couple of months ago in 3ds Max. The ease of using components vs groups in sketchup is really nice to work with. I was somewhat suprised Max did not behave with similair ease. But as you said, Max gonna be Max ;-) I will have a look at the article to.

 

Thanks again!

[elipan]

I learned the hard way why Forest Pro must not be grouped. If you instance that group, it will turn it to raging chaos, disappearing objects and other disasters